But
our Age sinned.
The year wheeled to October. Juan Aguado came with
four caravels to Isabella, and he brought letters of a different
tenor from those that Torres brought. We heard in
them the voice of Margarite and the Apostolic Vicar.
But now the Admiral was well again, the Indians defeated,
Hispaniola basking in what we blithely called peace.
Aguado came to examine and interrogate. He had his letters.
"Cavaliers, esquires and others, you are to give Don
Juan Aguado faith and credit. He is with you on our part
to look into--"
Aguado looked with a hostile eye toward Viceroy and
Adelantado. Where was a malcontent he came secretly if
might be, if not openly, to Aguado. Whoever had a grudge
came; whoever thought he had true injury. Every one who
disliked Italians, fire-new nobles, sea captains dubbed Admirals
and Viceroys came. Every one who had been restrained
from greed, lust and violence came. Those who
held an honest doubt as to some one policy, or act, questioned,
found their mere doubt become in Aguado's mind
damning certainty. And so many good Spaniards dead in
war, and so many of pestilence, and such thinness, melancholy,
poverty in Isabella! And where was the gold? And
was this rich Asia of the spices, the elephants, the beautiful
thin cloths and the jewels? The friends of Christopherus
Columbus had their say also, but suddenly there arose all
the enemies.
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