Bella gives birth to a baby girl, and John asks her again if she would like to be rich. After a few months, Bella notices that John seems uneasy, but he will not tell her why. He keeps asking her if she would like to be rich, but she always answers that she would not.

As they are out walking, they unexpectedly meet Lightwood, who recognizes John as Julius Handford from before he became John Rokesmith. Bella is shocked, knowing that Julius Handford was wanted for questioning in the death of Gaffer Hexam. Lightwood points out that John’s avoidance of him increases the suspicion of his involvement in Gaffer’s murder.

At home, John tells Bella, who has asked no questions, that the mystery soon will be over. Bella assures him that she has perfect faith in him even though he is suspected as the murderer of John Harmon.

Mr. Inspector soon arrives to question John. He, Bella, and John go to the police station and then to the Six Jolly Fellowship-Porters. Bella faints from the strain, so John takes her home.

The next day, John tells her that he has left his job at the China house and that they are moving to a new home. They drive across town to the Boffin house, where Mr. and Mrs. Boffin beam and welcome them home.

Mr. and Mrs. Boffin are overjoyed to welcome John and Bella back home. Mrs. Boffin explains how she found out John’s true identity. After Bella rejected his proposal, John was sitting by the fire. Mrs. Boffin immediately recognized him in that light, having seen him sit so as a child in the Bower when he was John Harmon.

Both the Boffins then became involved in the plot to test Bella’s love for John rather than for money, even to the point that Mr. Boffin pretends to be a miser and throws John out, since Bella had become obsessed with marrying a rich man. He intended to show her the corrupting influence of money rather than the source of happiness she thought it to be.

John escorts his wife through her new home. The dust mounds are finally removed, but no valuables turn up. Mr. Venus arrives and announces that Pleasant Riderhood has changed her mind and will marry him the following Monday. Wegg tells him that the time has come to finish off Boffin.

The next morning, Mr. Venus meets Wegg at Boffin’s doorstep. Wegg is shown in, maintaining his arrogance by refusing to take off his hat, which John Harmon smacks off his head and throws out the window. Wegg is surprised to find him present, along with Sloppy.

Venus reveals that he has been working with Boffin against Wegg. John Harmon’s identity is revealed, to Wegg’s surprise. John reveals that the will Wegg found had been buried by his father because he was ashamed of it but feared it was illegal to destroy it. In the face of Wegg’s continued insolence, Sloppy picks Wegg up and throws him in a scavenger’s cart.