And waving his hat, he cried out: "Ah, he recognizes us! He salutes us; he smiles. At last I see him after four years of separation. My God, I thank thee for having protected him!"
The young man's joy was so great that Mary and her father were also moved.
"So lively an affection for your uncle does you credit, Geronimo," said Mr. Van de Werve. "God loves a grateful heart; may He grant you to-day the desires of your heart!"
But the young man did not hear these words of encouragement; standing in the gondola, he waved to his uncle as if endeavoring to express to him by signs his joy at seeing him.
The gondola approached the galley, which slowly ascended the Scheldt in a favorable wind and with a rising tide.
The light boat soon gained the large ship. Before the ladder was lowered, Geronimo caught the cable of the galley, and ere Mary had recovered from her terror, he had reached the deck and was in his uncle's arms.
Mr. Van de Werve mounted the ladder cautiously, and approached Signor
Deodati, with whom he exchanged the most cordial salutations.
Mary remained in the gondola; she saw Geronimo embrace his uncle repeatedly; she rejoiced to perceive that the eyes of the old man were filled with tears of emotion. She was still more happy when she saw the affability with which her father and Geronimo's uncle conversed together, as though they were old friends.
Very soon the Signor Deodati descended into the gondola to accompany Mr.
Van de Werve and Geronimo to the city.
The Flemish cavalier introduced his daughter to the Italian noble.