Page:Adventures of Roderick Random.pdf/36

 did not amount to twelve shillings. After a good deal more conversation, my new acquaintance and I parted having made an appointment to meet next day. I went immediately to Strap and related every thing which happened.

In the morning I got up, and went to the Navy-office, which I entered, and saw crowds of young fellows walking below. I made up to one whose countenance I like (his name was Thomson) and asked if he could instruct me in the form of a letter which was to be sent to the board to obtain an order for examination. He answered me in broad Scotch that he would shew me the copy of what he had wrote for himself, by the direction of another who knew the form: he pulled it out and told me if I was expeditious. I might send it to the board before dinner, for they did no business in the afternoon. We went to a coffee-house hard by, wrote the letter, and immediately delivered it to the messenger, who told me, I might expect an order tomorrow about the same time. Having transacted this piece of business, my mind was a good deal composed; and as I had met so much civility from this stranger, he agreed to dine with me at the cook's shop which I frequented, where we sat.