Richard Swiveller wakes up the next morning to whispering. He sees Mr. Garland, Mr. Abel, Mr. Witherden, Bevis Marks, and Marchioness conversing quietly. Marchioness gives him his breakfast. Mr. Garland inquires after his health, and Swiveller tells him he is feeling better but is still weak. What he fears, with his illness, is that it is too late to do anything for Kit—but Mr. Garland calms his fears.
Marchioness grooms Swiveller after he finishes eating. As soon as this is done, Mr. Bevis Marks settles down to business. He tells Swiveller that they trust Marchioness’ account. They believe it is enough to acquit Kit, but they don’t think it will lead to the arrest of Daniel Quilp—who they consider to be the main mastermind of this whole affair. They hope to confront Sally Brass with what they know and extort her into implicating her brother and Quilp. Swiveller is pessimistic, knowing that Sally—despite being a woman—is not one to be intimidated.
All the visitors save Mr. Abel leave. Mr. Abel admits in a porter who brings a trunk full of clothes for Mr. Swiveller and food. A nice old lady comes in to prepare the food.
Bevis Marks, Mr. Witherden, and Mr. Garland go to a coffee house. They send a message to Sally Brass. She appears within ten minutes. They inform her that they have found her servant. Sally becomes defensive, suspecting the servant has told them something. She tells them that the servant is artful, a liar, and a pilfering brat.
The Notary asks her if she realized that there was an extra key to the kitchen, which allowed her servant to escape when Sally thought her locked up. He also tells Sally that it allowed the servant to creep around the house and overhear things—like the plot Sally and her brother came up with to frame Kit. Sally Brass looks surprised, more because she expected to be accused of something else. They offer her a deal—help them get Quilp, and she will be granted immunity. They want a decision now.
Sally is about to speak when Sampson Brass enters. He had followed Sally and has been listening to the conversation. Sally, suspecting he is about to break confidence, tells him to shut up. Brass reveals that the bruises and scratches on his face are from Quilp. Quilp has always been cruel to him, and Brass claims he loathes the man. Quilp had instigated the plot, but then acts like he is innocent of it. Brass wants to turn on Quilp before the dwarf turns on him. He offers to give testimony. He admits the whole plot.
Sally makes a snide remark about her brother not being a man. She says he only confessed because he believed she was going to rat him out. She states she wasn’t going to. Brass believes she would have taken the deal. He tells the other gentleman that he was the only one that was behind the plot, aside from Quilp.
Brass writes a statement. Sally Brass, at some point, disappears and doesn’t return. The gentlemen go to the Justice. A warrant is put out for Daniel Quilp, Sampson Brass is arrested, and Kit gets a pardon.
The gentlemen return to Swiveller’s apartment and update him on all that has transpired. The Garlands leave. Mr. Witherden informs Swiveller that his aunt has died. She had been planning on leaving him 25,000 pounds—but since he was the type of person he was, she decided to give him an annuity of 150 pounds per year. Swiveller is happy. He plans to send Marchioness to school.