The Adventures of Roderick Random

第二十三章

The chapter chronicles Miss Williams’ encounter with a bailiff, her imprisonment in the Marshalsea, her eventual release, and her detailed account of her fall from prosperity into prostitution, concluding with her determination to abandon that way of life.

Miss Williams Interrupted by a Bailiff

The narrator’s fellow-lodger Miss Williams is interrupted by a bailiff and his men who burst into the lodging with a writ for her arrest. The bailiff informs her she must come with him, and his followers handle her roughly. The narrator becomes incensed and reaches for a poker to defend her, but Miss Williams calmly begs him not to use violence on her behalf. She examines the writ and declares she is not the person named in it. The bailiff insists they will prove her identity and asks whether she prefers to be taken to his house or to jail. She chooses his house over a common jail, but when she admits her poverty, he calls a coach to take her directly to the Marshalsea. Before departing, Miss Williams tells the narrator not to worry, for she knows how to extricate herself from this difficulty and perhaps gain something by the occasion. Despite being puzzled by her discourse, the narrator offers to accompany her to prison, and after much entreaty, she accepts.

Carried to the Marshalsea

Upon arriving at the Marshalsea, the bailiff presents the writ to the turnkey, who immediately recognizes the name Elizabeth Cary and exclaims how glad he is to see his old acquaintance. However, when he actually observes Miss Williams’ face, he starts back in surprise, questioning who she is. The bailiff insists she is indeed Elizabeth Cary, but the turnkey declares he will be hanged if this is Elizabeth Cary and not someone else entirely. Miss Williams points out that the bailiff might have saved them both trouble had he taken her word at first. The bailiff states he requires further evidence of her identity before they part. Miss Williams responds that he shall have further evidence, to his cost. They retire to the lodge, where she writes a note to two acquaintances and requests the narrator to fetch them.