Most imposing of all, there was shown a table on which was every golden
bracelet and ornament that had been collected. To be sure, these were
not numerous, but everybody hinted to everybody else that they were but
a few articles out of Columbus's well-filled treasure-ship. The
discoverer himself, richly clad, mounted on a fine horse, and surrounded
by gorgeously accoutered _caballeros_, brought up the rear of this
unique procession. What shouting as he passed! and later what reverent
thanksgiving! Barcelona was no insignificant little port like Palos, to
be stupefied at the wonder of it; Barcelona was one of the richest and
most prosperous seaports of Europe, and could look upon the discovery
intelligently; and precisely because she herself had learned the lesson
that trade meant wealth, she rejoiced that this wonderful new avenue of
commerce had been opened for Spain.

The display over, the king and queen invited Columbus to tell his story.
Now had arrived the most critical moment since his return; but our
Admiral, it is to be regretted, did not realize it, else he would have
been more guarded in what he said. He should have told a straightforward
tale of what he had done, without one word of exaggeration; but
Christopher had a fervid Italian imagination and could never resist
exaggerating. So, instead of dwelling on the one stupendous, thrilling
fact that he had sailed three thousand miles into the fearsome west and
discovered new lands; instead of making them feel that he was great
because of what he _had_ done, and letting it go at that, the
foolish man filled his narrative with absurd promises of miracles he
would perform in the future. But none of it did seem absurd to him! He
had persuaded himself, by this time, that west of his poor, uncivilized
islands lay richer countries; and so he did not hesitate to assure the
sovereigns that he had discovered a land of enormous wealth, and that if