I withdrew to my own room, so much the more sorry that my doctor _in fieri_ had lost, as I feared I had brought him ill-luck. Prepossessed with this ridiculous idea, I reproached myself in having stood by him all the game, and considered myself as the cause of his ruin. Then recollecting myself, and blushing at my foolish sensibility: what an egregious fool I am, thought I, thus to torment myself about what does not in the least concern me. Have I not troubles enough of my own, but I must grieve for other people’s losses? While my mind was occupied with these thoughts, I heard the young man enter his own room which was only divided from mine by a thin partition. He had just returned from the town without having been able to get any more money, and, more enraged against those who had refused to lend him any than those who had stripped him of his last farthing, “What misery!” cried he; “is it possible that in a town like Bologna, an honest man cannot find means of borrowing thirty pistoles? sure the inhabitants must be Turks instead of Christians;--indeed I can scarcely believe but the Turks would have humanity enough to relieve me in such an emergency!” Thus saying, he sighed most bitterly and stalked up and down the room for a considerable time; then relapsing into his passion, he roared like a bull, struck the table with his fist, and bestowed all the curses he could think of on the inhabitants of Bologna. At length, tired of raving and swearing, he threw himself upon the bed, continuing his lamentations in a more plaintive tone. In vain did I endeavour to harden my heart, for I felt, in spite of myself, much afflicted at his misfortune. At this moment my confidant entered my chamber, and told me that after considerable difficulty, he had been so fortunate as to find return horses to Milan. “Speak low my friend,” said I, in a whisper. “My neighbor is so distressed at the loss of his money, that he has excited my pity, and I will confess to you that I have some idea of avenging his cause.” “How can you effect that?” said Sayavedra. “By taking his place this evening, and playing in his stead, to be sure,” answered I. “It must be neck or nothing--full pockets or empty all of a sudden. At all events, it is very certain that the small sum we have now left will not carry us far. Thirty pistoles, which is the utmost we have, will go such a little way with travellers who do not condescend to walk, and who live like noblemen at inns, that it appears to me we cannot hesitate a moment. What think you, Sayavedra, what do you advise? Tell me not that I am going to occupy the place of one whose ill-luck may be contagious, as I am no superstitious player, and besides shall be quite a match for my opponents.”