Dennis and Hugh meet Simon Tappertit, who recognizes Hugh as belonging to the Maypole. Sim remembers meeting Hugh five years previously, when he came to ask the Vardens if they had seen Joe Willet after he ran away. Sim asks Hugh if Joe was ever found; Hugh replies that he is most likely dead, which Sim is glad to hear. Sim tells Hugh about his organization, the United Bull-Dogs, and their association with the No-Popery movement. Hugh decides he should join this group as well, and he brings in Dennis. Sim is curious about Dennis’s job, which he is vague in describing. Dennis tells Sim that every article of his clothing came from “friends” he met in association with his career, meaning that all his clothes came from men he has hanged. Hugh remembers that he is supposed to meet someone, so he leaves Dennis and Sim. Sim contemplates what a good addition Hugh will be to the United Bull-Dogs; he speculates that Hugh might even marry Miggs if he were drunk enough.

Hugh goes to see Mr. Chester, who has not only been knighted (and is now known as Sir John Chester) but has also been made a Member of Parliament. It is revealed that Hugh, who cannot read, brought the leaflet he found at the Maypole to Sir John to read; the contents interested Sir John enough that he sent Hugh to infiltrate their ranks. Hugh describes Dennis, but he does not know his profession. Sir John does, and he wryly promises that Hugh will most likely find out eventually. He tells Hugh to get rid of the leaflet because it will not do for it to be found on either of them. Hugh leaves, and Sir John thinks Hugh will indeed follow his mother to the gallows.

Gabriel Varden is half-dressed in his uniform of the Royal East London Volunteers in preparation for a parade that afternoon. He and Mrs. Varden joke about his volunteering to protect his wife and daughter, but not quite Miggs, from being carried off. Dolly arrives from the Warren, wondering about some ghost story no one is to tell her or Emma as well as where Emma’s uncle has gone, ostensibly on business. Gabriel assures her that all is well, and the conversation turns to Mrs. Varden’s and Miggs’s involvement in the No-Popery movement. Miggs bursts out crying on the pretense that Mr. Varden dislikes her and wants to separate her from Mrs. Varden by allowing her to be carried off by a pagan. Gabriel dismisses this as nonsense and puts on the rest of his uniform with Dolly’s help. He says the uniform reminds him of Joe Willet, the mention of whose name makes Dolly start weeping. Gabriel, confused as to his being named the cause of her tears, leaves for the parade.

Mr. Varden returns home after the parade to find Mr. Haredale sitting outside his house in a coach. He invites the locksmith to take a ride with him so they can talk privately. Mr. Haredale explains that he still has not been able to locate Mrs. Rudge and Barnaby, to whose house he is going now. He says he plans on secretly staying at the Rudges’ house and asks Gabriel to keep his secret.