, arrogantly; »I presume that I am the first
consideration?«
    »Oh! Can there be a doubt about it?« replied the other, with the impatience
of a man admitting a notorious and incontrovertible fact.
    »Mrs. Dombey becomes a secondary consideration, when we are both in
question, I imagine,« said Mr. Dombey. »Is that so?«
    »Is it so?« returned Carker. »Do you know better than any one, that you have
no need to ask?«
    »Then I hope, Carker,« said Mr. Dombey, »that your regret in the acquisition
of Mrs. Dombey's displeasure, may be almost counterbalanced by your satisfaction
in retaining my confidence and good opinion.«
    »I have the misfortune, I find,« returned Carker, »to have incurred that
displeasure. Mrs. Dombey has expressed it to you?«
    »Mrs. Dombey has expressed various opinions,« said Mr. Dombey, with majestic
coldness and indifference, »in which I do not participate, and which I am not
inclined to discuss, or to recall. I made Mrs. Dombey acquainted, some time
since, as I have already told you, with certain points of domestic deference and
submission on which I felt it necessary to insist. I failed to convince Mrs.
Dombey of the expediency of her immediately altering her conduct in those
respects, with a view to her own peace and welfare, and my dignity; and I
informed Mrs. Dombey that if I should find it necessary to object or remonstrate
again, I should express my opinion to her through yourself, my confidential
agent.«
    Blended with the look that Carker bent upon him, was a devilish look at the
picture over his head, that struck upon it like a flash of lightning.
    »Now, Carker,« said Mr. Dombey, »I do not hesitate to say to you that I will
carry my point. I am not to be trifled with. Mrs. Dombey must understand that my
will is law, and that I cannot allow of one exception to the whole rule of my
life. You will have the goodness to undertake this charge, which, coming from
me, is not unacceptable to you, I hope, whatever regret you may politely profess
- for which I am obliged to you on behalf of Mrs. Dombey; and you will have the
goodness, I am persuaded, to discharge it as exactly as any other commission.«
    »You know,« said Mr. Carker, »that you have only to command me.
