Page:Memoirs of the Lady Hester Stanhope.djvu/151

 the door. About a quarter of an hour afterwards, the maid brought in a message from the porter to say that two Franks, just arrived at the village of Jôon, had sent their servant with a note, and the porter wished to know whether the note was to be taken in. For Lady Hester had been so tormented with begging letters, petitions, stories of distress, &c., that it was become a general rule for him never to receive any written paper, until he had first sent in to say who had brought it, and from whom it came; and then she would decide whether it was to be refused or not. The note, accordingly, was fetched.

Lady Hester read it to herself, and then the following conversation took place, which will explain some of the reasons why she did not always receive strangers who presented themselves at her gate. "Yes, doctor," said she, "you were right: they are two travellers, who have been to Palmyra and about, and want to come and talk to me concerning the Arabs and the desert. Should you like to go to Jôon, and tell them I can't see them, because I have been confined to my room for several days from a bad cold?" I answered, "Certainly; I would go with the greatest pleasure." She then rang the bell, and desired the servant to order my horse. She continued, "One of the names, I think, is a man of a great family.""What is it?" I asked. She took up the note