"
"When you die, senor, there will die a great servant of
the world."
I spoke so because I knew the cordial that he wanted.
His eyes brightened, strength came into his voice. "Do
you know aught of my brother the Adelantado?"
"No. He may be on his way from Xaragua. What would
you wish him to do, sir?"
"Come quietly to San Domingo as I came. This Governor
is but a violent, petty shape! But I have sworn to
obey the Queen and the King of the Spains. I and mine
to obey."
I asked him if he believed that the Sovereigns knew this
outrage. I could believe it hardly of King Ferdinand, not
at all of the Queen.
Again I felt that this was cordial to him. I had spoken
out of my conviction, and he knew it. "No," he said. "I
do not believe it. I will never believe it of the Queen!
Look you! I have thought it out in the night. The night
is good for thinking out. You would not believe how many
enemies I have in Spain. Margarite and Father Buil are
but two of a crowd. Fonseca, who should give me all aid,
gives me all hindrance. I have throngs of foes; men who
envy me; men who thought I might give them the golden
sun, and I could not; hidalgos who hold that God made
them to enjoy, standing on other men's shoulders, eating
the grapes and throwing down the empty skins, and I made
them to labor like the others; and not in Heaven or Hell
will they forgive me! And others--and others.
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