CHAPTER XV.
Strap moralises--presents his purse to me--we inform our landlord of our misfortune--he unravels the mystery--I present myself to Cringer--he recommends and turns me over to Mr.Staytape--I become acquainted with a fellow dependent, who explains the character of Cringer and Staytape--and informs me of the method to be pursued at the Navy Office and Surgeons' Hall--Strap is employed In our way to our lodging, after a profound silence on both sides, Strap, with a hideous groan, observed that we had brought our pigs to a fine market.

To this observation I made no reply, and he went on: "God send us well out of this place; we have not been in London eight and forty hours, and I believe we have met with eight and forty thousand misfortunes.

We have been jeered, reproached, buffeted, and at last stript of our money; and I suppose by and bye we shall be stript of our skins.

Indeed as to the money part of it, that was owing to our own folly .-- Solomon says, 'Bray a fool in a mortar, and he will never be wise.' Ah! God help us, an ounce of prudence is worth a pound of gold." This was no time for him to tamper with my disposition, already mad with my loss, and inflamed with resentment against him for having refused me a little money to attempt to retrieve it.

I therefore turned towards him with a stern countenance, and asked, who he called fool?
Being altogether unaccustomed to such looks from me, he stood still, and stared in my face for some time; then, with some confusion, uttered, "Fool! I called nobody fool but myself; I am sure I am the greatest fool of the two, for being so much concerned at other people's misfortunes; but 'Nemo omnibus horis sapit'-- that's all, that's all." Upon which a silence ensued, which brought us to our lodging, where I threw myself upon the bed in an agony of despair, resolved to perish rather than apply to my companion, or any other body, for relief; but Strap, who knew my temper, and whose heart bled within him for my distress, after some pause came to the bedside, and, putting a leathern purse into my hand, burst into tears, crying, "I know what you think, but I scorn your thought.