e this quiet hour
and we will give it to you. Here with us are the Archbishop and others
who have been our counsellors, and here is Don Alonzo de Quintantella
who hath always stood your friend. In all the hurly-burly we yet took
time, two days ago, to sit in council and come to conclusion. And now we
give you our determination. In all reason it should give you joy!" She
smiled upon him. "How many years since first you laid your plan before
us?"

He answered her in a deep voice, thrilling and crowded with feeling.
"Seven years, Madam your Highness! Like an infant laid at your feet. And
winter has blown upon it, and sunshine carrying hope has walked around
it, and then again the cold wind rises--"

The King spoke. "Master Christopherus, in war much else has to cease! In
much we have had to find patience, and you have to find it."

"My lord King, yes!" replied the tall man. "It is eighteen years since
in Lisbon, looking upon the sea one day, I said to myself, 'Is there a
question that is not to be answered? This ocean is to be crossed. Then
why do not I cross it? There is Cipango, Cathay and India! Gold and
spices are there, and here lie ships, and between, when all is said, is
only sea! God made the sea to be sailed! Yonder they worship idols, here
we worship Christ. There are idols, here is Christ. Once a Christopherus
carried Christ across water!' Eighteen years ago. I said, 'I can do it!'
I say it to-day, my lord and my lady. I can do it!"

Of the seated great ones only the Queen's spirit appeared to answer his.
He seemed to enchant her, to take her with him. But the King's cool face
regarded him with something like dislike. He spoke in an edged voice.
"Saint Christopher asked no great wage. That is the point, Master
Christopherus, so let us to it! At last the Queen and I say 'We agree'
to this enterprise, which may bring forth fruit or may not, or may mean
mere empty loss of ships and men and of our monies! Yet we say 'yea.'
But we do not say 'yea ', Master Christopherus, to the too great ferry
fee which you ask! I say 'ask', but verily the tone is of command!"

The man whom they called Master Christopherus made a slow, wide gesture
of deprecation. The Archbishop took the word. "Too much! You ask a
hundred times too much! I must say to you that it is unchristianly
arrogance. You talk like a soldan!" An assenting murmur came from the
other ecclesiastics.

The Queen spoke. "Master Christopherus, if it be a great t