Chapter 53-57 Summary

Sir Leicester hires Mr. Bucket to find Mr. Tulkinghorn's murderer. The detective attends Mr. Tulkinghorn's funeral, observing it with scrutiny. He examines letters, discovering some written by the same person that may incriminate Lady Dedlock. He also finds out from Sir Leicester's servant Mercury that Lady Dedlock went out on the night of the murder.

In Chapter 54 Mr. Bucket meets Mr. Leicester in the library. He informs him that Mr. Tulkinghorn knew of Lady Dedlock's past lover, whom she met before she married Sir Leicester. Mr. Smallweed arrives to demand money for the letters that belonged to Hawdon. He found them, read them, and handed them to Mr. Tulkinghorn. Now Mr. Smallweed wants them back. Mr. Bucket knows that Mr. Tulkinghorn paid for the letters already.

The Chadbands relate that Mrs. Rachael helped to raise Esther. Mrs. Snagsby also appears, claiming...