elongings, one by one, until he had
nothing left, and was even in distress for food.

Yet his pride was strong, and he gave what was almost his last coin to
escape the attentions of one Montague Tigg, a dirty, jaunty, bold, mean,
swaggering, slinking vagabond of the shabby-genteel sort, whom he
recognized as one who had more than once tried to squeeze money out of
his grandfather.

At last, when he was almost in despair, a surprise came in the shape of
an envelop addressed to himself, containing no letter, but a bank-note
for a generous amount. There was no clue whatever to the sender, but the
sum was enough to pay his passage and he determined therefore to sail
next day.

While he was still wondering at this good luck, Martin chanced to come
upon Mark Tapley, the old assistant at The Blue Dragon Inn. Tapley had
found London too pleasant a place to be jolly in with any credit, and,
as he had heard America was a very dismal place, he proposed to go with
Martin.

As it happened, Tapley knew that Mary Graham was then in London, for he
had seen old Chuzzlewit going into his house. When Martin learned this
he sent a letter to her by Tapley, and she met him next morning in a
little park near by. There he told her of his leaving Pecksniff's and
of his coming voyage.

She was very sorrowful over his departure, but he cheered her by telling
her he would soon return, well and prosperous, for her. She told him
that Pecksniff seemed somehow to have made his grandfather trust him,
and that by his advice they were both to move to The Blue Dragon Inn,
near his house. Martin told her of Pecksniff's true character, warned
her against him, and begged her to trust in Tom Pinch as a true friend.
So they parted, pledging each other their love whatever befell.

Before Martin left next day Mary sent him a diamond ring, which he
thought his grandfather had given her, but for which in reality she had
paid all her savings, so that he should have with him something of value
to sell if he be in want.

So Martin and Mark Tapley took ship for America, and Mary Graham and old
Chuzzlewit went to live at The Blue Dragon, to the huge satisfaction of
the oily Pecksniff, who thought now he could easily get the rich old man
under his thumb.

II

PECKSNIFF AND OLD CHUZZLEWIT

After his first burst of anger at Martin's leaving him, old Chuzzlewit,
to Mary's eyes, seemed to grow gradually a different man. He appeared
more old and stooped and d