But whether he would have protected you from me, we will differ about
that. I've often thought of you, Marco Polo, and you coming this way.
I could have used you in my work of keeping the kings and chieftains
of the world in fear and subjection."

"Then why am n't I in your garden, Old Man of the Mountain?"

"The four most beautiful women in the world are in my garden.
There is a tall, black-haired woman, and she is fairer and more
adroit than Lilith, who was before Eve; and there is a tall, blond
woman, and she is like a queen; and there is a slim, copper-colored
woman, and she is like an idol in a shrine; and there is a little
brown-haired woman, and she is like a child. But none of those
women could make you believe you were in paradise while there's a
face in your heart. Not the cross of the Lord Jesus is between you
and me, but the face of little Golden Bells of China."

"But I am not going to China to woo Golden Bells, Old Man of the
Mountain. I am going to convert the men of Cathay."

The Old Man of the Mountain laughed and stroked his beard.

"You had a sermon from Gregory before you came away. Did he tell
you you were to convert the men of Cathay?"

"He did not."

"Ali, Gregory's a sound man. He knew you can't make saints in a day.
Why, child, I've seen the beginning of the world, and I've seen the
end of it. I've seen the beginning in a crystal glass, and I've seen