"'Please send me as soon as you 'ave it, a goodish-sized lump o' bread and drippin', or a big baked 'tater, cos' I am as empty as ever I can 'ang together. I don't want nothink tasty, but jist somethink fillin'. I'm very grateful for lions wot talk and 'elps yer like a pal; and please don't let no blighted coppers a see me, and lock me up. Don't forget the drippin'--any sort, beef, mutton, or pork. Amen.' "'Humph!' remarked the Lion, when I concluded, 'that is a most singular petition; to whom is it addressed?' "'Up there, Lal,' I answered, looking into the sky; 'they say you gits everythink from there.' "'Dear me,' replied the Lion, 'really most singular. I notice you did not describe the manner in which you expected these provisions to arrive.' "'I'll get 'em, Lal; if not ter-night, ter-morrer.' "The Lion looked down at me quite kindly I thought. 'What is your name?' he asked. "'Ain't got no name that I knows of 'cept Skylark.' "The Lion purred softly. 'You will have a name some day,' he said, 'and a great name, too. Why are you called Skylark now?' "''Cos I sings and whistles, t'other blokes in the streets calls me that.' "I was just starting to show him how I could whistle, and had done a bit, when we heard pitter-patter, pitter-patter, and the sound of flying padded feet over the stone Square. "The Lion sniffed. 'It's a dog. What is he doing here to-night? I suppose he is lost.' "I looked out between his paws, and I gave a shout of delight; I was answered by loud yelps of gladness. "'It's Sam,' I shouted. 'Oh, Sam, 'ole cockie, 'ere I is; jump up wiv me and Lal.' "'Is he all right?' asked Lal. "'Yus,' I yelled, 'a friend, a fust-class friend. 'Ere, Sam, I'll 'elp yer up by yer paws,' and he scrambled up and licked my face. Then he looks at the Lion. "'He'll do,' said Lal. 'Tell him not to attract attention by barking or making any more of that noise. You must both go to sleep; and I must say that you are a remarkably strange pair. However, here you are, and here you must stay.' "When I woke up in the morning it was just beginning to be daylight. I spoke to Lal, but he wouldn't answer, he was cold and still, and didn't look as if he had ever spoken or moved in his life, and never would again. I folded the policemen's aprons up tight and thin like truncheons in case they missed them, clambered down, followed by Sam, and had a wash in one of the basins of the fountains, and got fairly clean and respectable, except my coat, all torn in half, which I couldn't help, and then I set out to see what I could find. It was Sam who nosed out something like a breakfast. "Two stale buns in a bag. I should think some child had thrown them away--penny buns they were. I never tasted anything better, and Sam had some of them, and he thought they were all right.