He must have made a mistake and come in again through the back gate, thinking it was another place, for in a few minutes the cook said there was a man in the kitchen who wanted to see me; and when I went down, there was the same man with the same dog.

He didn't recognize me, and as soon as I entered he remarked, "I say, old pard, somebody was saying that you wanted to buy a watch-dog.

Now, here's a watch-dog that'd rather watch than eat any time.

Give that dog something to fasten his eye on--don't care what it is: anything from a plug hat to a skating-rink--and there his eye stays like it was chained with a trace-chain.

Now, I'll tell you what I'll do with--" I suddenly informed him in a peremptory tone that nothing would induce me to purchase a dog at that moment, and then I pushed him out and shut the door.