{"id":"01KG8AKT5CM5DJ8PC1Z4N7R40E","cid":"bafkreifwixffshzzvrevvfguc5togdz3wpwqeolidd42ihmmrqxba57w4i","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":1475,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:15.023Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 2","source_file":"01KG89J1F4D8P9BBX9AMGZ7TX7","start_line":1415,"text":"to examine papers to-morrow or next day: in short, say now, that in a\r\nday or two you will begin to be a little reasonable:—say so, Bartleby.”\r\n\r\n“At present I would prefer not to be a little reasonable,” was his\r\nmildly cadaverous reply.\r\n\r\nJust then the folding-doors opened, and Nippers approached. He seemed\r\nsuffering from an unusually bad night’s rest, induced by severer\r\nindigestion than common. He overheard those final words of Bartleby.\r\n\r\n“_Prefer not_, eh?” gritted Nippers—“I’d _prefer_ him, if I were you,\r\nsir,” addressing me—“I’d _prefer_ him; I’d give him preferences, the\r\nstubborn mule! What is it, sir, pray, that he _prefers_ not to do now?”\r\n\r\nBartleby moved not a limb.\r\n\r\n“Mr. Nippers,” said I, “I’d prefer that you would withdraw for the\r\npresent.”\r\n\r\nSomehow, of late, I had got into the way of involuntarily using this\r\nword “prefer” upon all sorts of not exactly suitable occasions. And I\r\ntrembled to think that my contact with the scrivener had already and\r\nseriously affected me in a mental way. And what further and deeper\r\naberration might it not yet produce? This apprehension had not been\r\nwithout efficacy in determining me to summary measures.\r\n\r\nAs Nippers, looking very sour and sulky, was departing, Turkey blandly\r\nand deferentially approached.\r\n\r\n“With submission, sir,” said he, “yesterday I was thinking about\r\nBartleby here, and I think that if he would but prefer to take a quart\r\nof good ale every day, it would do much towards mending him, and\r\nenabling him to assist in examining his papers.”\r\n\r\n“So you have got the word, too,” said I, slightly excited.\r\n\r\n“With submission, what word, sir,” asked Turkey, respectfully crowding\r\nhimself into the contracted space behind the screen, and by so doing,\r\nmaking me jostle the scrivener. “What word, sir?”\r\n\r\n“I would prefer to be left alone here,” said Bartleby, as if offended\r\nat being mobbed in his privacy.\r\n\r\n“_That’s_ the word, Turkey,” said I—“_that’s_ it.”\r\n\r\n“Oh, _prefer_? oh yes—queer word. I never use it myself. But, sir, as I\r\nwas saying, if he would but prefer—”\r\n\r\n“Turkey,” interrupted I, “you will please withdraw.”\r\n\r\n“Oh certainly, sir, if you prefer that I should.”\r\n\r\nAs he opened the folding-door to retire, Nippers at his desk caught a\r\nglimpse of me, and asked whether I would prefer to have a certain paper\r\ncopied on blue paper or white. He did not in the least roguishly accent\r\nthe word prefer. It was plain that it involuntarily rolled from his\r\ntongue. I thought to myself, surely I must get rid of a demented man,\r\nwho already has in some degree turned the tongues, if not the heads of\r\nmyself and clerks. But I thought it prudent not to break the dismission\r\nat once.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 2"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AK413B1B5DE657R62VJZ2","peer_type":"section","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1F4D8P9BBX9AMGZ7TX7","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKT576K3F54553HXF9Z26","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:16.556Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:23.588Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}