The Adventures of Roderick Random

The Letter Scheme

Following Miss Williams’s counsel, the two devise a careful scheme. For the present, Miss Williams is to tell Narcissa only that, in the course of her inquiries, she could learn nothing beyond Roderick’s name. If, within a day or two, no other avenue of introduction presents itself, she is to deliver a letter from him under the pretext that he met her in the streets and bribed her to carry it on the errand of consulting Narcissa’s happiness. With this arrangement settled, Roderick keeps his old acquaintance to breakfast.

News of Sir Timothy’s Death

Over breakfast, Miss Williams relates that Roderick’s rival, Sir Timothy, drank himself into an apoplexy and died five months ago. She adds that the “savage” (the nephew) remains still unmarried, a piece of news that removes the most direct obstacle to Roderick’s hopes.

The Aunt’s Marriage and Illness

Miss Williams further reports that Roderick’s aunt, in a whim the nephew little expected, has chosen the parish schoolmaster for her husband. Matrimony, however, has not agreed with her constitution: she has long been hectic and dropsical and is now at Bath taking the waters in hopes of recovering her health. Narcissa, at the aunt’s request, has accompanied her thither and continues to attend her with the same affection as before, despite the aunt’s earlier misdeeds. The nephew, exasperated at the loss of his aunt’s fortune, has come not out of goodwill but to keep a watchful eye on his sister and prevent her from throwing herself away without his consent or approbation.

Confiding in Strap

After they have enjoyed themselves together and set an assignation to meet the following day at a particular place, Miss Williams takes her leave. Strap, burning with curiosity about the nature of the communication between Roderick and his visitor, fixes him with very inquisitive looks; Roderick thereupon makes him privy to the whole affair, to his companion’s great astonishment and satisfaction.