Tom Jones Book 9, Chapter 6

A Friendly Conversation in the Kitchin, Which Had a Very Common, Tho' Not Very Friendly Conclusion

• While all of this canoodling is going on upstairs, there's a party going on in the kitchen.
• Partridge, the landlord, the landlady, the sergeant, and a coachman are all gathered around some beer.
• The landlady and landlord fall to arguing over whose fault the afternoon's brawl actually was. They each blame the other.
• Partridge tells them all that he is traveling with the heir to the great Squire Allworthy.
• He says that they just came from an adventure with the Man of the Hill, whom Partridge still thinks is the devil.
• The group thinks over the nature of the devil: mainly, they agree that he has to exist, because who else would punish the people who deserve it?
• The landlord says something about the devil taking an officer who stiffed him on his hotel bill.
• The sergeant takes offense and accuses the landlord of hating both the army and the king.
• Partridge tries to calm things down, but the sergeant thinks he's insulting him.
• The sergeant challenges everyone to a duel, and the coachman randomly accepts.
• The sergeant beats the tar out of the coachman.
• The coachman is so drunk (and now injured) that he can't drive anywhere.
• His employer, a young lady who appears to be "in love, and running away from her friends" (9.6.6), calls for him, but he can't answer.
• The landlady runs up and tells Tom and Mrs. Waters what's been happening downstairs.
• Tom sighs a little at the news of the young lady in distress over her coachman.
• Mrs. Waters realizes that he's probably in love with a similar young lady, but she doesn't mind.
• She's satisfied with Tom's body and doesn't really want his heart.