This reminds me of the ludicrous account he gave Mr. Langton, of the despicable state of a young gentleman of good family.  "Sir, when I heard of him last, he was running about town shooting cats."  And then in a sort of kindly reverie, he bethought himself of his own favorite cat, and said "But Hodge shan't be shot: no no, Hodge shall not be shot."

                        James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson