'We have been so much occupied.' 'Business, eh ?' said the Major.
'A variety of little matters necessary to be gone through,' replied Carker.

'But do you know--this is quite unusual with me, educated in a distrustful school, and who am not generally disposed to be communicative,' he said, breaking off, and speaking in a charming tone of frankness--'but I feel quite confidential with you, Major Bagstock.' 'You do me honour, Sir,' returned the Major.

'You may be.' 'Do you know, then,' pursued Carker, 'that I have not found my friend--our friend, I ought rather to call him--' 'Meaning Dombey, Sir ?' cried the Major.

'You see me, Mr Carker, standing here! J.B. ?' He was puffy enough to see, and blue enough; and Mr Carker intimated the he had that pleasure.
'Then you see a man, Sir, who would go through fire and water to serve Dombey,' returned Major Bagstock.
Mr Carker smiled, and said he was sure of it.

'Do you know, Major,' he proceeded: 'to resume where I left off' that I have not found our friend so attentive to business today, as usual ?' 'No ?' observed the delighted Major.
'I have found him a little abstracted, and with his attention disposed to wander,' said Carker.
'By Jove, Sir,' cried the Major, 'there's a lady in the case.' 'Indeed, I begin to believe there really is,' returned Carker; 'I thought you might be jesting when you seemed to hint at it; for I know you military men-- The Major gave the horse's cough, and shook his head and shoulders, as much as to say, 'Well! we are gay dogs, there's no denying.' He then seized Mr Carker by the button-hole, and with starting eyes whispered in his ear, that she was a woman of extraordinary charms, Sir.