The Adventures of Roderick Random

Ranter Forced to Leap Over a Sword

After the prank on Wagtail, Slyboot whispers to Random that Bragwell has been rude to him, prompting Random to publicly rebuke Slyboot and warn both Slyboot and Bragwell that he will not tolerate ill treatment. Ranter, seeking to stir up trouble, lies to Bragwell claiming Random insulted and threatened to beat him. Enraged, Bragwell draws his sword, and Random does the same, demanding Ranter leap over the sword held parallel to the floor three feet off the ground. When Ranter refuses and tries to flee, Bragwell prods him with his sword, forcing him to jump over the sword before he escapes the room.

Tavern Revelry Ends with Banter’s Apology

The night ends near 2 a.m. after the group pays their tab. The painter slips away without saying goodbye, an extremely drunk Chatter is sent to a bagnio, and Bragwell is left asleep on a bench at Moll King’s coffee-house after kicking several sex workers. Random and Banter leave Bragwell and walk toward Charing Cross, where both men live. During the walk, Banter apologizes for the earlier joke he made about Random being a French valet, explaining it was only a joke targeting Wagtail’s excessive seriousness and that he actually formed a favorable impression of Random from their first meeting. The two part as friends, with Banter promising to meet Random at the ordinary the next day.

第四十七章

This chapter (the 47th entry in the sequence, titled CHAPTER XLVII) follows a series of interconnected misadventures: the narrator’s servant Strap is deceived in his attempt to court a chandler’s widow, the narrator becomes infatuated with the wealthy socialite Melinda after meeting her at the Opera, confronts her arrogant suitor Bragwell at a Hampstead assembly, suffers heavy losses playing cards with Melinda, grapples with doubts about his courtship overnight, and receives a sarcastic, critical visit from his friend Banter.