Pickle having thanked this gentleman for his civilities, and promised
to be governed by his advice, invited him to pass the evening at his
apartment; and, in the meantime, shut himself up with Crabtree, in order
to deliberate upon the wreck of his affairs. Of all his ample fortune
nothing now remained but his wardrobe, which was not very sumptuous,
about thirty guineas in cash, and the garrison, which the misanthrope
counselled him to convert into ready money for his present subsistence.
This advice, however, he absolutely rejected, not only on account of his
having already bestowed it upon Hatchway during the term of his natural
life, but also with a view of retaining some memorial of the commodore's
generosity. He proposed, therefore, to finish in this retreat the
translation which he had undertaken, and earn his future subsistence by
labour of the same kind. He desired Cadwallader to take charge of his
movables, and send to him such linen and clothes as he should have
occasion for in his confinement. But, among all his difficulties,
nothing embarrassed him so much as his faithful Pipes, whom he could no
longer entertain in his service. He knew Tom had made shift to pick up
a competency in the course of his ministration; but that reflection,
though it in some measure alleviated, could not wholly prevent the
mortification he should suffer in parting with an affectionate adherent,
who was by this time become as necessary to him as one of his own
members, and who was so accustomed to live under his command and
protection, that he did not believe the fellow could reconcile himself
to any other way of life.