“Oh, a great many celebrated men have been associated with these Temples,” Mr. Watkins explained. “Dr. Johnson once lived here, you know, and one of the newer buildings is called Dr. Johnson’s building.”
“By the way,” the Captain interrupted, “that reminds me. It is time we had something to eat, and I want you both to take lunch with me after we go down and have a look at the gardens.”
While they walked through the beautiful Temple gardens, with their fountains, flower-beds, and gigantic trees, with the Thames flowing in front and the great series of Temple buildings in the rear, Kit wondered how speaking of Dr. Johnson reminded the Captain of eating lunch. He could not at the time see any connection between them, but he saw it a few minutes later.
“Let us go out this way,” the Captain said, “into the Strand. I have not been here for many years, but these old places do not change much. I know of a very good restaurant not far from here.”
In the Strand they turned to the right, and a few steps took them into Fleet Street, where the Captain soon stopped and guided them into a narrow alley bearing the sign, “Wine Office Court.” A few feet up the court, on the right-hand side, they went through a doorway that looked nearly as old as anything about the Temple, and so into a restaurant with old-fashioned high-backed benches, stiff old chairs, heavy oak tables, and a fireplace that looked as if it might have been used by the Crusaders.
“You take that seat at the end of the table, in the corner, Silburn,” the Captain said, “and Mr. Watkins and I will take the sides. We don’t have to consider here about what we will eat, because the great dish is a chop and a baked potato, with some of the baked Cheshire cheese to finish up on. You know the name of this place is ‘The Olde Cheshire Cheese.’ I was reminded of it as soon as Mr. Watkins spoke of Dr. Johnson.”
“This is one of the famous old eating-houses of London, Silburn,” the Captain continued. “I wanted to bring you here because I saw you reading my ‘Boswell’s Life of Johnson’ the other day, so I thought it would interest you.”
“Oh, he must have been a great man, sir,” Kit answered. “I am very much interested in that book.”
“Well, look at that brass plate on the wall just over your head,” the Captain laughed.
Kit turned his head and read the words, cut in a small brass plate that was screwed to the wall, “The seat of Dr. Samuel Johnson.”