HISTORY OF MALTA.

45

than grieved upon the occasion, fearing, with reason, that the lossof so considerable a place would be attributed to him. He veryw r ell knew that complaints had been made in the convent of hishaving neglected the fortifications of Tripoli, and of his havingembezzled the money destined for that purpose, in order to providefor his nephews. The loss of that place might possibly revivethose complaints, and occasion a strict examination into his conduct,which might, perhaps, end in his being deposed. In order toescape from so dangerous a situation, he determined to render theambassador suspected, and to accuse him, together with marshalVallier, of having occasioned the loss of Tripoli. His friends im-mediately began to propagate false reports with respect to the con-duct of D’Aramont: they even secretly wrote letters to the diffe-rent knights dispersed throughout Europe, to accuse him of beingin league with the Turks. The language held in Malta on thissubject, and the reports thus malignantly spread, soon reachedD’Aramont: but no w'ords can express his surprise on the occasion.He instantly demanded an audience ; to which he w r as summoned toappear in full council. He took his seat next to the grand-master;and, thinking it umvortliy his character and situation to condescendto refute such false reports, he only requested, addressing himself toOmedes, that “ he would please to remember, that his journey intoAfrica was in consequence of his repeated entreaties; and that in orderto induce him to comply with .this request, the grand-master hadrepresented that the interests of Christianity w r ere concerned.” Helikewise noticed the great affection with which the king his master