here is one jewel alone which, if your Majesty will
bestow it upon me, will leave me your debtor for ten other ships. That
jewel your Majesty has promised me: it is my Isabella, in obtaining whom
I shall be richly rewarded, not only for this service, such as it is,
which I have rendered your Majesty, but for many others which I intend
to perform in order to repay some part of the incalculable amount which
your Majesty will bestow upon me in that jewel."

"Rise, Richard," replied the queen, "and believe me that were I to
deliver Isabella to you in the way of bargain at the price at which I
value her, you could not pay for her with all the wealth of your
prize-ship, nor with what remains in the Indies. I give her to you
because I promised to do so, and because she is worthy of you, and you
of her; your valour alone entitles you to have her. If you have kept the
jewels in the ship for me, I have kept your jewel for you; and though
it may seem to you that I do not do much for you in returning to you
what is your own, I know that I confer upon you a boon the worth of
which is beyond all human computation. Isabella is yours; there she
stands; you may claim her when you will, and I believe that it will be
with her own consent, for she has the good sense to prize your affection
as it deserves. I shall expect you again to-morrow to give me a more
detailed account of your exploits, and bring me those two Spaniards who
wish to see me, that I may gratify their desire." Richard kissed the
queen's hand, and her majesty retired.

The ladies now gathered round Richard, and one of them, the lady Tansi,
who had taken a great liking to Isabella, and who was the liveliest and
most facetious lady of the court, said to him, "What is all this, sir?
Why these arms? Did you, perchance, imagine that you were coming here to
fight your enemies? Believe me, you have none but friends here, unless
it be the lady Isabella, who, as a Spaniard, is bound to bear you no
good will."

"Let her only vouchsafe, Lady Tansi, to have me a little in her
thoughts, and I am sure she will not think of me with ill will; for
ingratitude can have no place in the heart of one so good, so wise, and
so exquisitely fair."

"Since I am to be yours, senor Richard," said Isabella, "claim from me
what you will in recompense for the praises you bestow upon me."

Whilst Isabella and the other ladies were thus conversing with Richard,
there was a little girl present who did