A poor vagabond, traveling a country road in England, tired and hungry, came to a roadside inn with a sign reading: ""George and the Dragon."" He knocked. The innkeeper's wife stuck her head out a window. ""Could ye spare some victuals?"" he asked. The woman glanced at his shabby clothes and obviously poor condition. ""No!"" she said rather sternly. ""Could I have a pint of ale?"" ""No!"" she said again. ""Could I at least sleep in your stable?"" ""No!"" By this time, she was fairly shouting. The vagabond said, ""Might I please...?"" ""What now?"" the woman interrupted impatiently. ""D'ye suppose,"" he asked, ""I might have a word with George?""