COUNTESS DE BOURK. 97 
tres, to be paid immediately. In concluding this bargain, the 
mountaineers declared to the deputies that their consent was 
the effect of the veneration they entertained for their mara- 
bouts, and did not originate from any fear of the Dey of Al- 
giers, The marabout having left a Turk as a hostage, to- 
gether with several jewels belonging to his wives, departed 
with the five slaves. 
They proceeded to Bugia, where they arrived on the 9th of 
December, embarked the following day, and landed at Algiers 
on the 13th, at day-break. The consul went to meet them, 
and conducted them from the port to the ambassador's hotel, 
which was crowded with Christians, Turks, and even Jews. 
The ambassador received the young lady at the entrance into 
the court, and first conducted her to his chapel, where she 
heard mass, and then Te Deum w^as sung to thank the Al- 
mighty for this happy deliverance. 
Scarcely any of the spectators could refrain from tears. 
Even the Turks and Jews appeared to be affected. Indeed, 
this young lady, not quite ten years of age, after enduring the 
hardships, privations, and distresses of slavery, retained a cer- 
tain air of dignity; her manners and ejcpressions announced 
an excellent education, and manifested a mind superior to the 
cruel trials to which she had been exposed. The persons be- 
longing to her suite declared that she had always been the 
first to encourage them, and had frequently exhorted them 
rather to sufler death than to betray their fidelity to their God. 
After some days allowed to these unfortunate persons, and 
the Moors, by whom they Vv^ere attended, to recruit themselves, 
the nine hundred piastres agreed to be paid, as the ransom of 
Mademoiselle de Bourk, and the persons of her suite, were 
delivered to the deputy of the grand marabout. M. Desault 
likewise added some presents tor the marabout himself, and 
the other officers who had been concerned in the negotiation. 
On the 3d January, 1720, Mademoiselle de Bourk, accom- 
panied by her uncle and female attendant, embarked in M. 
Desault's ship, and after a few ordinary accidents arrived at 
Marseilles on the 20th of March. Her uncle, the Marquis 
de Varenne, came to receive her from the hands of M, 
Desault. 
Mademoiselle de Bourk remained several years m the bo- 
som of her family, till her marriage w^th the Marquis de T — . 
She passed her life agreeably Avith him, and has not been 
dead many years. Her children, prior to the revolution, lield 
a distino-uished rank in Provence. 
o 
