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"Yes, that is correct We don't know for sure whether he was Spanish or Italian He said he was born in Genoa, but Columbus was not known for his honesty Some even contend that he came from the Greek island of Chios The official version says he was an Italian weaver's apprentice Ethers maintain this was not so, that he was actually a Spanish hter of a Portuguese aristocrat and need in royal circles, which world have been a difficult feat for the mere son of a weaver There are no authentic portraits: A true man ofhe could to obscure his identification"

"That has always puzzled me"

"Those were turbulent tiue The Inquisition Maybe he was on the wrong side of a royal controversy He may have served a country at ith Spain or one that would be taken over by Spain There were reasons of heredity as well, evidence he was born the bastard son of a Spanish prince Hence Cristobol Colon, the name he was known by later in life"

"Truly fascinating, Juan We ria when next wemore about this stolen document"

"You know of the monk Las Casas?"

"Yes, he transcribed parts of the original Colu"

"Cornet Colue to his patron Queen Isabella In turn she coave to Columbus Upon the admiral's death, this Barcelona copy, as it was called, was inherited by his son Diego along with charts, books, and itimate child of Columbus by his mistress He reminds me very much of you, Julien"

"It's not the first time I've been called a bastard, nor will it be the last"

"I did not ht, my friend I meant that he was an archivist and a scholar, a lover of books who assembled one of the finest libraries in Europe When he died in 1539 his possessions, books, and Coluo His mother removed Most of Fernando's possessions to a edy for the world"

"Why is that, Juan?"

"She had ed for twenty three years to keep the collection fro It was a disaster

He rifled the collection for papers he could sell to support his debauched lifestyle The Barcelona copy disappeared and was lost forever, probably sold to the highest bidder"

"It would fetch quite a price now if it were to turn up, I would iine" ,

"Indeed, but perhaps not in our lifetime Fortunately before it disappeared it was seen by a friend of the' family, the Dominican friar na He was very protective of Colu that eood synopsis"

"I'm not sure what this has to do with the stolen document"