Our Mutual Friend

Eugene visits Jenny often for information about Lizzie’s location, though she never tells him anything. He watches her father stumble through the streets and then visits Mortimer, who explains to him that a Jewish man visited to say that Eugene is in his debt. Eugene suspects that this man was Riah. He also admits that he is “bent on finding Lizzie” (537), even if he does not know what he will do when he finds her. The conversation is interrupted when Jenny’s father bursts into the office, drunk and claiming to have information about Lizzie. To Mortimer’s consternation, Eugene agrees to purchase this information. After Jenny’s father leaves, Eugene explains to Mortimer that someone has been following him (Eugene) at night. He suspects that this is Headstone, Charley, or possibly both of them. He mocks them and takes Mortimer on a walk to demonstrate how he is being stalked. Eugene does not take the situation seriously, though Mortimer is concerned by Headstone’s apparent agitation.

Headstone is angry at Eugene’s taunting. He convinces himself that Eugene is hiding Lizzie in his office and goes there, where he encounters Riderhood with a letter. They talk, with Riderhood revealing that he is working as a lock keeper while waiting on a compensation payout. Sensing that Riderhood does not like Eugene, Headstone offers Riderhood money for information about Lizzie. While Riderhood does not know her whereabouts, he promises to let Headstone know if he uncovers anything.

The Lammles are concerned about their financial situation. Mrs. Lammle believes that they can get something from the Boffins, but Lammle is concerned about the Boffins’ secretary, so they plan to ruin his reputation by claiming that he proposed to Bella, thereby allowing Mr. Lammle to take his position.

Fledgeby visits the Lammles, and Mrs. Lammle asks him to “use his influence” with Riah on their behalf (561), as they believe that Riah is responsible for their financial situation. Since the Lammles claim that they will soon come into a large sum of money, Fledgeby visits Riah but instead urges Riah to collect on the Lammles’ debt as quickly as possible.

Jenny comes to the moneylender’s shop to speak to Riah but finds Fledgeby alone. He is surprised that she knows that he owns the business and insists it is not true. When Twemlow arrives a short time later, Fledgeby remembers him from the Lammles’ party. Twemlow remembers how he ruined Fledgeby’s plans to court Georgiana. Fledgeby continues to insist that he is not the owner of the moneylending store. Deciding that Fledgeby can be trusted, Twemlow admits that he is in debt because he did something for a friend. His efforts to gradually pay off the debt have been foiled by the demand that he settle the debt soon. Fledgeby offers to ask Riah to be lenient with Twemlow. When Riah returns, Fledgeby continues his charade. He speaks about the Lammles’ and Twemlow’s debt, asking for Riah’s mercy. Riah, understanding the elaborate scheme, refuses. Saddened, Twemlow leaves. Jenny accepts scraps of fabric from Riah, who she believes will inevitably betray Lizzie as he cannot stand up to Fledgeby.

Recently, Venus has begun accompanying Silas when he reads to Boffin. Silas accepts this, as he wants to watch Venus closely. During one reading session, Venus asks Boffin to speak in private. When they are alone, Venus reveals that he and Silas conspired against Boffin. He refuses to blackmail Boffin, as Silas plans to do, but he will not hand over the will, as he fears that Boffin will destroy it. Silas interrupts the conversation, so Boffin hides. Thinking he and Venus are alone, Silas complains about Boffin. After Silas exits, Boffin is upset by what he has heard. He convinces Venus to continue his scheme with the “treacherous” Silas for now, while Boffin plans his response. Boffin then meets Mrs. Lammle, who asks for a private conversation.

Boffin takes out his annoyance on John, hurling insults at him and accusing him of proposing to Bella to secure a fortune. John defends himself. He affirms his sincere “devotion” to Bella and graciously accepts being fired by Boffin. Bella cannot contain herself. In an emotional outburst, she criticizes her selfish actions and criticizes Boffin for being corrupted by wealth.

With John gone, Bella cannot stay in the Boffins’ house any longer. She tries to find her father, but John arrives at her father’s office as well, and he and Bella declare that they love one another. They plan to get married but will keep their engagement a secret. Bella tells her family that she has left the Boffins.

The Lammles are so poor that they must sell their possessions, which shocks the Veneerings and others in the social circle. The Veneerings plan a party to exchange gossip about recent events. Before the party, Mrs. Lammle visits Twemlow and asks for his “strict neutrality.” In their discussion, Mrs. Lammle reveals to Twemlow that Fledgeby is the true owner of the moneylending store. Twemlow is doubtful, but she resolves to prove it to him. If she cannot resolve her financial issues, she says, then she and her husband will need to leave the country. At the Veneerings’ party, Jenny’s father visits Eugene. He swaps information about Lizzie’s whereabouts for money.