# LIII explained — Lavengro

> Chapter companion for Lavengro by George Borrow.

## What happens

The narrator encounters the thimble-and-pea man on the green, who offers him a position as a 'bonnet'—an accomplice who covers for the game. The narrator declines, despite the man's persuasive talk of wages and his story of leaving theft for this trade. After watching the game and warning the man of an approaching constable with a Romany phrase, the man flees.

## Themes in this chapter

### Honor and Morality

The narrator rejects the dishonest but profitable offer to be a 'bonnet,' choosing instead to maintain his integrity despite being out of employ.

### The Gypsy and the Outsider

The narrator uses Romany language to warn the thimble man of the constable, showing his connection to outsider cultures and languages.

## Character check-ins

### Lavengro

The narrator is approached by the thimble-and-pea man, declines the offer to be a 'bonnet,' and later warns the man of a constable using Romany.

### The Stranger

The thimble-and-pea man, who offers the narrator a job as a 'bonnet' and recounts his past as a pickpocket and his turn to the thimble game.

## Key lines

> Them that finds, wins—them that don't find, loses.

Those who locate the pea win the bet; those who do not lose their stake.

_The thimble man's standard pitch to potential players._

> I think you would do to be my bonnet.

I believe you would be suitable to act as my accomplice and cover.

_The thimble man offers the narrator a role as a decoy or lookout._

> Shoon thimble-engro; Avella gorgio.

Hear, thimble man; a constable is coming.

_The narrator warns the thimble man of the approaching constable using Romany._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/liii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/lavengro_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/lavengro_se/chapters