"And he related to me how, after many attempts without success, he had at last gained a certain sum of money, the loss of which he had just experienced.
"In what way did you lose it?" I asked him.
"'I put it in this bag.'
"'Has some one stolen it?'
"'No, it has slipt through this rent.'
"And he showed me a bag, whose ragged condition confirmed, and at the same time illustrated his statement.
"'Listen,' said I, sitting down beside him, 'you are simply devoid of common sense, by invoking the hatred of the gods! You alone are the cause of your present misery.
"'If you had simply reasoned before placing your money in this bag, this would not have happened to you.'
"And as he opened his eyes wide:
"'You would have thought this,' I resumed: