The Adventures of Roderick Random

Actor Objections at Lord Rattle’s Play Reading

When Melopoyn presents the revised manuscript, he finds an actor of twenty years’ standing taking breakfast with Lord Rattle, who introduces them and asks the player to read a scene. The actor performs it well in matters of emphasis and pronunciation but makes objections to various words on every page. When Melopoyn presumes to defend his choices, Lord Rattle overrules him sharply, reminding him that a player of such long experience understands the economy of the stage better than any man living. Forced to submit, Melopoyn watches as Lord Rattle arranges an evening reading of the whole play before several gentlemen of fortune whom he will convene at his lodgings.

Lord Rattle Secures Brayer’s Acceptance of the Play

At the reading held at Lord Rattle’s lodgings, Melopoyn suffers acutely as the same actor raises a thousand frivolous objections that he is not allowed to answer. The piece is nevertheless applauded on the whole, and the gentlemen present promise to countenance and support it. Lord Rattle, assuring Melopoyn that he will act the part of a careful nurse to it, instructs him to carry the play home and alter it immediately according to the remarks made. Melopoyn complies as swiftly as he can, but before he can deliver the new copy, Mr. Supple has sold his property and patent to a new manager, one Mr. Brayer, making fresh application necessary. Lord Rattle undertakes this task and successfully recommends the play so strongly that it is accepted by the new manager.

Brayer’s Feigned Absence and Sudden Apology

Melopoyn, expecting to be on the verge of harvesting the fruits of his labour, applies to Lord Rattle to ask why the play has not been put into rehearsal. Lord Rattle excuses Mr. Brayer, citing the multiplicity of business in which the new manager is involved, and warns Melopoyn not to tease the patentee. Thunderstruck at the delay, Melopoyn endures three more weeks, after which Lord Rattle informs him that Mr. Brayer has at last read the tragedy, acknowledged its indubitable merit, and explained that he was pre-engaged to another author for the present season. Brayer offers, however, to accept the play for the following season, provided Melopoyn will revise it during the interim according to observations Brayer has noted in the margin. Lord Rattle rebukes Melopoyn for his complaints, vouches for Mr. Brayer’s honour, and ascribes his conduct merely to forgetfulness.