The Adventures of Roderick Random

Squire Gawky’s Indifference

Squire Gawky’s Indifference

Summary: The narrator encounters Squire Gawky, whose father had sent him to town for improvement in writing, dancing, fencing, and other fashionable accomplishments. The narrator informs Gawky of his desperate circumstances and requests a small loan. Gawky displays a handful of halfpence with a shilling or two, claiming this is all he has until quarter-day, having lost most of his allowance at billiards the previous night. He expresses neither sympathy for the narrator’s mishap nor desire to help, leaving the narrator deeply mortified at this indifference.

Challenging Gawky to a Duel

Challenging Gawky to a Duel

Summary: The narrator later discovers that Gawky was the one who betrayed him to his cousins and had also informed them of his forlorn situation, providing them great triumph. Resolving to call him to account, the narrator borrows a sword and writes a challenge requesting Gawky meet him at a certain time and place to answer for his perfidy with his blood. Gawky accepts the invitation. Despite experiencing considerable reluctance to the combat, manifested in cold sweats along the way, the narrator’s desire for revenge, shame of retracting, and hope of conquest enable him to appear at the field with good grace.

Gawky’s Cowardly Retreat

Gawky’s Cowardly Retreat

Summary: The narrator waits at the appointed place for an hour beyond the scheduled time, pleased to learn Gawky has fled. He goes directly to Gawky’s lodgings, discovering that Gawky departed for the country less than an hour after receiving the challenge. The narrator arranges for this story of cowardice to be published in the news, though he must sell his gold-laced hat for less than half-price to pay the expenses and sustain himself.