"Is there any objection, sir" he asked, "to taking Mr. Bruff into this
part of the business?"
"Quite the contrary! I am now going to ask Mr. Bruff to accompany me
down-stairs."
Betteredge withdrew to fetch the medicine-chest, without another word.
I went back into Mr. Blake's room, and knocked at the door
of communication. Mr. Bruff opened it, with his papers in his
hand--immersed in Law; impenetrable to Medicine.
"I am sorry to disturb you," I said. "But I am going to prepare the
laudanum for Mr. Blake; and I must request you to be present, and to see
what I do."
"Yes?" said Mr. Bruff, with nine-tenths of his attention riveted on his
papers, and with one-tenth unwillingly accorded to me. "Anything else?"
"I must trouble you to return here with me, and to see me administer the
dose."
"Anything else?"
"One thing more. I must put you to the inconvenience of remaining in Mr.
Blake's room, and of waiting to see what happens."
"Oh, very good!" said Mr. Bruff. "My room, or Mr. Blake's room--it
doesn't matter which; I can go on with my papers anywhere. Unless you
object, Mr. Jennings, to my importing THAT amount of common sense into
the proceedings?"
Before I could answer, Mr.
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