ecretary) had not wherewithal to purchase a dinner. I
therefore answered, I had not yet determined what to give; and sneaked
off toward my own lodging, lamenting my fate all the way, and inveighing
with much bitterness against the barbarity of my grandfather, and the
sordid avarice of my relations, who left me a prey to contempt and
indigence.

Full of these disagreeable reflections, I arrived at the house where I
lodged, and relieved my landlord from great anxiety on my account; for
this honest man believed I had met with some dismal accident, and that
he never should see me again. Strap, who had come to visit me in
the morning, understanding I had been abroad all night, was almost
distracted, and after having obtained leave of his master, had gone in
quest of me, though he was even more ignorant of the town than I. Not
being willing to inform the landlord of my adventure, I told him I had
met an acquaintance at Surgeons' Hall, with whom I spent the evening and
night; but being very much infested with bugs, I had not slept much, and
therefore intended to take a little repose; so saying, I went to bed,
and desired to be awakened if Strap should happen to come wile I should
be asleep. I was accordingly roused by my friend himself, who entered my
chamber about three o'clock in the afternoon, and presented a figure to
my eyes that I could scarce believe real. In short, this affectionate
shaver, setting out towards Surgeons' Hall, had inquired for me there
to no purpose: from whence he found his way to the Navy Office, where
he could hear no tidings of me, because I was unknown to everybody then
present; he afterwards went upon 'Change, in hopes of seeing me upon the
Scotch walk, but without success. At last, being almost in despair
of finding me, he resolved to ask everybody he met in the street, if
perchance anyone could give him information about me! and actually
put his resolution in practice, in spite of the scoffs, curses, and
reproaches with which he was answered; until a blacksmith's 'prentice
seeing him stop a porter with a burden on his back, and hearing his
question, for which he received a hearty curse, called to him, and asked
if the person he inquired after was not a Scotchman? Strap replied with
great eagerness, "Yes, and had on a brown coat, with long skirts." "The
same!" said the blacksmith. "I saw him pass by an hour ago," "Did you
so?" cried Strap, rubbing his hands, "Odd! I am very glad of that--which
wa