Departure
The following day, the narrator departs with Strap in a postchaise for Gravesend. They board the ship, and with favorable wind conditions, they weigh anchor within twelve hours. The vessel sets sail without incident as the narrator leaves England behind.
Arrival at the Downs
The ship reaches the Downs without encountering any mishap. However, they are forced to anchor there and wait for an easterly wind that will allow them to navigate out of the Channel and continue their voyage.
第六十五章
CHAPTER LXV narrates Roderick Random’s secret journey to Sussex to see Narcissa one last time before departing on a voyage, his subsequent reunion with her, and the discovery that the voyage is actually a slave trading expedition to Guinea bound for Paraguay.
Journey to Sussex
Roderick obtains leave from the captain to go ashore, explaining to Strap that he must see Narcissa before leaving England. The two hire horses and set out from Deal, covering thirty miles to Sussex. They halt five miles from the squire’s estate and wait for nightfall before proceeding through the darkness to Mrs. Sagely’s cottage.
Consultation with Mrs. Sagely
Roderick devises a careful plan to contact Mrs. Sagely without alarming her. Strap approaches the door alone, passing a letter through the threshold. When Mrs. Sagely reads it and recognizes Roderick’s voice through the keyhole, she admits him. She reveals that Narcissa has been strictly confined since returning from Bath, particularly after a servant revealed she had sent a letter to Roderick. Mrs. Sagely proposes a dangerous plan to enter the squire’s garden and hide until Narcissa comes out for air.
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