The Mystery Explained by Joey
The following morning, Strap recounts the night’s terrors to Joey, the driver who has accompanied them. Joey bursts into immoderate laughter and explains that the old man is the landlord’s father, an idiot who amuses himself with a tame raven that has escaped and wandered to their chamber. The old man was simply searching for his pet, which he calls Ralpho. With this rational explanation, the supernatural terror dissipates.
Arrival in London
After several more days of uneventful travel, Roderick and Strap finally reach London and lodge at the inn where their wagon stops. The next morning, they part from fellow passengers and set out to find the member of parliament to whom Roderick carries a letter of recommendation from Mr. Crab. Having already paid their inn bill, Strap shoulders their baggage in his knapsack and follows Roderick into the city streets, preparing to seek their fortune in the great metropolis.
A Whimsical Appearance
Roderick has dressed himself to his greatest advantage for this important introduction: he wears a clean ruffled shirt and his best thread stockings. His deep red hair hangs lank and straight upon his shoulders like a pound of candles. His coat has skirts reaching to the middle of his leg, with a matching waistcoat and breeches in the same style. His hat resembles a barber’s basin in shallowness and narrowness of brim. Strap appears less awkward but wears a short crop-eared wig resembling the character Scrub from a play, and the knapsack on his back combined with his long chin, hook nose, and high cheek bones give him what is called “a queer phiz.” Together they make a very whimsical and comical pair in the London streets.
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