Isaac’s Mirth at the Captain’s Expense
The captain attempts to save face by claiming he knew the stranger and merely lacked time to inquire after his lord and lady. Joey exposes this lie by noting the man was christened John Trotter, not Tom Rinser as the captain claimed, and had merely filled wine for him at Lord Trippett’s table. The embarrassed captain attempts another excuse about rarely conversing with people of the stranger’s station. Isaac then savagely mocks the captain’s performance, noting he behaved like a good Christian, arming himself with patience and resignation rather than weapons and working out his salvation with fear and trembling. This satire produces general mirth at Weazel’s expense. When the captain threatens to cut Isaac’s throat, the usurer calls upon the company to witness that his life is in danger from the bloody-minded officer and demands he be bound over to the peace. Another round of laughter follows, and the captain remains crestfallen for the remainder of the journey.
CHAPITRE XIII.
The chapter follows Roderick Random and his servant Strap through a series of misadventures upon their arrival in London, ranging from supernatural terrors to encounters with tricksters and the indignities of city life.
The Midnight Apparition
Returning to their inn after a long journey, Strap falls ill and must rise in the night to use the privy. Carrying a candle, he returns in horror with his hair standing on end, claiming he has seen the devil. The travelers hear bells approaching their chamber, and a monstrous raven with bells at its feet enters and hops upon their bed, striking them through the blankets with its beak before vanishing. Terrified, they commend themselves to heaven’s protection. Soon another apparition appears: an old man with a long white beard and wild eyes, dressed in a brown stuff coat and cap, who wrings his hands and asks in a ghastly voice, “Where is Ralph?” After hearing bells in the distance, the figure departs. Strap falls into a fit while Roderick remains paralyzed with fear. Strap interprets the raven as a damned soul and the old man as the ghost of a murder victim who haunts the inn to torment the killer named Ralpho.
The Mystery Explained by Joey
The following morning, Strap recounts the night’s terrors to Joey, the driver who has accompanied them. Joey bursts into immoderate laughter and explains that the old man is the landlord’s father, an idiot who amuses himself with a tame raven that has escaped and wandered to their chamber. The old man was simply searching for his pet, which he calls Ralpho. With this rational explanation, the supernatural terror dissipates.
Arrival in London
After several more days of uneventful travel, Roderick and Strap finally reach London and lodge at the inn where their wagon stops. The next morning, they part from fellow passengers and set out to find the member of parliament to whom Roderick carries a letter of recommendation from Mr. Crab. Having already paid their inn bill, Strap shoulders their baggage in his knapsack and follows Roderick into the city streets, preparing to seek their fortune in the great metropolis.
A Whimsical Appearance
Roderick has dressed himself to his greatest advantage for this important introduction: he wears a clean ruffled shirt and his best thread stockings. His deep red hair hangs lank and straight upon his shoulders like a pound of candles. His coat has skirts reaching to the middle of his leg, with a matching waistcoat and breeches in the same style. His hat resembles a barber’s basin in shallowness and narrowness of brim. Strap appears less awkward but wears a short crop-eared wig resembling the character Scrub from a play, and the knapsack on his back combined with his long chin, hook nose, and high cheek bones give him what is called “a queer phiz.” Together they make a very whimsical and comical pair in the London streets.
Insulted by a Carman
At Roderick’s instruction, Strap approaches a carman in the street to ask directions to Mr. Cringer. The carman responds with a blank stare and the word “Anan!” When Roderick tries to clarify, he proves equally unintelligible to the carman, who curses them as a “lousy Scotch guard” and drives away whipping his horses with a “Gee ho!” Strap is nettled to the quick and declares he would fight the man for a farthing even though the carman has already departed.
The original text of this work is in the public domain. This page focuses on a guided summary article, reading notes, selected quotes, and visual learning materials for educational purposes.