The Adventures of Roderick Random

Repeated Failed Meetings with the Theatre Manager

Melopoyn presents himself at Mr. Supple’s house and mentions Father O’Varnish’s name, but the servant reports the master is busy and cannot be seen. When Father O’Varnish accompanies Melopoyn the next time, they gain immediate entry, and the manager receives Melopoyn civilly, promising to read the play soon. Melopoyn returns in a fortnight as appointed but learns the manager is out. A week later, Supple claims illness; another fortnight passes with assurances that fatigue has prevented finishing the reading. When Melopoyn appears again, he discovers Supple confined with gout, who delivers devastating news: his eldest son found the manuscript on the dining-room table, brought it to the kitchen, and the cook-maid mistook it for waste paper, using it to baste fowls on the spit. When Melopoyn protests he has no other copy, Supple is relieved to hear he can rewrite it from memory. Melopoyn completes the recreation in three weeks, but the season has passed, and Supple explains the play would interfere with players’ benefit nights if ready by March. Melopoyn must wait until the next season.

Melopoyn’s Financial Hardship and Search for Subsistence

By this point, Melopoyn has exhausted nearly all his money, having launched into extravagances based on theatrical expectations. His finances that should have sustained him comfortably for a year are nearly depleted after six months of spending ten guineas, though he blames the temptations of city pleasures. He wrote to his farmer kinsman promising repayment by February, which he now cannot fulfill. He confides his distress to his landlord, who allows him to continue lodging and boarding until fortune changes. Father O’Varnish offers to introduce him to a weekly paper author, but Melopoyn declines upon learning the publication foments political divisions.