st, whence come those things that make the pride
of life. The merchants of Venice were princes, and it was in my head to
make those of Bruges no worse. What did it profit that the wind turned
daily the sails of our three hundred mills if we limited ourselves to
common burgher wares and the narrow northern markets? We sent emissaries
up the Rhine and beyond the Alps to the Venice princes, and brought
hither the spices and confections of Egypt and the fruits and wines of
Greece, and the woven stuffs of Asia till the marts of Flanders had the
savour of Araby. Presently in our booths could be seen silks of Italy,
and choice metals from Innsbruck, and furs from Muscovy, and strange
birds and beasts from Prester John's country, and at our fairs such a
concourse of outlandish traders as put Venice to shame. 'Twas a long
fight and a bitter for Willebald and me, since, mark you, we had to make
a new road over icy mountains, with a horde of freebooters hanging
on the skirts of our merchant trains and every little burg on the way
jealous to hamper us. Yet if the heart be resolute, barriers will fall.
Many times we were on the edge of beggary, and grievous were our losses,
but in the end we triumphed. There came a day when we had so many bands
of the Free Companions in our pay that the progress of our merchandise
was like that of a great army, and from rivals we made the roadside
burgs our allies, sharing modestly in our ventures. Also there were
other ways. A pilgrim travels unsuspect, for who dare rob a holy man?
and he is free from burgal dues; but if the goods be small and very
precious, pilgrims may carry them."

The monk, as in duty bound, shook a disapproving head.

"Sin, doubtless," said the woman, "but I have made ample atonement. Did
I not buy with a bushel of gold a leg of the blessed St. George for the
New Kirk, and give to St. Martin's a diamond as big as a thumb nail and
so bright that on a dark day it is a candle to the shrine? Did not I
give to our Lady at Aix a crown of ostrich feathers the marrow of which
is not in Christendom?"

"A mother in Israel, in truth," murmured the cleric.

"Yea, in Israel," said the old wife with a chuckle. "Israel was the
kernel of our perplexities. The good Flemings saw no farther than their
noses, and laughed at Willebald when he began his ventures. When success
came, it was easy to win them over, and by admitting them to a share in
our profits get them to fling their caps in the a