The Adventures of Roderick Random

Secret Correspondence with Unknown Admirer

Secret Correspondence with Unknown Admirer

A second letter arrives next day, in which the unknown admirer expresses unutterable joy at the narrator’s reply, professes extreme pleasure at his attachment to her understanding, and declares that, though she must sacrifice a little more to decorum and be satisfied of his honourable intentions, her inclination shall ultimately outweigh all other considerations, particularly as her fortune is her own without restriction or control. The narrator resumes the pen, launches into encomiums on the dignity of her sentiments, affects to undervalue external beauty, grounds his passion on the qualities of her mind, and protests the purity of his designs in solemn and pathetic vows. Strap renews his watch and learns the correspondent’s name to be Miss Sparkle. A third billet-doux follows, mingling expressions of tenderness with scruples about the artifice of man and the inconstancy of youth, asking to be excused if she tries him a little longer. Her doubts add fuel to his flame, and his pressing entreaties at length move her to consent to a meeting at the milliner’s house. By the appointed hour the narrator has utterly forgotten the gentle Narcissa and lives only in the triumphs he anticipates over the malice and contempt of the world.

Discovery of Admirer’s Identity and Fortune

Discovery of Admirer’s Identity and Fortune

In company with Dr. Wagtail the narrator makes inquiries about the neighbourhood in which his inamorata resides. Wagtail identifies Sir John Sparkle as a man of immense estate and narrow disposition, who keeps his only child, a fine young lady, closely confined under the watch of an old governante. Although her expectations from her father are uncertain, she will certainly inherit twelve thousand pounds left her by an uncle, of which she cannot be deprived. This intelligence, tallying exactly with her letters, overwhelms the narrator with joy. Strap, when told, is almost choked with transport and weeps for joy. A third billet-doux arrives shortly afterwards expressing tender doubts and requesting further trial, but she at length consents to an assignation.

CHAPTER L

Chapter L narrates the protagonist’s disastrous rendezvous with a woman he expected to be the young Miss Sparkle, only to discover she is her elderly governess, Miss Withers. The chapter traces the protagonist’s feigned courtship of the old woman to access her charge, the abrupt collapse of the affair due to a garlic-induced crisis, and the subsequent debriefing with his companion Strap. The episode ends with the old woman’s pursuit ceasing entirely, leaving the protagonist no closer to meeting the object of his original interest.

Rendezvous Arrival

The protagonist arrives at the place of rendezvous and is led into a private apartment. After only a few minutes of nervous anticipation, he hears silk rustling and footsteps ascending the stairs. His heart races, his cheeks glow, and his entire body trembles with ecstasy at the approaching meeting.

Elderly Governess Withers Revealed

The protagonist springs forward to embrace his charmer but recoils in horror upon finding that Miss Sparkle has been transformed into a wrinkled woman turned seventy. He stands struck dumb and petrified, while the ancient figure, perceiving his disorder, approaches with a languishing air, seizes his hand, and asks in a squeaking tone whether he is unwell. Her monstrous affectation deepens his disgust, and only with great effort does he manage to compose himself and offer a flimsy apology citing a sudden dizziness.

Withers’ Amorous Advances

Withers, alarmed by his initial confusion but reassured by his explanation, breaks into a thousand amorous coquetries and assumes the sprightly airs of a girl of sixteen. She ogled him with rheum-dimmed eyes, affected demure glances and blushes, tossed her palsied head, lisped childish questions, giggled with closed lips to hide her ruined teeth, sighed, and flung herself about in her chair. The protagonist, incapable of affronting anyone who claims to love him, struggles to maintain a civil demeanor and asks her name and condition.