The Adventures of Roderick Random

Lord Rattle Approves the Play and Requests Edits

Melopoyn delivers his tragedy along with Mr. Supple’s letter of introduction to Lord Rattle’s lodgings. Ordered to return in a week, he is admitted to Lord Rattle, who receives him courteously, declares the play on the whole the best coup d’essai he has ever seen, and points out marginal notes proposing alterations. Overjoyed, Melopoyn pledges to be governed entirely by his lordship’s advice. Lord Rattle instructs him to prepare a fresh fair copy incorporating the proposed changes as quickly as possible, resolved that the tragedy shall be brought on the stage that very winter. Melopoyn accomplishes this task in less than a month, although he privately observes that his patron’s remarks are far more numerous and far less consequential than he had anticipated.

Actor Objections at Lord Rattle’s Play Reading

When Melopoyn presents the revised manuscript, he finds an actor of twenty years’ standing taking breakfast with Lord Rattle, who introduces them and asks the player to read a scene. The actor performs it well in matters of emphasis and pronunciation but makes objections to various words on every page. When Melopoyn presumes to defend his choices, Lord Rattle overrules him sharply, reminding him that a player of such long experience understands the economy of the stage better than any man living. Forced to submit, Melopoyn watches as Lord Rattle arranges an evening reading of the whole play before several gentlemen of fortune whom he will convene at his lodgings.

Lord Rattle Secures Brayer’s Acceptance of the Play

At the reading held at Lord Rattle’s lodgings, Melopoyn suffers acutely as the same actor raises a thousand frivolous objections that he is not allowed to answer. The piece is nevertheless applauded on the whole, and the gentlemen present promise to countenance and support it. Lord Rattle, assuring Melopoyn that he will act the part of a careful nurse to it, instructs him to carry the play home and alter it immediately according to the remarks made. Melopoyn complies as swiftly as he can, but before he can deliver the new copy, Mr. Supple has sold his property and patent to a new manager, one Mr. Brayer, making fresh application necessary. Lord Rattle undertakes this task and successfully recommends the play so strongly that it is accepted by the new manager.

Brayer’s Feigned Absence and Sudden Apology

Melopoyn, expecting to be on the verge of harvesting the fruits of his labour, applies to Lord Rattle to ask why the play has not been put into rehearsal. Lord Rattle excuses Mr. Brayer, citing the multiplicity of business in which the new manager is involved, and warns Melopoyn not to tease the patentee. Thunderstruck at the delay, Melopoyn endures three more weeks, after which Lord Rattle informs him that Mr. Brayer has at last read the tragedy, acknowledged its indubitable merit, and explained that he was pre-engaged to another author for the present season. Brayer offers, however, to accept the play for the following season, provided Melopoyn will revise it during the interim according to observations Brayer has noted in the margin. Lord Rattle rebukes Melopoyn for his complaints, vouches for Mr. Brayer’s honour, and ascribes his conduct merely to forgetfulness.

Mr. Brayer Delays Play Production

Without yet receiving any confirmation that the play will be staged, Melopoyn calls on Brayer and is repeatedly told the manager is not at home, even when Melopoyn perceives him watching from a window. Annoyed by this feigned absence, he writes a sharp letter from a nearby coffee-house demanding a categorical answer. Brayer, suddenly and profusely apologetic, receives him at once, blames the misunderstanding on his servant, expresses deep veneration for Lord Rattle, promises to peruse the play without delay, and presents Melopoyn with a general order admitting him to any part of the theatre for the season. Melopoyn, behind the scenes, often asks Brayer about the rehearsal, but the play remains unopened; meanwhile, another new play is written, offered, accepted, and rehearsed within three months. In his anger Melopoyn suspects Brayer of pitiful perfidy, but in calmer moments he prefers to attribute the behaviour to natural defects of memory or judgment rather than ill will.