summersunset

I don't understand the following text, especially the overlined expressions:

"Nobody would be really much the worse for a night with the drug, provided that be had the sense to spend the next day in a Turkish bath, and build up with food and a double allowance of sleep."

Could someone please help me?

Cloelia

I guess the meaning is that "a night with that drug would not really make a person much worse, provided that he is sensible enough to 1) build up with food and a double allowance of sleep before taking the drug and 2) spend the next day in a Turkish bath."

You did not ask about the expression "a double allowance" but I think it means that you must allow yourself to sleep twice as much as normal before taking the drug. Am I right?

magic1234

"Nobody would be really much the worse for a night with the drug, provided that be had the sense to spend the next day in a Turkish bath, and build up with food and a double allowance of sleep."

I would say:
"Nobody would be any the worst for a night taking the drug, provided that they had the sense to spend the next day in a Turkish bath and build up with food and a double allowance of sleep (meaning if you sleep 6 hours to double this to 12 hours sleep)
I agree with Cloelia explanation
Tina

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summersunset

Yes, I understood that.

I made a typing mistake >> "provided that he had the sense to spend".

Thank you both.