The affection of Juan Perez and the learning of Hernandez were not slow to follow in the track which the enthusiasm of the great adventurer made out before them; and they became, no doubt, as convinced as Columbus himself of the feasibility of his undertaking.

The difficulty, however, was not in becoming believers themselves, but in persuading those to believe who would have power to further the enterprise.
PEREZ WRITES TO THE QUEEN.
Their discussions upon this point ended in the conclusion that Juan Perez, who was known to the queen, having acted as her confessor, should write to her highness.

He did so; and the result was favourable.

The queen sent for him, heard what he had to say, and in consequence remitted money to Columbus to enable him to come to Court and renew his suit.
COLUMBUS'S CONDITIONS.
He attended the court again; his negotiations were resumed, but were again broken off on the ground of the largeness of the conditions which he asked for.

His opponents said that these conditions were too large if he succeeded, and if he should not succeed and the conditions should come to nothing, they thought that there was an air of trifling in granting such conditions at all.