- [Vespucci is seeking backers for another trans-Atlantic voyage]
- Vespucci: How you estimate my chances of being heard?
- Marco del Monte: What matters, Captain, are your chances of being believed.
- Machiavelli: Exactly. To arrange a hearing with the Counsel won't be too difficult, but I can guarantee you'll be dismissed without further consideration unless you can offer evidence to substantiate your claims.
- Vespucci: If you mean gold and silver and precious stones, I'm afraid they aren't lying around waiting to be picked up like so many seashells.
- Machiavelli: Yes. Yes, that's a point we needed belabor, of course. The counsel is imaginative enough when it comes to visions of easy wealth.