Angel's laughter ceased. He became with portentous swiftness
a downright, plain man of business. He talked, all of
us clustered together on the Cordova road.
"The Archbishop kept me from that audience yesterday,
leaving Don Alonso de Quintanella your only friend there!
The Queen was tired, the King fretted. They thought they
had come a long way, and there you stood, Master Christopherus,
shaking your head! Don Alonso told me about it,
and how hopeless it seemed! But I said, `If you conquer
a land don't you put in a viceroy? I don't see that Don
Cristoval isn't as good as Don This One, or Don That One!
I've a notion that the first might not oppress and flay the
new subjects as might the last two! That is a point to be
made to the Queen! As for perpetuity of office and privileges
down the ages, most things get to be hereditary. If
it grows to be a swollen serpent something in the future will
fall across and cut it in two. Let time take care of it! As
for wealth, in any land a man who will bear an eighth of the
cost may fairly expect an eighth of the gain. This setting
out is to cost little, after all. He says he can do it with
three small ships and less than a hundred and fifty men. If
the ships bring back no treasure, he will not be wealthy. If
there is a little gain, the Spains need not grudge him his
handful of doubloons.
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