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.

I lay there and wept, thinking of my boat, my all, my precious boat!

We reached the landing—and there was my boat, safely tied up, not a
cushion nor a cord missing.

Gian Bellini? He may be a rogue as Pascale Salvini says—God knows! How
can I tell—I am only a poor gondolier!

-------------------------------------

So here then endeth the Volume entitled “The Mintage,” the same
being Ten Stories and One More written by Elbert Hubbard. The
whole done into a printed book by The Roycrofters at their Shop,
which is in the Village of East Aurora, Erie County, New York
State, this year of Grace mcmx and from the founding of The
Roycroft Shop the Sixteenth.