Finding Strap
One day while on guard at a general officer’s gate, the narrator sees a gentleman in mourning departing from a nobleman’s house, to whom the nobleman says “You may depend upon my good offices.” The gentleman turns and the narrator recognises the features of his old friend Strap, though Strap is transformed and appears as a gentleman. The Swiss porter reveals that the man is Monsieur d’Estrapes, formerly valet-de-chambre to a deceased English gentleman, and highly regarded by the marquis for his fidelity.
The Recognition
The narrator visits Strap’s lodgings, concealing his name and causing Strap considerable fear, imagining he might be connected with the Bastille. When the narrator asks Strap to look at him, he starts back exclaiming impossibility. Only when the narrator speaks English does Strap recognise him, leaping upon him with transport, kissing him and weeping like a schoolboy. Strap expresses grief at finding his friend reduced to a foot soldier and upbraids him for abandoning Strap in London, though he forgives the narrator, acknowledging his lucky ramble abroad.
Strap’s Generosity
Strap insists that all he has is at the narrator’s disposal and invites him to dinner. The narrator accepts but first requests a shirt, revealing that he has been without one for weeks. Strap, shocked, provides a fine ruffled Holland shirt and cambric neckcloth, revealing he has three dozen of the same kind. Strap provides an excellent dinner of soup, bouilli, pullets, and asparagus, with biscuit and Burgundy, then requests the story of the narrator’s fortunes since their parting.
The narrator learns Strap’s story: he lived a year at Paris with his master, who acquired the language and fashionable exercises, then toured France and Holland where Strap fell ill from excess. He recovered at Montpelier but relapsed at Rheims and died within ten days. Strap was left by will wearing apparel, a gold watch, sword, rings, ready money, and moveables worth three hundred pounds. Strap immediately offers all this to the narrator, but he refuses, reminding Strap that he is a soldier, prompting Strap to insist they must procure his discharge.
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.