The Mayor of Casterbridge

At the court, Henchard hears the case against the elderly woman. She is accused of being a public nuisance. Henchard feels that the old woman seems vaguely familiar, but he cannot remember where he might have met her. As the court hears her story from the police officer who arrested her, she interrupts with a story about how she was once in a tent when she witnessed a drunken man sell his wife for five guineas. She accuses Henchard of being that drunken man, claiming that he has “no right” to judge her (150). Suddenly, Henchard recognizes her as the woman who laced his food with rum. Rather than disagree, he accepts her story as true. He exits his position as the court magistrate. Later, Lucetta learns about the incident at the court from her servant. For a long time, Lucetta had presumed Henchard’s first wife to have died. She is shocked and decides to leave town to spend a few days in Port-Bredy. Henchard tries several times to visit her but he is told that she has already left. Several days later, he tries again. This time, he is told that Lucetta has returned but she is currently out on a walk.