Bartleby the Scrivener: A Tale of Wall Street

44 THE PIAZZA TALES
your history ; but let me entreat you, as a friend, to
comply as far as may be with the usages of this office.
Say now, you will help to examine papers to-morrow or
next day : in short, say now, that in a day or two you
will begin to be a little reasonable :— say so, Bartleby.'
'
At present I would prefer not to be a little reason-
able,' was his mildly cadaverous reply.
Just then
approached.
the folding-doors opened,
He seemed suffering from
and Nippers
an unusually
bad night's rest, induced by severer indigestion than
common. He overheard those final words of Bartleby.
1
'
I 'd prefer him,
Prefer not, eh % gritted Nippers — '
'
if I were you, sir,' addressing me— I 'd prefer him ;
I 'd give him preferences, the stubborn mule ! What
is it, sir, pray, that he prefers not to do now ?
Bartleby moved not a limb.
'
Mr. Nippers,' said I,
'
I 'd prefer that you would
withdraw for the present.'
Somehow, of late, I had got into the way of involun-
'
tarily using this word prefer '
upon all sorts of not
exactly suitable occasions. And I trembled to think
that my contact with the scrivener had already and
seriously affected me in a mental way. And what
further and deeper aberration might it not ?
yet produce
This apprehension had not been without efficacy in
determining me to summary measures.
As Nippers, looking very sour and sulky, was depart-
ing, Turkey blandly and deferentially approached.
• With submission, sir,' said he, '
yesterday I was
thinking about Bartleby here, and I think that if he
would but prefer to take a quart of good ale every day,
it would do much toward mending him, and enabling
him to assist in examining his papers.'
1
So you have got the word too,' said I, slightly
excited.
'