THE RANSOM. 1S;

by money; but a million of bezants will be paid as
the ransom of my army, and Damietta given up in
exchange for my own freedom.’

After some negotiations the terms were agreed to;
and the sultan not only concluded the treaty joyfully,
but expressed his admiration of the nobility of spirit -
which Louis had displayed.

‘By my faith!’ said Touran Chah to the ambas-
sador, ‘this Frenchman is generous and noble, seeing
that he does not condescend to bargain about so large
a sum of money, but instantly complies with the first
demand. Go,’ added the sultan, ‘and tell him, from
me, that I make him a present of a fifth of the sum,
so that he will only have to pay four-fifths; and that
I will command all the principal nobles and his
creat officers to be embarked in four of my largest
galleys, and conducted safely to Damietta.’

It was Thursday before the Feast of Ascension;
and, while the King of France, and the Crusaders
were conveyed down the Nile in galleys, Touran Chah
travelled by land from Mansourah, in order to receive
Damietta, and perform the conditions of peace. On
reaching Pharescour, however, the sultan halted to
dine with his chiefs; and, while the other Crusaders
lay in their galleys on the river, the king and his
brethren were invited to land, and received into a
pavilion, where they had an interview with the sultan,
when Saturday was appointed for the payment of the
golden bezants and the surrender of Damietta. But
long ere Saturday a terrible tragedy was to occur,
and render Pharescour memorable as the scene of a
deed of violence, startling both to Asia and Europe.

N