On a foggy morning, Riah, the Jewish debt collector, goes to the offices of Pubsey and Co., awakening Fascination Fledgeby, even though it is after ten o’clock. He presents his accounts of debts to Fledgeby, who notes that “Queer Street is full of lodgers” (meaning, many people are deeply in debt). Alfred Lammle arrives and shows Fledgeby a note from Podsnap requesting that the Lammles stay away from Georgiana. Lammle and Fledgeby argue, blaming each other for the failure of their plans of having Fledgeby marry Georgiana for her money. After peace is made, Fledgeby warns Lammle never to fall into the hands of Pubsey and Co. as far as unpaid debts are concerned. Lammle is unsettled by this and leaves. Fledgeby muses to himself that he has never liked Lammle. He charges Riah with buying up bad debts. He asks Riah where the missing Lizzie Hexam is, but Riah refuses to say. Riah has arranged for her to leave London to escape Headstone’s and Wrayburn’s unwanted attentions.

Riah goes to see Jenny Wren. They tease each other, taking the roles of Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother. Jenny is desolate without Lizzie. She tries to keep busy dressing her dolls. They go to the Six Jolly Fellowship Porters to show Abbey Potterson the document signed by Rogue Riderhood absolving Gaffer Hexam of any guilt in the death of John Harmon. Miss Potterson confesses that she did wrong in barring Gaffer from her tavern, but her belief in Riderhood as a villain is strengthened. They are interrupted by sounds of a commotion—someone on the river has been run down by a steamer. The body is brought into the tavern. It is Rogue Riderhood.

The doctor arrives and does what he can to resuscitate Riderhood. His daughter, Pleasant, waits anxiously to see some signs of life, but also notices that for the first time, people are concerned for her father. Slowly, Riderhood begins to breathe once again. Now that Riderhood is safely brought back to life, everyone’s contempt for him returns. Being reminded that Riderhood has been barred from the tavern, Pleasant coldly promises to remove her unwanted father as soon as he has sufficiently recovered. Now fully conscious, Riderhood vows to “have the law” on the steamer that ran him down. He is upset to find that his rescuers did not also rescue his cap.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilfer give a dinner in honor of their wedding anniversary, though it is a gloomy affair. Bella decides that since her mother and her sister think she is fit for nothing, she will cook dinner, but she must constantly ask her mother for directions. George Sampson arrives for the occasion and is concerned when he sees Bella cooking—rightfully so, as the meat is not done. Mrs. Wilfer talks of her parents’ desire that she marry a man as tall as she is. After dinner, Bella and her father talk of her determination to marry a rich man. She tells him of Rokesmith’s marriage proposal and her refusal. She also tells him that Mr. Lightwood would propose if she let him, but she does not like him. Despite Mrs. Boffin’s assurance that they will provide her with a handsome wedding settlement when she marries, Bella knows no one whom she would marry. She tells her father that Mr. Boffin is becoming obsessed with money.