In the cabin he was most courteously received by De Gourges, and
invited to a seat; but before taking it he inquired with a trembling
voice,
"Oh, sir, know ye aught of a certain noble chevalier of France, by name
Rene de Laudonniere, and whether he be still alive or no?"
"Ay, that I do. He of whom thou speakest is not only alive, but is
well known to me. Not only that, but it is owing to his pitiful tale
of cruel wrong done to him and those with him in this country that I am
here at this present moment. But thou art overcome with emotion; what
had he to do with thee?"
Upon thus learning that his dearly beloved uncle had escaped, and was
yet alive, Rene had sunk into a seat, and buried his face in his hands.
In a moment he obtained mastery of himself, and looking up, answered,
"He was all and more to me than an own father; for I am his only
nephew, Rene de Veaux."
At the utterance of this name De Gourges sprang to his feet, and
regarding his visitor intently, exclaimed,
"What! Do I hear thee truly? Art thou indeed that Rene de Veaux so
bitterly mourned by the Chevalier Laudonniere, and not the savage thou
seemest? If so, there is the best part of my mission to this new world
accomplished by this meeting."
As Rene satisfied the other of his identity as the nephew of
Laudonniere, De Gourges embraced him warmly, and would have at once
proclaimed the joyful intelligence to those on deck; but the young man
begged of him to refrain from so doing for yet a short while, as there
was still much that he would say to him alone.
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