Who Dr Bull is
His hearty manner hides his thoughts, so his outward appearance offers no clear account of what he thinks.
He appears at a breakfast where ordinary eating and conversation sit alongside the threat of violence. That contrast places his cheerful presence within a scene that mixes comedy with Syme's fear of discovery.
Dr Bull and the others in the story
Gabriel Syme needs to learn the council's plans without allowing the men around him to discover his real purpose.
Sunday presides over the gathering, and the council's fear of him hangs over its outwardly ordinary breakfast. Dr Bull's concealed thoughts belong to this atmosphere of uncertainty, where Syme cannot safely trust appearances.
Questions
What does Dr Bull look like?
Dr Bull wears dark glasses and has a cheerful, hearty manner.
Does Dr Bull reveal his thoughts?
His hearty manner conceals what he thinks.
Where does Syme encounter Dr Bull?
Syme encounters him at the council breakfast on a balcony above Leicester Square in London.
