'I entirely agree with you, Fra Luca,' replied Leonardo.
'That's the way; love and concord. What is the object of dissension? Metaphysics are good, and mathematics are good! Room for both. Is it not so, dear friend?'
'Precisely so, Fra Luca.'
'I was sure you would agree. You give in to me, I give in to you; we are allied, you with us, we with you.'
Leonardo looked at the astute countenance of the mathematical monk, who reconciled Pythagoras and Thomas Aquinas so easily; and he thought—
'The calf sucks from two dams.'
Then the alchemist, Galeotto Sacrobosco, raising his glass and bending towards Leonardo with the air of an accomplice, said—
'To your good health, Master! How skilfully you played them on the line! What a subtle allegory!'
'Allegory?' repeated Leonardo, stupefied.
'To be sure, Messere. No call for mystery with me. We shall not betray one another. By dry land you meant sulphur; by the sun, salt; by the ocean which overflowed the mountains, quicksilver. Do I catch your meaning?'