It contents you, Master Christopherus?"
The long-faced, high-nosed, gray-eyed man answered,
"No, my lord King."
"Your own terms or none?"
"Mine or none, your Highness."
The King's voice grew a cutting wind. "To that the
Queen and I answer, `Ours or none!' " Pushing back
his chair, he glanced at sun out of window. "It is over. I
incline to think that it was at best but an empty vision. You
are dismissed, Master Christopherus!"
The Genoese, bowing, stepped backward from the table.
In his face and carriage was nothing broken. He kept
color. The Queen's glance went after him, "What will you
do now, Master Christopherus?"
He answered, "My lady, your Highness, I shall take
horse to-morrow for France."
The King said, "France?--King Charles buys ever low,
not high!"
The Sovereigns and the great churchmen and the less
great went away together. After them flowed the high attendance.
All went, Don Enrique among the last. Following
him, I turned head, for I wished to observe again two
persons, the painter Manuel Rodriguez and the Admiral of
the Ocean-Sea. The former painted on. The latter walked
forth quite alone, coming behind the grinning pages.
In the court below I saw him again. The archway to
street sent toward us a deep wedge of shadow. He had a
cloak which he wrapped around him and a large round hat
which he drew low over his gray-blue eyes.
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