CHARLES DICKENS DOMBEY AND SON CHAPTER I Dombey and ...

'No, thank you,' said Mr. Toots, 'it's all quite right. It's very
comfortable, thank you.'
'I have the pleasure of knowing Mr. Dombey,' observed Carker.
'Have you though?' rejoined the blushing Toots.
'And you will allow me, perhaps, to apologise, in his absence,' said Mr.
Carker, taking off his hat, 'for such a misadventure, and to wonder how it
can possibly have happened.'
Mr. Toots is so much gratified by this politeness, and the lucky chance of
making friends with a friend of Mr. Dombey, that he pulls out his card-case,
which he never loses an opportunity of using, and hands his name and address
to Mr. Carker: who responds to that courtesy by giving him his own, and with
that they part.
As Mr. Carker picks his way so softly past the house, glancing up at the
windows, and trying to make out the pensive face behind the curtain looking
at the children opposite, the rough head of Diogenes came clambering up
close by it, and the dog, regardless of all soothing, barks and growls, and
makes at him from that height, as if he would spring down and tear him limb
from limb.
Well spoken, Di, so near your Mistress! Another, and another with your head
up, your eyes flashing, and your vexed mouth worrying itself, for want of
him! Another, as he picks his way along! You have a good scent, Di,--cats,
boy, cats!