"'Haven't 'ee heard it, yer honour? Haven't 'ee heard that London was as black as night at noon-day?'
"'Most remarkable,' said the gentleman; 'and can you tell me what caused the darkness?'
"'Sartin sure I can. A monstrous great bird flew over the town, and shut out the sun with his wings.'
"'That is astonishing. And did you hear anything else?'
"'Ess; they've a-turned Smithfield Market into a kitchen, and all the people are to be fed upon whitepot.'
"'You really mean it?'
"'I tasted it, yer honour,' replied Tom.
"'And was there anything else worthy of notice?'
"Tom scratched his head. 'There was something else,' he added, in a sort of hardly-worth-talking-about style. 'The River Thames catched on fire.'
"'Ah,' said the gentleman, rising and ringing the bell; 'and I have "catched" a rank imposter, and, being a magistrate, will commit you forthwith to prison as a rogue and a vagabond.'