Bleak House: Chapter 27 Summary & Analysis

They have not gone far in the cab when George realizes that they are on their way to Mr. Tulkinghorn’s. They carry Mr. Smallweed upstairs and wait for Mr. Tulkinghorn in his office. Mr. Tulkinghorn enters, and Mr. Smallweed introduces him to George. Mr. Tulkinghorn explains to George that knows he was in Captain Hawdon’s service while the Captain was ill. He says that he will give George a reward if he can produce Captain Hawdon’s handwriting, but that he will not press him to do so. He wants Captain Hawdon’s writing to compare it with another sample.

George listens to Mr. Tulkinghorn’s proposal and resolutely decides he wants nothing to do with the business. Mr. Smallweed begins to swear at George and George becomes confused and asks Mr. Tulkinghorn why he wants the Captain’s handwriting. Mr. Tulkinghorn assures George that he will not damage the Captain’s reputation. George says he knows this is true because Captain Hawdon is deceased. Mr. Tulkinghorn seems surprised at this and George grows more confused and says that he is “not a man of business.”

At last George says that he will answer Mr. Tulkinghorn later, if he may be allowed to consult a friend. Mr. Tulkinghorn placidly agrees to this and George offers to carry Mr. Smallweed downstairs. Mr. Smallweed, however, addresses the lawyer in a low voice and tells him that George has the writing sample in his coat. Mr. Tulkinghorn tells him firmly that he will have nothing to do with violence and dismisses Mr. Smallweed, who George carries down the stairs.

Once outside, George breaks away from Mr. Smallweed and makes his way to Elephant and Castle. He passes a music shop and approaches a woman who is washing cabbage in a tub outside. George thinks fondly that this is always how he finds her. The woman is Mrs. Bagnet. When she finally looks up and sees George, she exclaims that she wishes he were far away because he always gets her husband, Mr. Bagnet, into trouble. George takes this good humoredly and greets the woman.

Mrs. Bagnet laments that George never married as she leads him into the house; he is always such a wanderer, she complains. Mrs. Bagnet’s daughters, Quebec and Malta, rush happily to meet George as he enters. As she prepares dinner, Mrs. Bagnet tells George that Mr. Bagnet and their eldest son, Woolwich, get on very well with their music business. George grows thoughtful and muses by the fire.

Mr. Bagnet and Woolwich return. Mr. Bagnet is an old soldier, like George, and has a very upright bearing. George says that he has come to ask Mr. Bagnet’s advice and Mr. Bagnet says he is happy to give it, but only after George has joined them for dinner. While Mrs. Bagnet finishes the food, George and Mr. Bagnet go outside to smoke. They both agree that Mrs. Bagnet is a fine woman, although Mr. Bagnet never tells her just how fine because “discipline must be maintained.”

Dinner is served in a very regimented manner, and after they have eaten, George and the Bagnets talk. George tells them of his dilemma and addresses himself to Mr. Bagnet, although he knows Mrs. Bagnet will answer. When George is finished, Mrs. Bagnet tells him to have nothing to do with affairs that are not out in the open.

George leaves the Bagnets’ home and returns to Mr. Tulkinghorn’s. Mr. Tulkinghorn answers the door and asks George if he has changed his mind. George says that he has not, and Mr. Tulkinghorn asks if he is the man who hid Gridley. George admits this, and Mr. Tulkinghorn becomes flustered. Mr. Tulkinghorn says that he never would have let George into his house if he had known of George’s connections with dangerous criminals. George is affronted and leaves when Mr. Tulkinghorn slams the door in his face a moment later.