The Adventures of Roderick Random

Mr. Brayer Delays Play Production

Without yet receiving any confirmation that the play will be staged, Melopoyn calls on Brayer and is repeatedly told the manager is not at home, even when Melopoyn perceives him watching from a window. Annoyed by this feigned absence, he writes a sharp letter from a nearby coffee-house demanding a categorical answer. Brayer, suddenly and profusely apologetic, receives him at once, blames the misunderstanding on his servant, expresses deep veneration for Lord Rattle, promises to peruse the play without delay, and presents Melopoyn with a general order admitting him to any part of the theatre for the season. Melopoyn, behind the scenes, often asks Brayer about the rehearsal, but the play remains unopened; meanwhile, another new play is written, offered, accepted, and rehearsed within three months. In his anger Melopoyn suspects Brayer of pitiful perfidy, but in calmer moments he prefers to attribute the behaviour to natural defects of memory or judgment rather than ill will.

Lord Rattle Recommends Melopoyn to Mr. Bellower

Moved by Melopoyn’s distress at his disappointment, Lord Rattle offers to use his interest to bring the tragedy on at the rival house, and Melopoyn eagerly accepts. Lord Rattle accordingly writes a letter of recommendation to Mr. Bellower, who is both an actor and the prime minister of Mr. Vandal, the proprietor of that theatre, and instructs Melopoyn to deliver it together with the manuscript without loss of time. Melopoyn hastens to Bellower’s house, waits a whole hour in the lobby, and is at last admitted to a stately audience, during which Bellower tells him he is extremely busy but will peruse the play as soon as possible and bids him call again in a week.