The Adventures of Roderick Random

Retaliation and an Enraged Lover

Retaliation and an Enraged Lover

Summary: The cousins first hire a poor collegian to write verses attacking the narrator’s poverty and his parents’ unfortunate deaths, but the poorly composed piece instead reflects more dishonor on themselves since they and their relations had caused his misfortunes. Finding this plan unsuccessful, they next irritate a young gentleman by falsely telling him the narrator had lampooned his mistress. This enraged lover decides to seize the narrator the following night to have him ducked in the river, despite it being mid-December.

Thwarting the Ducking Ambush

Thwarting the Ducking Ambush

Summary: The narrator receives advance warning of the ambush and takes an alternate route home. With the assistance of his landlord’s apprentice, he discharges a volley from the garret window that inflicts significant harm upon the attackers. The incident becomes a source of mirth at their expense the next day, forcing them to leave town until the adventure is forgotten.

Betrayal by a Confidant

Betrayal by a Confidant

Summary: Despite twice failing in their schemes, the cousins enlist the narrator’s companion and confidant to betray him. This person reveals the details of the narrator’s minor romantic affairs to the cousins, who publish them with such exaggerations that the narrator suffers greatly in everyone’s opinion and is completely abandoned by the women whose names had been called into question.

Mysterious News from Home

Mysterious News from Home

Summary: While investigating the source of this treachery, the narrator notices his landlady’s altered demeanor. She announces she has letters from Mr. Bowling—one enclosed for him—and expresses sorrow about what has happened, suggesting Mr. Bowling’s brutal behavior has likely brought him into misfortune. She implies he may be in trouble but deflects personal responsibility, offering only vague sympathy while hinting the narrator should have learned a trade.