victim of insidious maligners. In truth, the contrast was so startling as
to strike home to the hearts of the common people, even of those--and
there were many such--who had lost kinsmen or friends in that fatal quest
for gold which the admiral had originated and stimulated. The broad fact
was this: Columbus had given Spain a new world; Spain loaded him with
fetters in return. There was a reaction. The current of public opinion
began to turn in his favour. The nation became conscious of ingratitude to
its benefactor. The nobility were shocked at the insult to one of their
own order. And no sooner had the Sovereigns learned from Columbus of his
arrival, and of his disgrace, than they issued immediate orders for his
liberation, and summoned him to their court at Grenada, forwarding money
to enable him to proceed there in a style befitting his rank. They then
received him with all possible signs of distinction; repudiated
Bobadilla's arbitrary proceedings; and promised the admiral compensation
and satisfaction. As a mark of their disapprobation of the way in which
Bobadilla had acted under their commission, they pointedly refused to
enquire into the charges against Columbus, and dismissed them as not
worthy of investigation.

But though the Sovereigns acted thus promptly on the admiral's behalf,
there is no doubt that one of them, at least, was in no wise displeased at
his being removed from his government. At each fresh discovery, Ferdinand
had repented more and more of the concession by which Columbus was to
receive an eighth part of the profits of the newly-found countries, and to
be their governor-general. He probably apprehended that this viceroy, when
once master of the boundless wealth which was supposed to be nearly within
his grasp, would become more powerful than his master, and might finally
throw off his allegiance altogether. But here was an opportunity, without
any flagrant breach of faith, of eluding the bargain, by refusing, on very
plausible grounds of policy, to reinstate Columbus immediately in his