In which Kit finds himself unexpectedly engaged as a servant to a cautious but kindly elderly couple, and a visit from the diminutive and mischievous Daniel Quilp stirs both unease and intrigue, leading to a gathering in a dilapidated riverside tavern. There, over potent spirits and piping tobacco, Quilp and Richard Swiveller converse in a manner that bodes schemes and surprises yet to unfold.