Mr. Krook comes at Mr. Tulkinghorn’s call to Nemo’s room. He discovers that Nemo is dead; he has Miss Flite, another lodger (and the mad old woman from Chancery) fetch a doctor, who gives the final verdict. Mr. Krook goes to look at Nemo’s portmanteau (a kind of luggage), as does Mr. Tulkinghorn. A young surgeon appears and says that Nemo died of an overdose of opium, though he cannot say if it was intentional. Mr. Snagsby is called for to give what information he can, but he can only relate that Mrs. Snagsby was the one who hired him. At the inquest, Jo the street sweeper is questioned about Nemo, but he can give no definite information. He can only say that Nemo was often kind to him and gave him money occasionally—if he himself had any. The inquest decides that Nemo died of accidental overdose. He is buried in a pauper’s grave, where only Jo comes to mourn him.

Sir Leicester and Lady Dedlock leave Paris (where Lady Dedlock was bored) and return home to Chesney Wold. They receive word that Mr. Tulkinghorn will be arriving and that he has discovered for Lady Dedlock the identity of the person who wrote the document she noticed. Lady Dedlock meets Rosa and comments on how pretty she is. Hortense, Lady Dedlock’s French maid, is contemptuous of Lady Dedlock but hides it. When Mr. Tulkinghorn arrives, he tells Lady Dedlock that the writer of the document has died. Although he was living in poverty, the man had evidently once been something better, according to acquaintances Mr. Tulkinghorn had questioned. He tells her that the only property the man had was an old portmanteau but no papers. Sir Leicester objects to such an unseemly subject being broached in in an upper-class home, but Lady Dedlock insists on hearing the story. Afterward, Mr. Tulkinghorn and Lady Dedlock have an air of mutual suspicion between them.

Mr. Jarndyce urges Richard to choose a profession. His first inclination toward the Navy is soon rejected as being a boyish whim. Mr. Jarndyce suggests that he become a surgeon; Richard agrees with relief. Mr. Jarndyce appeals to Mr. Kenge for assistance, and Mr. Kenge agrees to ask his surgeon cousin if he would take Richard on as an apprentice to learn the profession. Ada tells Esther that she and Richard have confessed their love to each other. Esther informs Mr. Jarndyce of this, who then suggests that Richard and Ada wait for marriage until Richard has established himself in a profession.

On a trip to London, Esther is made to feel uncomfortable by the constant appearance wherever they go of Mr. Guppy, who simply stares at her. The Bleak House family dines with Mr. and Mrs. Badger. Mr. Badger proudly informs them that he is Mrs. Badger’s third husband and that her first two were distinguished gentleman. Mr. Badger seems to be more enamored of the reputations of his two predecessors than he is of Mrs. Badger herself. On returning to Bleak House, Esther mentions that they are joined at dinner by a dark young surgeon.