Barnaby Rudge · Chapter
Chapter 28 explained
Mr.
What happens
Mr. Chester dines at a coffeehouse, reflecting on his clever schemes, then visits a gaming-table before returning home. He discovers Hugh asleep on his staircase and wakes him. Hugh reports on Edward Chester's visit to the Maypole, Dolly's intercepted note, and the quarrel between Joe and his father. Mr. Chester takes the note, plans to intercept Dolly on her walk, and warns Hugh to keep their association secret. After Hugh leaves, Mr. Chester muses on his plot, then has a disturbing dream about Hugh at his door.
Themes in this chapter
Manipulation and Exploitation
Mr. Chester manipulates Hugh, using his past crime to control him, and intercepts Dolly's letter for his own purposes.
Guilt and Retribution
Hugh's dream and Mr. Chester's uneasy sleep hint at guilt and the fear of retribution for their schemes.
Characters to notice
- Sir John Chester
Dines, gambles, and returns home to find Hugh asleep on his staircase. He manipulates Hugh, takes Dolly's note, and plans to intercept her.
- Hugh
Walks twelve miles to London, waits for Mr. Chester, and delivers Dolly's note. He is warned to keep their association secret.
- Edward Chester
Mentioned as having visited the Maypole, attempted to see Dolly, and left a letter that was withheld by John Willet.
- Dolly Varden
Wrote a note to Emma Haredale, which Hugh intercepted and gave to Mr. Chester. Mr. Chester plans to meet her on her walk.
- Joe Willet
Mentioned as having quarreled with his father over delivering Edward's letter.
Key passages
“Repairing to a noted coffeehouse in Covent Garden when he left the locksmith’s, Mr. Chester sat long over a late dinner, entertaining himself exceedingly with the whimsical recollection of his recent proceedings, and congratulating himself very much on his great cleverness.”
After leaving the locksmith's, Mr. Chester went to a coffeehouse in Covent Garden, where he dined late and amused himself by thinking about his recent actions, feeling very pleased with his own cunning.
Highlights Mr. Chester's self-satisfaction and manipulative nature.
“I have thrown the shell; it will explode, I think, in eight-and-forty hours, and should scatter these good folks amazingly.”
I have set my plan in motion; it will detonate within two days and greatly disrupt these people.
Reveals Mr. Chester's scheming and anticipation of chaos.