I approached him and explained that I was a poor worker in the
glass-factory, who had to work all day and half the night, and as I
lived over in the city and my wife was dying, I must get home. Would
he allow me to ride with His Highness? "Certainly--with pleasure, with
pleasure!" he answered, and then pulling something from under his sash
he said, "Is this your cap, Signor?" I took my cap, but my tongue was
paralyzed for the moment so I could not thank him.
The wind had died down, the rain had ceased, and from between the
blue-black clouds the moon shone out. Gian rowed with a strong, fine
stroke, singing a "Te Deum Laudamus" softly to himself the while.