The strange opening of Book 2 of Little Dorrit

Book 2 of Dickens's Little Dorrit (1855) opens, as did Book 1, in a remote (from London) setting, in this case at a mountain pass in what I think is the French Alps, at some kind of monastery that puts travelers up for the night; the travelers are at first not introduced to us, so the feeling is somewhat unsettling - who are these people (3 groups of travelers, as it happens)?, what's their connection to all that's gone before in this novel?, what brings them here, together? Again, that's much like the opening to Book 1, which introduces a # of characters who play no clear role in the novel until much later. Similarly, Dickens is no doubt the ultimate London chronicler, and LD is in every way a novel about London and its politics, class conflict, prison system, social castes - so why open both sections of then novel in France? But, of course, we know we're traveling with an experienced guide - the unsettling openings serve the purpose of heightening our attention and curiosity. By the end of the long first chapter in Book 2 Dickens discloses - we've figured most of this out already - the names of the 3 groups of travelers: A large contingent of Dorrits (including a new character, a woman who seems to be teh traveling companion of Mr D?); the sorrowful Gowans, with Pet now a year into her doomed marriage and her husband, the phony artist, as obnoxious and disagreeable as ever; and the Frenchman whom we met in Chapter 1 and who appeared briefly at the Clennam home where he seems to be intent on righting some grievous error or crime in the family past. The emotional heart of this chapter concerns a request from Arthur Clennam (the protagonist) to one of the Dorrits - Little (Amy)? - if she ever encounters Pet in her travels, to see if she is happy in her marriage ("If you're traveling in the North Country fair"); Pet assures the inquirer that she is, but that's obviously a cover-up. We expect the narrative to resolve itself soon on London and to give us more direct information as to how the sudden wealth and social stature as changed (and ruined?) the Dorrit family.