He turned one startled glance towards the door to see if there were any
listeners, and answered, 'Hollander, Madame.'

The Countess had travelled with diplomatists all her life, and knew a
little of the vernacular of most languages, and it was in Dutch--broken
indeed, but still Dutch--that she declared that she was sure that she
might rely on his protection--a security which in truth she was far
from feeling; for while some of these unfortunate men, renegades only
from weakness, yearned after their compatriots and their lost home and
faith, others out-heroded the Moors themselves in ferocity, especially
towards the Christian captives; nor was a Dutchman likely to have any
special tenderness in his composition, above all towards the French.
However, there was a certain smile on the lips of Reis Hamed, and he
answered with a very hearty, 'Ja! ja! Madame. Upon my soul I will let
no harm come to you or the pretty little ones, nor the young vrouwkins
either, if they will keep close. You are safe by treaty. A Reis would
have to pay a heavy reckoning with Mehemed Dey if a French ambassador
had to complain of him, and you will bear me witness, Madame, that I
have not touched a hair of any of your heads!'

'I am sure you wish me well, sir,' said Madame de Bourke in a dignified
way, 'but I require to be certified of the safety of the rest of my
suite, my steward, my lackey, and my husband's secretary, a young
gentleman of noble birth.'

'They are safe, Madame. This Italian slave can bear me witness that no
creature has been harmed since my crew boarded this vessel.'

'I desire then that they may be released, as being named in my