\textbf{122-} The figure opposite shows part of the graph of $f(x) = \dfrac{x^2 + ax + b}{x + c}$. What is $b$?
\textit{[Figure: Graph of a rational function with vertical asymptote and oblique asymptote; marked points at $x = -2$ and $x = 7$ on the x-axis]}
\hspace*{2cm} (1) $1$
\hspace*{2cm} (2) $4$
\hspace*{2cm} (3) $6$
\hspace*{2cm} (4) $9$