The Adventures of Roderick Random

Dividing the Proceeds

Jackson looks at the money, says it is not enough for his needs, and tells the narrator he can take an extra half guinea or full guinea on top of the five shillings he kept as repayment. The narrator initially refuses, saying he has no way to repay the extra money, but Jackson calls him naive for refusing to borrow from a friend in need, says it is a sign of a weak spirit, and insists the narrator take the extra money. The narrator accepts, and Jackson offers to treat him to a play as thanks. The narrator returns to his lodgings with a much better opinion of Jackson than he had that morning.

Strap’s Romantic Ambitions

That night, the narrator tells Strap about his day’s events and the money he received from Jackson. Strap rejoices, and rambles about his own romantic ambitions, saying he once shaved a gentleman whose female companion gave him such adoring looks that his hand shook so much he cut the gentleman’s nose. He compares himself favorably to a journeyman baker who ran away with a wealthy lady and now keeps a coach, saying a barber is a more noble profession than a baker since the head is more important than the belly, and notes he can read, write, and speak Latin unlike the uneducated baker. The narrator teases Strap for his obvious vanity, and Strap insists his good fortune will come to light despite the narrator’s doubt.

第十七章

This chapter follows the narrator’s examination at Surgeons’ Hall, where he encounters the eccentric Mr. Jackson. After the examination, Jackson disguises himself to appear older and more respectable, only to be detected as an imposter. The narrator and Jackson then visit a tavern and subsequently a night-house, where Jackson loses his purse and all of them are arrested. They are committed to the round-house, where an arbitration settles the matter. Finally, they are taken before a justice, who initially threatens them severely before discovering the truth and releasing them.