"Many entertainments were prepared for the great sailor. Nearly everyone wished to give him honor. A few, however, were jealous.
"One day while Columbus was at a dinner party given in his honor one of the king's courtiers said:
"'It was not a hard thing to do what this Italian has done. Anyone else might have done the same thing.'
"Of course the man said this because he was jealous and did not like to see so much attention given to a poor sailor from Italy.
"Columbus did not seem troubled at this man's words. He took an egg from the table and handed it to the speaker. Then he said:
"'Can you make that egg stand on end?'
"The man tried, but could not do it. It was passed from one person to another. Everyone failed. At last it came back to Columbus. He took it in his hand and struck it gently on the table so that the shell was slightly cracked. Then, taking away his hand, he left it standing on end.
"'It is easy enough for anyone to do that,' cried the courtier.
"'It is also easy for anyone to find the Indies after I have shown the way,' was the reply of Columbus.