Tom Jones Book 7, Chapter 15

The Conclusion of the Foregoing Adventure

• The lieutenant thinks that the guard actively helped Northerton escape.
• What actually happened was this:
• Northerton feels no guilt at all about hurting Tom.
• But he is a little concerned about either (a) going to prison, or (b) getting hanged.
• So he decides to escape.
• The landlady of their hotel finds Northerton really attractive.
• He also has a little money, which he passes on to her.
• She agrees to help him go free.
• Together, they arrange that he will climb down the chimney when she gives the signal.
• The landlady then uses the ghost-seeing guard as a scapegoat for Northerton's disappearance.
• Meanwhile, Tom has safely returned to his sickbed.
• He hears all of the commotion in the house and asks to see the lieutenant.
• Tom explains everything about the duel and trying to see Northerton.
• He promises that the guard is innocent of Northerton's escape.