In 'Roderick Random', what tragic event happens to Roderick's gentle companion Strap in London that illustrates the dangerous, predatory nature of metropolitan high society?
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Correct answer: He is fleeced of all his savings by a smooth-talking card sharp and a corrupt prostitute.
Strap arrives in London with honest intentions and hard-earned money, but his provincial innocence makes him an immediate target for urban predators. He is quickly swindled out of his funds by professional con artists, a standard picaresque trope used to demonstrate that the metropolis rewards predatory deceit over simple honesty.
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