Despite their protests, the Pickwickians and Sam Weller are brought before the Magistrate who formally charges them for obstructing justice and of planning to engage in a duel, which the law expressly forbids. Mr. Pickwick’s and Mr. Tupman’s bails are set with terms that they could not possibly meet.
Presently, having conferred with Sam Weller, Mr. Pickwick requests a private conference with the Magistrate Mr. Nupkins. When Mr. Nupkins confers with his assistant Mr. Jinks about the appropriateness of granting Mr. Pickwick a private conference, Mr. Jinks, who had hitherto all the answers, shrugs his shoulders, compelling Mr. Nupkins to conclude his assistant is a good-for-nothing. By and by, Mr. Nupkins grants Mr. Pickwick his private conference though not without caution. (Mr. Nupkins harbors a hidden fear that Mr. Pickwick and Sam Weller have contrived his—Mr. Nupkins’—assassination.)
At the private conference, Mr. Pickwick informs Mr. Nupkins that he has in his midst a villain and a swindler; namely, Captain Fitz-Marshall. Mr. Nupkins admits that a Captain Fitz-Marshall, whom he had met at a race-course, has indeed insinuated himself into his family’s confidence, and that this wife and daughter think the world of him. To Mr. Nupkins’ horror, Mr. Pickwick speaks at length about the exploits of Captain Fitz-Marshall, a.k.a. Mr. Alfred Jingle, and his associate Job Trotter. Consequently, Mr. Nupkins cross examines the beadle’s account of the events at the Great White Horse. When the beadle, who feels as if the eyes of the world are on him, fails to recount the events with any degree of confidence, Mr. Nupkins dismisses the charges and presently goes to consult his wife and daughter about the dastardly deeds of Captain Fitz-Marshall.
Needless to say, Mrs. Nupkins and Miss Nupkins are distressed by the news. Mrs. Nupkins blames her husband for bringing disgrace into their house. Miss Nupkins laments the impossibility of going into society again what with the shame of associating with swindlers hanging over their heads.
Meanwhile, Sam Weller joins Mr. Muzzle, one of the Magistrate’s servants, for a meal at the servants’ quarters. There Sam makes the acquaintance of two ladies, the cook who is Mr. Muzzle’s significant other, and Mary, a pretty servant with whom Sam directly falls in love. By and by, Sam informs them of Job Trotter when who else comes knocking at the door but Job Trotter himself. Trotter is suffered (or forced) to enter, and presently, Mr. Muzzle berates him and then summons him to an adjacent room where Mr. Muzzle intends to have it out with Mr. Trotter who had intended to marry Mr. Muzzle's significant other, the cook. But before Mr. Muzzle could beat Mr. Trotter to a pulp, the cook flies at Mr. Trotter and pulls out a good handful of his hair. Then there is a summons for Mr. Muzzle to bring Job Trotter and Sam Weller before the Magistrate.
Subsequently, Sam Weller and Mr. Trotter find themselves before the Magistrate who is with Mr. Pickwick, Mr. Tupman, Mrs. Nupkins, Miss Nupkins, and Captain Fitz-Marshall. Mr. Pickwick is in the act of berating Captain Fitz-Marshall, a.k.a. Alfred Jingle, but the latter is not in the least discomposed. He isn’t discomposed because Mr. Nupkins has decided to let Alfred jingle go his as way as to press charges and the publicity that that would garner would damage Mr. Nupkins’ family’s reputation, not to mention Mr. Nupkins’ political career. By and by, as Alfred Jingle and Job Trotter take their leaves, Sam makes as to follow them so as give them a parting shot that they’ll never forget. He is restrained from doing so, however, by Mr. Pickwick. As it turns out, Mr. Muzzle administers to the parting shot, sending Mr. Jingle and Mr. Trotter crashing down into the “American aloe tubs.”
With his business concluded, Mr. Pickwick wishes the Nupkins a fond farewell. He is about to leave with Mr. Tupman and Sam when Sam delays their departure: He has misplaced his hat in the servants’ quarters. Naturally, it’s Mary who helps Sam find his hat, and before they part she and Sam exchange a kiss.