Little Dorrit

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of murder.

As the news of Merdle’s forgery becomes public, everyone who invested in his schemes suffer financial losses. Pancks comes to speak to Clennam about it, as he convinced Clennam to invest with Merdle. Clennam and Doyce’s business is now ruined and in debt, and Clennam can only think about how this affects Doyce. Both men had invested everything they had, and Clennam is determined to sell his share in the business so it does not take on his debt. Though his lawyer warns that this will make Clennam a target for creditors, he knows he do it to save Doyce’s reputation. As a result, Clennam is arrested and sent to Marshalsea. Young John secures him a room—the same room which used to belong to Amy.

Clennam thinks of Amy and how she has influenced him to be good. Young John helps Clennam by bringing his belongings and he is kind to him, though he admits to Clennam that he is also upset with him but refuses to say why. He invites Clennam to tea in the room where Amy had collapsed on her final day at the prison. Young John is aware of Amy’s feelings for Clennam even though Clennam is oblivious, and this makes Young John angry.