Our Mutual Friend

Elsewhere in London, a couple named the Veneerings are introduced to high society. They have recently become wealthy, and a man named Twemlow is introducing them to other wealthy people, including the lawyer Mortimer Lightwood, his friend Eugene Wrayburn, and Mr. and Mrs. Podsnap. At the gathering, Mortimer tells a story about a man named Harmon, “a tremendous old rascal who made his money by Dust” (13). Harmon was an abusive figure whose cruelty to his wife and daughter drove his son John Harmon out of the country. Harmon has recently died, and his will contains an unusual demand: John can only inherit his father’s fortune if he marries a specific woman, chosen by his father. If he refuses the marriage, his father’s old servant will receive the money. As he reaches the end of his story, Mortimer receives a message: John is dead.

Charley Hexam, Hexam’s son, brought the message to the lawyer and now explains that John’s body was found in the Thames. Mortimer is surprised by Charley, who seems to be well-educated for a working-class boy. Charley credits his sister, who ensured that he received a good education. Eugene Wrayburn offers to accompany Mortimer and Charley to the Hexam house. The trio travels across London, with Mortimer explaining that his entire business is dedicated to the Harmon estate. Eugene is also a lawyer, and he and Mortimer complain about the legal system.

At the ramshackle Hexam house, Hexam welcomes the lawyers inside and insists that he has followed the law precisely regarding recovered bodies. He insists that the dead man had no money in his pockets. Eugene, Mortimer, and Hexam go to the police station and talk to an officer. A stranger arrives in response to a poster notifying the public of the dead man found in the river. The stranger seems perturbed by the sight of the dead man but confesses that this is not the corpse of the man he sought. The man, Julius Handford, says very little and then departs the police station. The inspector at the station has little to say, but he pointedly does not disregard the possibility of foul play.

Mortimer and Eugene leave the police station together. Hexam heads to a nearby pub, while Charley heads home and speaks to his sister. Lizzie has ensured her brother’s education, even though this has caused arguments with their father and may result in him losing touch with his family.

The following day, Hexam joins Mortimer and the police inspector at the inquest. Testimonies reveal that the dead man, John Harmon, recently returned to England to collect an inheritance. He travelled with roughly £700. The inquest suggests that John’s death was suspicious. Since the body is “in an advanced state of decay” (31), however, further evidence is limited. A reward is posted for anyone who can provide additional information.

A clerk named Reginald Wilfer works for the Veneerings. According to the terms of Harmon’s will, Reginald’s daughter, Bella, was meant to marry John Harmon even though they had never met. Bella is annoyed at the way in which Harmon’s death has disrupted her plans. The dead Harmon barely knew the Wilfer family; no one knows why he chose Bella as the woman his son must marry to claim the inheritance. Harmon only met Bella once, very briefly, when she was a child. Now people treat Bella like a widow; she seems to have lost any possibility of securing the fortune that seemed destined to be hers. The Wilfer family is poor, so the missing inheritance seems to doom them to poverty. They have rented a floor in their house to a stranger named John Rokesmith. He has given them little information about his past, which makes the Wilfer children suspicious. Though the Wilfers do not know it, John Rokesmith bears a striking physical resemblance to Julius Handford.

Silas Wegg is a poor man who sells random items, including “halfpenny ballads.” He has a wooden leg and often positions himself beside the same large house when selling his wares. Over the years, he has developed an imaginary relationship with the people he believes live inside. Boffin, a recent visitor to the house, greets Silas and explains that Silas’s ballads have impressed him. Boffin cannot read; he offers to hire Silas to read to him. The men agree on a price, and Boffin presents Silas with the first book that he would like to hear, arranging to meet at Boffin’s house. The name of the house is Boffin’s Bower. That evening, Boffin and his wife welcome Silas into their strange house, a “garish” mixture of sentimental and luxury items. They make Silas comfortable, and he reads them a book about the fall of the Roman Empire.

At this time, Rogue Riderhood (the man Hexam spoke to on the river) enters a pub situated on the River Thames named the Six Jolly Fellowship Porters. The pub is run by Miss Abbey Potterson, who is unsure whether she should allow Riderhood inside. Riderhood addresses her doubts by explaining that he wishes to talk to his former business partner, Gaffer Hexam. He hints that Hexam may have committed a murder.

When the pub closes, Abbey sends for Lizzie Hexam. For a long time, Abbey has tried to free Lizzie from her father, but Lizzie has refused her help. Abbey shares Riderhood’s accusations with Lizzie, who seems unfazed. Privately, Lizzie does not believe the rumor; she is more relieved that Riderhood seems to know nothing about her father stealing money from the drowned men he fishes out of the water. Riderhood is known to Lizzie, so she explains to Abbey that Riderhood is seeking revenge against her father for ending the partnership. Lizzie suspects that Riderhood himself may have murdered John Harmon and then left the body to be found by Hexam. Abbey suggests that Hexam and Riderhood may have plotted the murder together. She pleads with Lizzie again to leave her father, regardless of whether he is guilty. Lizzie thanks Abbey but insists that she must stay with her family. Abbey announces that Hexam and Riderhood are both barred from the pub.

As Lizzie returns home, she worries about the effects of this latest accusation. At home, she stays up all night, waiting to speak to her brother. Charley wakes, whereupon Lizzie tells him that he must go away and stay at his school. She hands him some money that she has saved and promises to send more. At first, Charley is reluctant and resentful. Eventually, he agrees to his sister’s plan and leaves. Hexam returns home. Lizzie avoids questions about Charley but eventually reveals that Charley left to continue his schooling. Hexam is angry and seemingly threatens Lizzie with a stabbing gesture. She faints, and her collapse calms her father, who helps his daughter.

Silas heads to the Boffin house. Along the way, he stops at a taxidermy store in Clerkenwell. Inside, the owner, Mr. Venus, recognizes the man with the wooden leg. They eat together, discussing the amputated leg that the taxidermist Venus now owns. Silas would like to buy his leg back from Venus, who suggests that he can keep it on Silas’s behalf until Silas saves up his money. Venus complains to Silas about the woman he loves, who dislikes his taxidermy business. Silas mentions his new job reading to Boffin. Venus has heard of the Boffins, associating them with the recent news of John Harmon’s murder.

Boffin visits Mortimer Lightwood but must wait for him in the lawyer’s office. They discuss John Harmon’s death, which has been officially confirmed, meaning that Boffin is the sole inheritor of the Harmon family fortune. Boffin is ambivalent about this news, as he enjoyed working for the deceased Harmon. Together with his wife, he was always complimentary of his employer’s children, particularly John Harmon, who seemed lonely as a child. He and his wife, who have no children, were pleased that John would return to collect the family fortune. Boffin posts a reward for anyone who can provide details about the murder and arranges for his wife to inherit the money in the event of his death. Eugene enters Mortimer’s office and is introduced to Boffin as Boffin leaves. As Boffin is walking home, a stranger stops him. The stranger notes that Boffin has recently inherited a vast fortune and offers to work for him as a secretary. Though the man is guarded about his life, he says that his name is John Rokesmith. He is staying at the Wilfer home. The coincidence confuses Boffin, who nevertheless suggests that they talk about the possible job later.