“Of course you cannot enter fully into the merits of this measure at present. But”⁠—here Mr. Bulstrode began to speak with a more chiselled emphasis⁠—“the subject is likely to be referred to the medical board of the infirmary, and what I trust I may ask of you is, that in virtue of the cooperation between us which I now look forward to, you will not, so far as you are concerned, be influenced by my opponents in this matter.”

“I hope I shall have nothing to do with clerical disputes,” said Lydgate. “The path I have chosen is to work well in my own profession.”