and charm of the brothers, who had now become proficient in
the Tartar language, and persuaded them to accompany him on
his journey to the presence of the Great Khan, who had never
yet set eyes on a man of the West, and would, he assured
them, receive them honourably. They would not have been
Venetians had they refused such an opportunity, and, taking
their Venetian servants with them, they journeyed for a year
with the Tartar embassy across the heart of Asia, and so
reached the great Kublai Khan. Many years later Marco himself
described their reception, as they had told it to him:

Being introduced to the presence of the Grand Khan Kublai,
the travellers were received by him with the condescension
and affability that belonged to his character, and as they
were the first Latins who had made their appearance in that
country, they were entertained with feasts and honoured with
other marks of distinction. Entering graciously into
conversations with them, he made earnest inquiries on the
subject of the western parts of the world, of the Emperor of
the Romans, and of other Christian kings and princes ... and
above all he questioned them particularly respecting the
Pope, the affairs of the Church, and the religious worship
and doctrine of the Christians. Being well instructed and
discreet men, they gave appropriate answers upon all these
points, and as they were perfectly acquainted with the Tartar
language, they expressed themselves always in becoming terms;
insomuch that the Grand Khan, holding them in high
estimation, frequently commanded their attendance.[16]

[Illustration: III. PART OF A LANDSCAPE BY CHAO MÊNG-FU]