 every day presented to him in some new form, but in the midst of
these engrossing occupations he found leisure - that is, he made it - to review
the past transactions of the Firm, and his share in them, during a long series
of years. Frequently when the clerks were all gone, the offices dark and empty,
and all similar places of business shut up, Mr. Carker, with the whole anatomy
of the iron room laid bare before him, would explore the mysteries of books and
papers, with the patient progress of a man who was dissecting the minutest
nerves and fibres of his subject. Perch, the messenger, who usually remained on
these occasions, to entertain himself with the perusal of the Price Current by
the light of one candle, or to doze over the fire in the outer office, at the
imminent risk every moment of diving head foremost into the coal-box, could not
withhold the tribute of his admiration from this zealous conduct, although it
much contracted his domestic enjoyments; and again, and again, expatiated to
Mrs. Perch (now nursing twins) on the industry and acuteness of their managing
gentleman in the City.
    The same increased and sharp attention that Mr. Carker bestowed on the
business of the House, he applied to his own personal affairs. Though not a
partner in the concern - a distinction hitherto reserved solely to inheritors of
the great name of Dombey - he was in the receipt of some per centage on its
dealings; and, participating in all its facilities for the employment of money
to advantage, was considered, by the minnows among the tritons of the East, a
rich man. It began to be said, among these shrewd observers, that Jem Carker, of
Dombey's, was looking about him to see what he was worth; and that he was
calling in his money at a good time, like the long-headed fellow he was; and
bets were even offered on the Stock Exchange that Jem was going to marry a rich
widow.
    Yet these cares did not in the least interfere with Mr. Carker's watching of
his chief, or with his cleanness, neatness, sleekness, or any cat-like quality
he possessed. It was not so much that there was a change in him, in reference to
any of his habits, as that the whole man was intensified. Everything that had
been observable in him before, was observable now, but with a greater amount of
concentration. He did each single thing, as if he did nothing else - a pretty
certain indication in a man of that
