Mr. Vholes assures Richard that they are making progress in Jarndyce and Jarndyce. Richard feels discouraged as he leaves Mr. Vholes’s office. Mr. Weevle and Mr. Guppy see him as he exits; they note that Richard is in increasingly heavy debt because of the lawsuit. Mr. Guppy tells Mr. Weevle that he is no longer interested in finding the letters Mr. Krook took from Nemo, but he wonders if they might still be someplace in Nemo’s room. They go to the shop and meet Grandfather Smallwood, who frequently inspects the property. They look through the room but find nothing. Mr. Tulkinghorn arrives and congratulates Mr. Guppy in associating with “grand ladies.” Mr. Guppy feels embarrassed and says nothing until Mr. Tulkinghorn leaves. Then he tells Mr. Weevle that he has been having business with a member of the upper class but it has come to an end.

Because the country is in “disarray,” Mrs. Rouncewell prepares Chesney Wold for the arrival of the entire Dedlock family, including Volumnia. Day after day, Volumnia asks Sir Leicester how the country is doing, and he replies, “Not well.” Lady Dedlock has not been feeling well lately; she seems to be fading. Mr. Tulkinghorn arrives and tells Sir Leicester that he has been opposed in the election by Mr. Rouncewell, whose son is in love with Lady Dedlock’s maid, Rosa. When Sir Leicester tells Lady Dedlock to order Rosa to stay away from the Rouncewell boy, Mr. Tulkinghorn tells him that it is more likely that the Rouncewells will tell the boy to stay away from Rosa because of their great pride. To pass the time, Mr. Tulkinghorn tells a story he says he learned from a townsman known to Rouncewell. A lady had once been in love with a shady sea captain; he impregnated her but did not marrying her. The captain died, leaving the woman to raise their illegitimate child on her own. When the townsman learned of this, he told his daughter (who was a servant of this lady) to leave her at once to avoid damage to her own reputation. Lady Dedlock says nothing to this story.

Mr. Tulkinghorn goes to his room, and Lady Dedlock follows him. She asks him how long he has known her story. He says he suspected it for a long time, but did not know for sure until a few days previously. She worries about Rosa, should her secret come out, and tells Mr. Tulkinghorn that she is leaving Chesney Wold that evening. He urges her not to because then her guilt would become public. Lady Dedlock asks if she is to remain tied to him by this secret, and he replies that she is. He promises to keep her secret if she remains at Chesney Wold. She agrees and leaves, but she spends the night pacing back and forth.

Mr. Tulkinghorn returns to London, where Hortense, Lady Dedlock’s former maid, confronts him. Hortense feels that she Mr. Tulkinghorn has used her ill; she demands that he secure a new position for her. Mr. Tulkinghorn warns her that she will be arrested and thrown into prison if she bothers him or Mr. Snagsby again. She leaves, subdued but furious.