Queen Isabella, who was in Santa Fe, after some delay, agreed to hear more about the crazy scheme of this persistent Genoese sailor, and the Friar Juan Perez was sent for.

He talked so well in behalf of his friend Columbus that the queen became still more interested.

She ordered Columbus to come and see her, and sent him sixty-five dollars to pay for a mule, a new suit of clothes and the journey to court.
About Christmas time, in the year 1491, Columbus, mounted upon his mule, rode into the Spanish camp before the city of Granada.

But even now, when he had been told to come, he had to wait.

Granada was almost captured; the Moors were almost conquered.