The party then entered a house in one of the courts of Fleet street and Frank felt happy in having met with one likely to befriend him.  For though the gentleman was rather pompous in his manners and somewhat awful in his aspect, yet there was a look of kindness about him and an expression of humanity and consideration in his countenance.  When the intoxicated gentleman had been seated for a few minutes, his faculties partially returned and looking, or rather endeavouring to look upon Atherton, for his eye was not steady enough to take a good aim, he said:  “Young gentleman, I am very highly obli—­obli—­obligat—­”

“Obligated,” roared the old gentleman, “you would say.  But you had better hold your tongue.  That is the best use you can make of it.”

“Glorious!  Capital!  Ten thousand thanks for that superb aphorism.  Doctor, you must recollect that for me to-morrow morning, and you must put it down for me in your best style.”  He then went on hiccuping and muttering—­“The best use, hic, the best use, hic, I can make of my, hic, the tongue, hic, hold your tongue, hic, oh doctor hic, I shall never forget, hic, I hope you will remind me of it, hic, to-morrow morning.”

The old gentleman shook his head and sighed; the tipsy orator proceeded, and directing his speech to Atherton he managed to say, with many interruptions, “Young gentleman, you may think yourself happy in having thus accidentally as it were, for it was all by pure accident, been introduced to the great Dr. Johnson.  And if you need any advice or direction, you are now at the fountain head of all practical wisdom.  My friend’s comprehensive genius takes in all subjects from the government of empires to the construction of an apple dumpling.  Follow his advice and you cannot do wrong, neglect it and you cannot do right.—­Is not that well said, Doctor?—­Rather tersely put?”

“Go to sleep, Bozzy,” said the doctor, “you don’t know what you are talking about, go to sleep.”

“But I know what you have been talking about.  My ears are always awake to your wisdom, when all my other senses are asleep.  We have had a glorious day of it, Doctor, you routed them all, they had not a word to say for themselves.”

“I wish it were so with you,” replied the Doctor.

“Good again!  Put that down;” said Mr. Boswell, and then turning to Atherton, he continued, “You see how free I am with my illustrious friend.”

“Be quiet, Bozzy,” said the doctor again.

“Well, well I may go to sleep contentedly to-night, for I have not lost a day.  I shall record it all to-morrow, and that fine glorious laugh which you uttered as we came through Temple Bar; I shall never forget the awful reverberation.  There is not a man in Europe whose laugh can be compared with yours.—­I shall never forget it;—­pray remind me of it to-morrow morning,—­I shall never, never forget it, never nev—­nev.”  So saying he fell fast asleep.