The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling: Book 12, Chapter 14 Summary & Analysis

Around dusk, as Tom and Partridge are headed to London, a gentleman on a shabby horse comes up to them and asks if he can ride along with them to London. The stranger is afraid of being robbed, but Partridge reassures him that they have superior numbers to resist a robbery and that if Partridge happened to have a 100-pound bank note in his pocket, he wouldn’t be afraid to lose it. A while later, the man pulls out a pistol and demands that Tom give him the 100-pound bank note—this man is a highwayman.

Tom is shocked, but he eventually composes himself to lie to the highwayman, saying all the money he has is the few guineas in his pocket. The highwayman demands the note, but Tom lunges at him and manages to wrest the pistol away. The highwayman protests that he is desperate—this is his first robbery, and the pistol isn’t even loaded. Partridge wants to kill the highwayman, but Tom shows mercy after determining the pistol really is unloaded.

Tom gives the highwayman back his pistol, along with a couple guineas for his wife and children, making him promise to live a more upright life. The highwayman weeps, or at least pretends to, and gives Tom his word. Partridge doesn’t approve of Tom’s decision, believing theft should be severely punished, but Tom reminds him that Partridge himself was about to steal Sophia’s money earlier.