Martin Chuzzlewit walks in the rain, having no clear direction. He looks at the book that Tom gave him and, seeing that it is a French novel, almost throws it away. He opens it, however, to find the money that John Westlock had given to Tom. Martin silently blesses Tom and finds his way to an inn. There he finds a ride to London for the price of a silk handkerchief that the teamster fancies. He finds very cheap lodgings and goes to pawn his watch. At the pawnshop, he encounters Montague Tigg, who informs him that he has left Chevy Slyme. Martin sees that this is good reason to avoid any future contact with Tigg.

Over the next five weeks, Martin tries to find a way to get on a ship to America, but has no success. He pawns all his extra clothes and is in a most desperate state when he receives twenty pounds from an unknown source. He goes out to buy himself a modest feast. He is interrupted in his meal by a knock on his door. It is Mark Tapley, who has been following him, seeing that he is in increasingly desperate straits. He offers his services to Martin as his manservant, but Martin tells Mark that he is on his way to America. Mark feels that America is just the place for him to test his jolly nature. After some discussion, and Mark’s assurance that he will pay his own way, the two become traveling companions. Martin is also overjoyed to learn that Mary Graham is in London and that Mark will arrange a meeting with her.

Mark makes the arrangements for Martin and Mary to meet in the park. While they have a few moments together, Mark keeps watch. Martin tells Mary of his plans to go to America. He says he will write to her through Tom Pinch and Mrs. Lupin. They say good-bye, and Mark walks Mary back to the inn. When he returns, he gives Martin a diamond ring from Mary. Martin assumes that his grandfather gave it to her, but Mark knows that she bought it herself so that Martin may have some means of using it for money should he need to.

Mark and Martin have a rough crossing aboard the ship bound for America. Martin refuses to leave his small cabin for shame at having to sail steerage. Mark makes himself useful to the other passengers, especially to a woman with three children, bound to join her husband somewhere in America where he immigrated two years previously. With gratitude for being back on land, Mark and Martin land in New York City.