He rang again and fumbled for his card case.

Somebody was coming.
The moment that the door opened he was aware of a distant and curious uproar--far away echoes of cheering, and the faint barking of dogs.
These seemed to cease as the man in waiting admitted him; but before he could make an inquiry or produce a card, bedlam itself apparently broke loose somewhere in the immediate upper landing--noise in its crudest elemental definition--through which the mortified man at the door strove to make himself heard: "Beg pardon, sir, it's the children broke loose an' runnin' wild-like--" "The _what_ ?" "Only the children, sir--fox-huntin' the cat, sir--" His voice was lost in the yelling dissonance descending crescendo from floor to floor.

Then an avalanche of children and dogs poured down the hall-stairs in pursuit of a rumpled and bored cat, tumbling with yelps and cheers and thuds among the thick rugs on the floor.
Here the cat turned and soundly cuffed a pair of fat beagle puppies, who shrieked and fled, burrowing for safety into the yelling heap of children and dogs on the floor.

Above this heap legs, arms, and the tails of dogs waved wildly for a moment, then a small boy, blond hair in disorder, staggered to his knees, and, setting hollowed hand to cheek, shouted: "Hi! for'rard! Harkaway for'rard! Take him, Rags! Now, Tatters! After him, Owney! Get on, there, Schnitzel! Worry him, Stinger! Tally-ho-o!" At which encouraging invitation the two fat beagle pups, a waddling dachshund, a cocker, and an Irish terrier flew at Selwyn's nicely creased trousers; and the small boy, rising to his feet, became aware of that astonished gentleman for the first time.
"Steady, there!" exclaimed Selwyn, bringing his walking stick to a brisk bayonet defence; "steady, men! Prepare to receive infantry--and doggery, too!" he added, backing away.

"No quarter! Remember the Alamo!" The man at the door had been too horrified to speak, but he found his voice now.
"Oh, you hush up, Dawson!" said the boy; and to Selwyn he added tentatively, "Hello!" "Hello yourself," replied Selwyn, keeping off the circling pups with the point of his stick.