"Well, about a quarter of an hour afterwards, sure enough, a tall, thin, elderly gentleman, with grey hair, in a top hat and frock coat, came along, and he paused when he got to Lal, and looking round first to see that he was not observed, he stopped beside Lal, and greeted him with, 'Well, my old friend, and how are you this evening? do you feel inclined to converse with me, or will you remain immovable, silent and cold as you sometimes choose to be? Indeed I hope you feel disposed to talk kindly to me, for I am far from happy, in fact it never entered into my calculations that a highly successful man could ever be quite so miserable.' After saying so much as this the elderly gentleman paused, and observing that Lal had not taken any notice of his remarks whatever, added in a lower tone, as if speaking to himself, 'Ah, not communicable to-night, only bronze and stone, eh?' "Then the Lion spoke. 'I am not the only thing of bronze and stone. Have you ever thought how the definition might perhaps apply to yourself, for instance, Alderman Simon Gold?' "The tall thin gentleman appeared to be slightly taken aback by the Lion's words. "'You have a front of bronze,' continued the Lion, 'and as hard; you have a heart of stone and as useless.' "'It seems to me, my old friend,' replied the tall thin gentleman, 'that you have some grievance against me by the hard words you are giving me. I came to you for comfort, but you don't seem to have anything of the sort to bestow. However, I suppose all of us have our ill humours.' "'True,' assented the Lion, 'save that some of us never change that ill humour, but continue with it all through life. You yourself are one of those people.' "'Humph! I certainly have displeased you,' vouchsafed the tall thin gentleman; 'how I really cannot imagine.' "'I will tell you,' replied the Lion. 'Listen, therefore, carefully. Let us go back to the very beginning of our acquaintance. I am correct in stating that you were a homeless, ragged little urchin prowling the streets of London.' The tall thin man nodded. 'I gave you the only shelter you knew; others have used it since, all of them models of gratitude compared with yourself. My friendship did not stop there. You wanted work, a home, a name and riches. Who directed you to the City? who told you how to start, and where you would find all those things so long as you worked hard and were honest?' "'I did all those things,' interrupted the tall thin man; 'I did work hard, I got a home, name, riches, and I have been honest.' "'Until to-day,' purred the Lion, 'until to-day, Alderman Gold.' "'To-day,' echoed the Alderman, but he started slightly. "'Those shares you bought in the City to-day, a very great number, do you call that transaction honest?' "The Alderman's eyes sought the ground. "'Three people will be ruined in that transaction if you keep to it.' "'Think of the money.' "'Think of your name.' "'I must have money.'