# A Few Grains of Pepper explained — Our Mutual Friend

> Chapter companion for Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens.

## What happens

Jenny Wren, having discovered Mr. Riah's supposed hypocrisy, avoids him and works alone. Mr. Fledgeby visits her, seeking information about Lizzie Hexam and proposing to countermine Riah's motives. Jenny agrees to meet him at his Albany chambers. The next day, she encounters Alfred and Sophronia Lammle outside Fledgeby's door, who hand her broken pieces of a cane after Alfred has beaten Fledgeby. Jenny enters to find Fledgeby spluttering and injured.

## Themes in this chapter

### Charity and Hypocrisy

Jenny believes Riah is a 'flinty and hypocritical' cheat, while Fledgeby's pretended concern for Lizzie masks his own manipulative motives.

### Identity and Disguise

Fledgeby's true nature as a moneylender is hidden behind his gentlemanly facade; the Lammles' departure and attack reveal their duplicity.

## Character check-ins

### Jenny Wren

Works alone after distrusting Riah; agrees to meet Fledgeby; witnesses aftermath of Lammle's attack.

### Fledgeby

Visits Jenny to probe about Lizzie; later beaten by Alfred Lammle, found spluttering in his chambers.

### Alfred Lammle

Beats Fledgeby with a cane, leaves broken pieces with Jenny, and departs England with Sophronia.

### Sophronia Lammle

Stands guard outside Fledgeby's door; smiles fiercely while Alfred administers the beating.

### Lizzie Hexam

Mentioned as the 'handsome gal' whom Riah has hidden; Fledgeby seeks information about her.

### Riah

Referenced as the 'child of Israel' and 'Judah'; Jenny believes him hypocritical; Fledgeby suspects he has a dark motive regarding Lizzie.

### Dolls

Jenny's alcoholic father, tormented by guilt over stealing from her; moans 'Sixty threepennorths' in remorse.

## Key lines

> The dolls' dressmaker went no more to the business-premises of Pubsey and Co. in St. Mary Axe, after chance had disclosed to her (as she supposed) the flinty and hypocritical character of Mr. Riah.

Jenny Wren stopped visiting Riah's shop after she mistakenly concluded he was a cold-hearted fraud.

_Highlights Jenny's misjudgment of Riah's character, a key plot point._

> I am a gentleman, I am,' said Fledgeby. 'Oh!' assented Jenny, screwing up her mouth with an appearance of conviction. 'Yes, to be sure! That accounts for your having so much time to give to interceding.'

Fledgeby claims to be a gentleman, and Jenny sarcastically agrees, implying his idleness explains his meddling.

_Satirizes Fledgeby's self-importance and Victorian notions of gentility._

> The three pieces of stick were three broken and frayed fragments of a stout lithe cane. Miss Jenny taking them wonderingly, and the gentleman repeating with a grin, 'Mr. Alfred Lammle, if you'll be so good. Compliments, on leaving England.'

Alfred Lammle hands Jenny the broken pieces of the cane he used to beat Fledgeby, sarcastically sending his regards as he leaves the country.

_Dramatic moment revealing Lammle's violent retaliation and departure._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters/viii-a-few-grains-of-pepper
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/our_mutual_friend_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/our_mutual_friend_se/chapters