Mr. Meagles fears that Mrs. Gowan will make trouble between them and Henry, which will eventually cause problems for Pet. They wish to go abroad and see her. Arthur says they should go as quickly as the next day.
Henry is also in debt, and the Meagles worry about Pet’s pregnancy in such a foreign place. They worry she'll be lonely.
Arthur offers Cavalleto as a translator, but Mr. Meagles doesn’t want to take him since Arthur needs him. They don’t know when they are returning home. There seems no reason to come back now that they have lost Pet and Tattycoram. Mr. Meagles offers Arthur the use of the cottage while they are away.
Arthur continues to check on the cottage, enjoying the scenery.
One night, the housekeeper—in her long-winded way—tells Arthur that she saw Tattycoram one evening at the gate. When she ran out, though, the girl was gone. Arthur initially dismisses it as a dream.
However, he sees Tattycoram on the street some time later, talking to a strange man. The man seems to be a traveler and accustomed to looking over his shoulder.
Arthur follows them. Eventually, Miss Wade joins them. She is very haughty to the man, who is very courteous to her. Tattycoram follows behind them.
Miss Wade is telling the stranger she can’t give him something until tomorrow, for she hasn’t received it yet. She orders Tattycoram to wire the man some money tomorrow.
The man and the women part ways. Arthur follows the women. They go to Mr. Casby’s home.
When Arthur goes to the door, the maid shows him to Flora’s room. Mrs. F is displeased to see him. Flora asks how Little Dorrit is doing. He tells her that Amy is in Italy.
Flora prattles on, not letting him get a word in edgewise. He finally is able to tell her that he wishes to see Tattycoram. Flora brings Arthur to her father, who is alone in the room. Arthur asks for Miss Wade’s address, but Mr. Casby claims he doesn’t know it. She moves around a lot. Arthur asks if Mr. Casby knows anything about her. The Patriarch claims he is ignorant about her past and about her life.
Mr. Pancks enters, having overheard the conversation. Arthur leaves with him.
Mr. Pancks suspects that Mr. Casby does know the woman’s address. He doesn’t know it himself. He believes that Miss Wade is an orphan. Mr. Casby is her trustee, whom she comes to for money when she really needs it. She is a very angry, vengeful woman. Mr. Pancks doesn’t trust her.