though--a friend said to me the other day, 'Who was that lady I
seen you with?' and I said, 'That wasn't no lady, that was my
wife'. Now ladies and gentlemen I take this egg, and in order to
make it stand upright I tap one end gently-- thus against the
table until that end is flattened-- and then, presto--the egg
stands upright. Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you one and all
for your kind attention."

Thus it was that Colombo impressed King Ferdinand and his court
with his profound knowledge of geography. Next the tale tells
how there came to Colombo on Michaelmas Eve one sent by Queen
Isabel, And when Colombo had buckled on his sword Impavide he
followed the messenger through winding corridors and came at last
to the chamber of the Queen. And as he knelt before her it
seemed to Colombo that never before had he seen such
unforgettable beauty as shone in the eyes of Queen Isabel. Yes,
truly, this was the loveliest girl that Colombo had ever
imagined.

"Now do you rise", said she, "and you and I shall have a nice
chat alone here together, and you can tell me all about geography
of which I am oh, frightfully ignorant. In truth", said she, "I
have tried to get Ferdinand to instruct me, but I fear", said
Queen Isabel, "that Ferdinand does not understand me."

So Colombo instructed Queen Isabel in the fundamentals of
geography. And after a while he spoke.

"Now many people", said Colombo, "believe that the earth is flat,
but", said Colombo, "such is not at all the case."