I read it, then sat pondering.

He sighed with pain, pushed all aside and presently bade the secretary forth.

When the man was gone he told me of an agony behind his eyes that now stabbed and now laid him in a drowsiness.

I did what I could for him then waited until the access was over.

It passed, and he took again his pen.
I said, "You advise that there be made a market for Carib slaves, balancing thus the negroes the Portuguese are bringing in, and providing a fund for our needs--" He said, "They are eaters of men's flesh, intractable and abominable, not like the gentler people we find hereabouts! It is certain that before long, fleet after fleet coming, our two thousand here growing into many thousands, more cities than Isabella arising, commerce and life as in Europe beginning--Well, these fiercer, Caribal islands will be overrun, taken for Spain! What better to do with their people?
I do not wish to slay them and eat them!" "Slaves--" "How many Moors in Castile and Arragon, slaves and none the worse for it, being baptized, being kindly enough entreated! And now the Portuguese bring Negroes, and are they the worse off, being taken from a deep damnation?
Long ago, I have read, the English were taken to Rome and sold in the market place, and the blessed Gregory, seeing them, cried, 'Christ shall be preached in their nation!' Whereupon he sent Augustine and all England was saved .-- Look you, this world is rude and worketh rudely! But it climbs in the teeth of its imperfections!" "I do not doubt that," I said.