France, Italy, all were greater than Spain because they had been forging
ahead while Spain had been hampered by Moorish wars. Even Portugal,
Spain's very small neighbor, had forged ahead by reason of her unequaled
maritime enterprise. One of these countries was sure to grow even more
important through giving Columbus a few ships and a few titles. Said
this little group to each other, "No matter what the man's price, Spain
will have to pay it!"

Luis de Santangel, treasurer of King Ferdinand's realm of Aragon,
determined to go and talk it over with the queen who, apparently, had
not been present at the recent hearing of Columbus. To apply further to
Ferdinand would have been useless, for he had vowed he would have
nothing more to do with the matter. Isabella possessed more imagination
than her husband, and to this imagination Santangel thought he could
appeal.

First he pointed out that Columbus's very stubbornness about rewards
might be taken as proof that he was certain to find whatever he promised
to find; then he reminded her that the navigator was a very devout man,
and that in his enterprise there was a strong religious motive; should
he discover new lands, not only would their heathen population be
converted to Christianity, but their commerce would make Spain so
wealthy that she could undertake a new crusade and conquer the infidels
who held the Holy Sepulchre. This possibility impressed Isabella
profoundly, for she and her husband were the stanchest defenders of
Christianity in all Europe. Now that Santangel had roused her
imagination, he proceeded to make the whole matter clear by a practical
suggestion as to ways and means. He reminded his royal listener that
Columbus had offered to raise one eighth of the expense of the
expedition (Columbus having repeated the offer made at La Rabida by