He noticed that it was a map.
The Bishop of Cambray had made him curious about such things.

He drew it to him, and saw that it was a copy of Andrea Bianco's chart, drawn nearly half a century before, showing the Atlantic Sea with a maze of islands stretching westwards.
The other shook his head.

"A poor thing and out of date.

Here," and he plucked a sheet from below the rest, "here is a better, which Fra Mauro of this city drew for the great prince, Henry of Portugal." Philip looked at the map, which showed a misshapen sprawling Africa, but with a clear ocean way round the south of it.

His interest quickened.