lookedathiminhisdarkSpanishbeauty，hisrichgarmentsdeckedwithchainsofgold，ashebowedbeforeCorteshatinhand，IwasfaintoconfessthatIhadneverseenamoregallantcavalier，oronewhoseaspectgavetheliesowhollytotheblackheartwithin。
　　Butknowinghimforwhathewas，myverybloodquiveredwithhateatthesightofhim，andwhenIthoughtofmyownimpotenceandoftheerrandonwhichhehadcome，IgroundmyteethandcursedthedaythatIwasborn。
　　AsfordeGarcia，hegreetedmewithalittlecruelsmile，thenspoketoCortes。
　　’Yourpleasure，general？’
　　’Greetingtoyou，comrade，’answeredCortes。
　　’Youknowthisrenegade？’
　　’Buttoowell，general。
　　Threetimeshehasstriventomurderme。’
　　’Well，youhaveescapedanditisyourhournow，Sarceda。
　　Hesaysthathehasaquarrelwithyou；whatisit？’
　　DeGarciahesitated，strokinghispeakedbeard，thenanswered:’I
　　amlothtotellitbecauseitisataleoferrorforwhichIhaveoftensorrowedanddonepenance。
　　YetIwillspeakforfearyoushouldthinkworseofmethanIdeserve。
　　Thismanhassomecausetomislikeme，sincetobefrank，whenIwasyoungerthanIamto-
　　dayandgiventothefolliesofyouth，itchancedthatinEnglandI
　　methismother，abeautifulSpanishladywhobyillfortunewasweddedtoanEnglishman，thisman’sfatherandaclownofclowns，whomaltreatedher。
　　Iwillbeshort；theladylearnedtolovemeandIworstedherhusbandinaduel。
　　Hencethistraitor’shateofme。’
　　Iheardandthoughtthatmyheartmustburstwithfury。
　　Toallhiswickednessandoffencesagainstme，deGarcianowhadaddedslanderofmydeadmother’shonour。
　　’Youlie，murderer，’Igasped，tearingattheropesthatboundme。
　　’Imustaskyoutoprotectmefromsuchinsult，general，’deGarciaansweredcoldly。
　　’Weretheprisonerworthyofmysword，Iwouldaskfurtherthathisbondsshouldbeloosedforalittlespace，butmyhonourwouldbetarnishedforeverwereItofightwithsuchashe。’
　　’DaretospeakthusoncemoretoagentlemanofSpain，’saidCortescoldly，’and，youheathendog，yourtongueshallbedraggedfromyouwithred-hotpincers。
　　Foryou，Sarceda，Ithankyouforyourconfidence。
　　Ifyouhavenoworsecrimethanaloveaffairuponyoursoul，IthinkthatourgoodchaplainOlmedowillfrankyouthroughthepurgatorialfires。
　　Butwewastewordsandtime。
　　ThismanhasthesecretofthetreasureofGuatemocandofMontezuma。
　　IfGuatemocandhisnobleswillnottellit，heatleastmaybeforcedtospeak，forthetormentsthatanIndiancanendurewithoutagroanwillsoonbringtruthbubblingfromthelipsofthiswhiteheathen。
　　Takehim，Sarceda，andhearken，lethimbeyourespecialcare。
　　Firstlethimsufferwiththeothers，andafterwards，shouldheproveobdurate，alone。
　　ThemethodIleavetoyou。
　　Shouldheconfess，summonme。’
　　’Pardonme，general，butthisisnotaskforanhidalgoofSpain。
　　Ihavebeenmorewonttopiercemyenemieswiththeswordthantotearthemwithpincers，’saiddeGarcia，butashespokeIsawagleamoftriumphshineinhisblackeyes，andheardtheringoftriumphthroughthemockangerofhisvoice。
　　’Iknowit，comrade。
　　Butthismustbedone；thoughIhateit，itmustbedone，thereisnootherway。
　　Thegoldisnecessarytome——
　　bytheMotherofGod！theknavessaythatIhavestolenit！——andI
　　doubtthesestubbornIndiandogswilleverspeak，howevergreattheiragony。
　　ThismanknowsandIgivehimovertoyoubecauseyouareacquaintedwithhiswickedness，andthatknowledgewillsteelyourheartagainstallpity。
　　Sparenot，comrade；rememberthathemustbeforcedtospeak。’
　　’Itisyourcommand，Cortes，andIwillobeyit，thoughIlovethetasklittle；withoneproviso，however，thatyougivemeyourwarrantinwriting。’
　　’Itshallbemadeoutatonce，’answeredthegeneral。
　　’Andnowawaywithhim。’
　　’Whereto？’
　　’Totheprisonthathehasleft。
　　Allisreadyandtherehewillfindhiscomrades。’
　　ThenaguardwassummonedandIwasdraggedbacktomyownplace，deGarciasayingasIwentthathewouldbewithmepresently。
　　AtfirstIwasnottakenintothechamberthatIhadleft，butplacedinalittleroomopeningoutofitwheretheguardslept。
　　HereIwaitedawhile，boundhandandfootandwatchedbytwosoldierswithdrawnswords。
　　AsIwaited，tornbyrageandfear，I
　　heardthenoiseofhammeringthroughthewall，followedbyasoundofgroans。
　　Atlengththesuspensecametoanend；adoorwasopened，andtwofierceTlascalanIndianscamethroughitandseizedmebythehairandears，draggingmethusintomyownchamber。
　　’Poordevil！’IheardoneoftheSpanishsoldierssayasIwent。
　　’Apostateorno，Iamsorryforhim；thisisbloodywork。’
　　ThenthedoorclosedandIwasintheplaceoftorment。
　　Theroomwasdarkened，foraclothhadbeenhunginfrontofthewindowbars，butitsgloomwasrelievedbycertainfiresthatburnedinbraziers。
　　ItwasbythelightofthesefireschieflythatIsawthesight。
　　Onthefloorofthechamberwereplacedthreesolidchairs，oneofthemempty。
　　TheothertwowerefilledbynoneotherthanGuatemoc，EmperoroftheAztecs，andbyhisfriendandminethecaciqueofTacuba。
　　Theywereboundinthechairs，theburningbrazierswereplacedattheirfeet，behindthemstoodaclerkwithpaperandaninkhorn，andaroundthemIndianswerebusyatsomedreadfultask，directedtoitbytwoSpanishsoldiers。
　　NearthethirdchairstoodanotherSpaniardwhoasyettooknopartintheplay；itwasdeGarcia。
　　AsIlooked，anIndianliftedoneofthebraziersandseizingthenakedfootoftheTacubanprince，thrustitdownupontheglowingcoals。
　　Forawhiletherewassilence，thentheTacubanbrokeintogroans。
　　Guatemocturnedhisheadtowardshimandspoke，andashespokeIsawthathisfootalsowasrestingintheflamesofabrazier。
　　’Whydoyoucomplain，friend，’
　　hesaid，inasteadyvoice，’whenIkeepsilence？
　　AmIthentakingmypleasureinabed？
　　Followmenowasalways，friend，andbesilentbeneathyoursufferings。’
　　Theclerkwrotedownhiswords，forIheardthequillscratchingonthepaper，andashewrote，Guatemocturnedhisheadandsawme。
　　Hisfacewasgreywithpain，stillhespokeasahundredtimesI
　　hadheardhimspeakatcouncil，slowlyandclearly。
　　’Alas！areyoualsohere，myfriendTeule？’hesaid；’Ihopedthattheyhadsparedyou。
　　SeehowtheseSpaniardskeepfaith。
　　Malinchesworetotreatmewithallhonour；beholdhowhehonoursme，withhotcoalsformyfeetandpincersformyflesh。
　　Theythinkthatwehaveburiedtreasure，Teule，andwouldwringitssecretfromus。
　　Youknowthatitisalie。
　　Ifwehadtreasurewouldwenotgiveitgladlytoourconquerors，thegod-bornsonsofQuetzal？
　　Youknowthatthereisnothingleftexcepttheruinsofourcitiesandthebonesofourdead。’
　　Hereheceasedsuddenly，forthedemonwhotormentedhimstruckhimacrossthemouthsaying，’Silence，dog。’
　　ButIunderstood，andIsworeinmyheartthatIwoulddieereI
　　revealedmybrother’ssecret。
　　ThiswasthelasttriumphthatGuatemoccouldwin，tokeephisgoldfromthegraspofthegreedySpaniard，andthatvictoryatleastheshouldnotlosethroughme。
　　SoIswore，andverysoonmyoathmustbeputtothetest，foratamotionfromdeGarciatheTlascalansseizedmeandboundmetothethirdchair。
　　ThenhespokeintomyearinCastilian:’StrangearethewaysofProvidence，CousinWingfield。
　　Youhavehuntedmeacrosstheworld，andseveraltimeswehavemet，alwaystoyoursorrow。
　　IthoughtI
　　hadyouintheslaveship，Ithoughtthatthesharkshadyouinthewater，butsomehowyouescapedmewhomyoucametohunt。
　　WhenI
　　knewitIgrieved，butnowIgrievenomore，forIseethatyouwerereservedforthismoment。
　　CousinWingfield，itshallgohardifyouescapemethistime，andyetIthinkthatweshallspendsomedaystogetherbeforewepart。
　　NowIwillbecourteouswithyou。
　　Youmayhaveachoiceofevils。
　　Howshallwebegin？
　　Theresourcesatmycommandarenotallthatwecouldwish，alas！theHolyOfficeisnotyetherewithitsunholyarmoury，butstillI
　　havedonemybest。
　　Thesefellowsdonotunderstandtheirart:hotcoalsaretheironlyinspiration。
　　I，yousee，haveseveral，’andhepointedtovariousinstrumentsoftorture。
　　’Whichwillyouselect？’
　　Imadenoanswer，forIhaddeterminedthatIwouldspeaknowordandutternocry，dowhattheymightwithme。
　　’Letmethink，letmethink，’wentondeGarcia，smoothinghisbeard。
　　’Ah，Ihaveit。
　　Here，slaves。’
　　NowIwillnotrenewmyownagonies，orawakethehorrorofanywhomaychancetoreadwhatIhavewrittenbydescribingwhatbefellmeafterthis。
　　Sufficeittosaythatfortwohoursandmorethisdevil，helpedinhistaskbytheTlascalans，workedhiswickedwilluponme。
　　Onebyonetormentswereadministeredtomewithaskillandingenuitythatcannotoftenhavebeensurpassed，andwhenattimesIfaintedIwasrecoveredbycoldwaterbeingdasheduponmeandspiritspoureddownmythroat。
　　Andyet，Isayitwithsomepride，duringthosetwodreadfulhoursIutterednogroanhowevergreatmysufferings，andspokenowordgoodorbad。
　　NorwasitonlybodilypainthatImustbear，forallthiswhilemyenemymockedmewithbitterwords，whichtormentedmysoulashisinstrumentsandhotcoalstormentedmybody。
　　Atlengthhepausedexhausted，andcursedmeforanobstinatepigofanEnglishman，andatthatmomentCortesenteredtheshamblesandwithhimMarina。
　　’Howgoesit？’hesaidlightly，thoughhisfaceturnedpaleatthesightofhorror。
　　’ThecaciqueofTacubahasconfessedthatgoldisburiedinhisgarden，theothertwohavesaidnothing，general，’theclerkanswered，glancingdownhispaper。
　　’Bravemen，indeed！’IheardCortesmuttertohimself；thensaidaloud，’Letthecaciquebecarriedto-morrowtothegardenofwhichhespeaks，thathemaypointoutthegold。
　　Asfortheothertwo，ceasetormentingthemforthisday。
　　Perhapstheymayfindanothermindbeforeto-morrow。
　　Itrustso，fortheirownsakesItrustso！’
　　ThenhedrewtothecorneroftheroomandconsultedwithSarcedaandtheothertorturers，leavingMarinafacetofacewithGuatemocandwithme。
　　Forawhileshestaredattheprinceasthoughinhorror，thenastrangelightcameintoherbeautifuleyes，andshespoketohiminalowvoice，sayingintheAztectongue: