aid--

"My dear father, as I perceive that you do not require your crutches at
this moment, you will not perhaps object to my taking one. These
foreign scoundrels must not be permitted to insult you through the
person of your only son."

"Turn him out," roared my father.

The natives advanced, but I whirled the crutch round my head, and in a
moment they were both prostrate. As soon as they gained their feet, I
attacked them again, until they made their escape out of the room; I
then shut the door and turned the key.

"Thank you, my dear sir," said I, returning the crutch to where it was
before. "Many thanks for thus permitting me to chastise the insolence
of these black scoundrels, whom, I take it for granted, you will
immediately discharge;" and I again took my seat in the chair, bringing
it closer to him.

The rage of the general was now beyond all bounds; the white foam was
spluttered out of his mouth, as he in vain endeavoured to find words.
Once he actually rose from the sofa, to take the law in his own hands,
but the effort seriously injured his leg, and he threw himself down in
pain and disappointment.

"My dear father, I am afraid that, in your anxiety to help me, you have
hurt your leg again," said I, in a soothing voice.

"Sirrah, sirrah," exclaimed he at last, "if you think that this will do,
you are very much mistaken. You don't know me. You may turn out a
couple of cowardly blacks, but now I'll show you that I am not to be
played with. I discard you for ever--I disinherit--I disacknowledge
you. You may take your choice, either to quit this room, or be put into
the hands of the police."

"The police, my dear sir! What can the police do? I may call in the
police for the assault just committed by your servants, and have them up
to Bow Street, but you cannot charge me with an assault."

"But I will, by Gad, sir, true or not true."

"Indeed you would not, my dear father. A De Benyon would never be
guilty of a lie. Besides, if you were to call in the police;--I wish to
argue this matter coolly, because I ascribe your present little burst of
ill-humour to your sufferings from your unfortunate accident. Allowing,
then, my dear father, that you were to charge me with an assault, I
should immediately be under the necessity of charging you also, and then
we must both go to Bow Street together. Were you ever at Bow Street,
general?" The general made no reply, and I proceeded. "Besides, my
de