Page:Memoirs of the Lady Hester Stanhope.djvu/187

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Lady Hester Stanhope.
173

officer, by whom he had four or five children, one of whom is now living at Givet, in the department of the Ardennes.

Mr. L. was fearless at all times, and inimical to despotism even in the centre of its worshippers. Scindeah had unjustly imprisoned an Armenian merchant, whose wealth he intended to confiscate for his own benefit. As the oppressive act was founded on no just grounds, and application had been made to General Loustaunau for his interposition, when he found that entreaties were of no avail, "one day," said he, "I took fifty of my men, fellows de bonne volonté, and, marching strait to the rajah's palace at a time when I knew he was in his divan, I entered, walked up to him, and in a mild, but pretty determined tone, said, 'Your highness, be not alarmed, I am come to ask a favour of you: you must release the Armenian merchant, as I have sworn to set him free.' Seindeah saw that I meant not to trifle, and, assuming a friendly air, he complied with my request. The gurads were astounded at my audacity, but they dared not sir, for I and my men would have sabred them instantly."

After having covered himself with glory, as the French express it, he obtained his congé; and, being resolved to return to France, he visited some of the English settlements in his way to the place of his