As I was sitting therefore in a corner of the gaol, in a pensive posture, one of my fellow prisoners came up, and sitting by me, entered into conversation.

It was my constant rule in life never to avoid the conversation of any man who seemed to desire it: for if good, I might profit by his instruction; if bad, he might be assisted by mine.

I found this to be a knowing man, of strong unlettered sense; but a thorough knowledge of the world, as it is called, or, more properly speaking, of human nature on the wrong side.

He asked me if I had taken care to provide myself with a bed, which was a circumstance I had never once attended to.
'That's unfortunate,' cried he, 'as you are allowed here nothing but straw, and your apartment is very large and cold.

However you seem to be something of a gentleman, and as I have been one myself in my time, part of my bed-cloaths are heartily at your service.' I thanked him, professing my surprize at finding such humanity in a gaol in misfortunes; adding, to let him see that I was a scholar, 'That the sage ancient seemed to understand the value of company in affliction, when he said, Ton kosman aire, ei dos ton etairon; and in fact,' continued I, 'what is the World if it affords only solitude ?' 'You talk of the world, Sir,' returned my fellow prisoner; 'the world is in its dotage, and yet the cosmogony or creation of the world has puzzled the philosophers of every age.