"
Don Enrique exclaimed. Juan Lepe turned eyes to the
painter. The blue eyes met mine--there rose the rushy
pool, there dozed the broken boat. Manuel Rodriguez spoke
in his voice that was at once cool and fine and dry and
warm. "It is best to dare thoroughly! Perhaps I may
help you--as thus! Wishing to speak with Don Enrique
of an altar painting for the Church of Saint Dominic, I
asked him here and he came. We talked, and he will give
the picture. Then, hearing the Queen's approach, he would
instantly have been gone, but alack, the small door is barred!
--As for fisherman yonder, few look at squire when knight
is in presence!"
No time to debate his offer, which indeed was both wise
and kind! Chamberlains flung open the door. In came the
Queen, with her the Princess Juana and several of her
ladies. Beside her walked Fernando de Talavera, Her Highness's
confessor, yesterday Bishop of Avila but now Archbishop
of Granada. Behind him moved two lesser ecclesiastics,
and with these Don Alonzo de Quintanella, Comptroller-
General of Castile. Others followed, nobles and
cavaliers, two soberly clad men who looked like secretaries,
a Franciscan friar, three or four pages. The room was
large and had a table covered with a rich cloth, two great
chairs and a few lesser ones.
The painter and Don Enrique bent low to the Majesty
of Castile.
Pages:
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49