HUALPA returned to the city about the time the stars,
which in that clime and season herald the morning,
take their places in the sky. He had lightened his heart,
and received the sympathy of a lover in return; he had told
the great things done and promised by the king, and sorrowed
that his friend could take no part in the events which,
he imagined, were to make the day heroic forever; and now,
his enthusiasm of youth sobered by the plaints to which he
had listened while traversing the dusky walks of the

[figure description] Page 326.[end figure description]

beautiful garden, he clomb the stairs of the teocallis. Before
the day was fairly dawned, he was at his post, waiting,
dreaming of Nenetzin, and hearkening to the spirit-songs of
ambition, always so charming to unpractised souls.

And the lord Cuitlahua perfected his measures. On all
the dikes, and at the entrance of all the canals, guards were
stationed. The bridges nearest the palace occupied by the
strangers were held by chosen detachments. Except those
thus detailed, the entire military in the city were pent in the
temples. And to all, including the lord steward, the proper
orders were confided. All awaited the signal.

And the king, early in the night, ignorant of the flight
of Nenetzin, had come from Chapultepec to his palace in the
capital. He retired as he was wont, and slept the sleep as
restful to a mind long distracted by irresolution as to a
body exhausted by labor; such slumber as comes to him who,
in time of doubt, involving all dearest interests, at last discovers
what his duty is, and, fully determined, simply awaits
the hour of performance, trustful of the action taken, and of
the good-will of the god or gods of his faith.

On the side of the Christians, the preparation, more simple,
was also complete. From mass the little host went to
breakfast, then to arms. The companies formed; even the
Tlascalans behaved as if impressed with a sense that their
fate had been challenged.

To the captains, again convoked in the audience-chamber,
Cortes detailed his plan of operation. His salutation of each
was grave and calm. Though very watchful, they heard him
without question; and when they went out, they might
have said, The hour of trial is come, and now will be seen
which holds the conquering destiny, — the God of the Christian
or that of the Aztec.

From the council, Alvarado went first to Marina; finding
that Nenetzin slept, he joined his companions in the great

[figure description] Page 327.[end figure description]

court, where, gay and careless, he carolled a song, and twirled
his sword, and, in thought of smiling fortune and a princely
Indian love, walked complacently to and fro. And so wait,
ready for action, the Christian lover and the heathen, — one
in the palace, the other in the temple, — both, in fancy,
lord of the same sweet mistress.

At the stated hour, as had been the custom, the three
lords came, in splendid costume, and with stately ceremonial,
bringing the king's compliments, and asking Cortes will
for the day. And they returned with compliments equally
courteous and deceptive, taking with them Orteguilla, the
page, instructed to inform the monarch that directly, if such
were the royal pleasure, Malinche would be happy to visit
him in his palace.

A little later there went out parties of soldiers, apparently
to view the city; yet the point was noticeable that, besides being
fully armed, each was in charge of a chosen subordinate.
Later, the army was drawn up, massed in the garden;
the matches of the gunners were lighted; the horsemen
stood at their bridles; the Tlascalans were stationed
to defend the outer walls. De Oli, Morla, Marin, and
Monjarez passed through the lines in careful inspection.

“Heard'st thou when the drum was to be sounded?” asked
De Oli, looking to the sun.

“At noon,” answered Marin.

“Three hours yet, as I judge. Short time, by Our Lady!”

The party was impatient. To their relief, Cortes at last
came out, with his five chosen cavaliers, Sandoval, Alvarado,
Leon, Avila, and Lugo. As he proceeded to the gate, all
eyes turned to him, all hearts became confident, — so much
of power over the weak is there in the look of one master
spirit.

At the gate he waited for the Doña Marina.

“Are ye ready, gentlemen?”

[figure description] Page 328.[end figure description]

“All ready,” they replied.

“With thee, De Oli, I leave the command. At sight or
sound of attack or combat, come quickly. Charge straight
to the palace, lances in the lead. Bring our horses. Farewell.
Christ and the Mother for us!” And with that,
Cortes stepped into the street.

For a time the party proceeded silently.

“Is not this what the pagans call the beautiful street?”
Sandoval asked.

“Why the question?”

“I have gone through graveyards not more deserted.”

“Thou 'rt right,” said Lugo. “By Our Lady! when last
we went this way, I remember the pavements, doors, porticos,
and roofs were crowded. Now, not a woman or a child.”

“In faith, Señor, we are a show suddenly become stale.”

“Be it so,” replied Leon, sneeringly. “We will give the
public a new trick.”

“Mirad, Señores!” said Cortes. “Last night, all through
this district, particularly along this street, there went patrols,
removing the inhabitants, and making ready for what the
drum is advertised to let loose upon us. Don Pedro, thy
princess hath told the truth.” And looking back to the
towers of the teocallis, he added, after a fit of laughter, “The
fools, the swine! They have undone themselves; or, rather,”—
his face became grave on the instant, — “the Holy Mother
hath undone them for us. Give thanks, gentlemen, our emprise
is already won! Yonder the infidel general hath his
army in waiting for the word of the king. Keep we that
unspoken or undelivered, — only that, — and the way of our
return, prisoner in hand, will be as clear of armed men as
the going is.”

The customary guard of nobles kept the portal of the
palace; the antechamber, however, was crowded to its full
capacity with unarmed courtiers, through whom the

[figure description] Page 329.[end figure description]

Christians passed with grave assurance. To acquaintances Cortes
bowed courteously. Close by the door of the audience-chamber,
he found Orteguilla conversing with Maxtla, who, at
sight of him, knelt, and, touching the floor with his palm,
offered to conduct the party to the royal presence; such
were his orders. Cortes stopped an instant.

“Hath the king company?” he asked Orteguilla.

“None of account, — a boy and three or four old men.”

“He is ours. Let us on, gentlemen!”

And forthwith they passed under the curtains held aside
for them by Maxtla.

On a dais covered with a carpet of plumaje, the monarch
sat. Three venerable men stood behind him. At his feet,
a little to the right, was the prince Io', in uniform. A flood
of light poured through a window on the northern side of
the chamber, and fell full on the group, bringing out with
intense clearness the rich habiliments of the monarch, and
every feature of his face. The Christians numbered the attendance,
and, trained to measure dangers and discover advantages
by a glance, smiled at the confidence of the treacherous
heathen. Upon the stillness, broken only by their ringing
tread, sped the voice of Cortes.

“Alvarado, Lugo, all of ye, watch well whom we have
here. On your lives, see that the boy escape not.”

Montezuma kept his seat.

“The gods keep you this pleasant morning,” he said. “I
am glad to see you.”

They bowed to him, and Cortes replied, —

“We thank thee, good king. May the Holy Virgin, of
our Christian faith, have thee in care. Thus pray we, than
whom thou hast no truer servants.”

“If you prefer to sit, I will have seats brought.”

“We thank thee again. In the presence of our master, it
is the custom to stand, and he would hold us discourteous if

[figure description] Page 330.[end figure description]

we did otherwise before a sovereign friend as dear to him as
thou art, great king.”

The monarch waved his hand.

“Your master is no doubt a rare and excellent sovereign,”
he said, then changed the subject. “The lords, whom I
sent to you this morning, reported that all goes well with
you in the palace. I hope so. If anything is wanted, you
have only to speak. My provinces are at your service.”

“The lords reported truly.”

“I am very glad. Thinking of you, Malinche, and studying
to make your contentment perfect, I have wondered if
you have any amusements or games with which to pass the
time.”

As there were not in all the New World, however it might
be in the Old, more desperate gamblers than the cavaliers,
they looked at each other when the translation was concluded,
and smiled at the simplicity of the speaker. Nevertheless,
Cortes replied with becoming gravity, —

“We have our pastimes, good king, as all must have; for
without them, nature hath ordered that the body shall grow
old and the mind incapable. Our pastimes, however, relate
almost entirely to war.”

“That is labor, Malinche.”

“So is hunting,” said Cortes, smiling.

“My practice is not,” answered the monarch, taking the
remark as an allusion to his own love of the sport, and
laughing. “The lords drive the game to me, and my pleasure
is in exercising the skill required to take it. Some day
you must go with me to my preserves over the lake, and I
will show you my modes; but I did not mean that kind
of amusement. I will explain my meaning. Io',” he
said to the prince, who had arisen, “bid Maxtla bring
hither the silver balls. I will teach Malinche to play totoloque.”

[figure description] Page 331.[end figure description]

“Have a care, gentlemen!” said Cortes, divining the speech
from the action of the speaker. “The lad must stay. And
thou, Marina, tell him so.”

The comely, gentle-hearted Indian woman hastened tremulously
to say, “Most mighty king, Malinche bids me tell
thee that he has heard of the beautiful game, and will be
glad to learn it, but not now. He wishes the prince to remain.”

One step Io' had in the mean time taken, — but one; in
front of him Leon stepped, hand on sword, and menace on
his brow. The blood fled the monarch's face.

“Go not,” he at length said to the boy; and to Cortes, “I
do not understand you, Malinche.”

The time of demand was come. Cortes moved nearer the
dais, and replied, his eyes fixed coldly and steadily on those
of the victim, —

“I have business with thee, king; and until it is concluded,
thou, the prince, and thy councillors must stay. Outcry,
or attempt at escape, will be at peril of life.”

The monarch sat upright, pale and rigid; the ancients
dropped upon their knees. Io' alone was brave; he stepped
upon the platform, as if to defend the royal person. Then
in the same cold, inflexible manner, Cortes proceeded, —

“I have been thy guest, false king, long enough to learn
thee well. The power which, on all occasions, thou hast been
so careful to impress upon me, hath but made thy hypocrisy
the more astonishing. Listen, while I expose thee to thyself.
We started hither at thy invitation. In Cholula, nevertheless,
we were set upon by the army. No thanks to thee that
we are alive to-day. And, in the same connection, when
thou wert upbraided for inviting us, the lords and princes
were told that such was the instruction of one of thy bloody
gods, who had promised here in the capital to deliver us
prisoners for sacrifice.”

[figure description] Page 332.[end figure description]

Montezuma offered to speak.

“Deny it not, deny it not!” said Cortes, with the slightest
show of passion. “In god or man, such perfidy cannot
be excused. But that is not all. Say nothing about the
command sent the troops near Tuzpan to attack my people;
nor about the demand upon townships under protection of
my royal master for women and children to feed to thy hungry
idols; now —”

Here the king broke in upon the interpreter, —

“I do not understand what Malinche says about my
troops attacking his people at Tuzpan.”

“Thy governor killed one of my captains.”

“Not by my order.”

“Then make good the denial, by sending for the officer
who did the murder, that he may be punished according to
the wickedness of his crime.”

The king took a signet from his wrist, and said to one of
his councillors, “Let this be shown to the governor of that
province. I require him to come here immediately, with all
who were concerned with him at the time spoken of by Malinche.”

The smile with which the monarch then turned to the
Spaniard was lost upon him, for he continued, pitilessly as
before, —

“The punishment of the governor is not enough. I accuse
thee further. Thou treacherous king! Go with me to
the temple, and now, — this instant, — I will show thee thy
brother, with an army at call, waiting thy signal to attack
us in the palace where so lately we received thy royal
welcome.”

The listener started from his seat. Upon his bewildered
faculties flashed the remembrance of how carefully and with
what solemn injunction he had locked his plans of war in
the breasts of the members of his family, gathered about him

[figure description] Page 333.[end figure description]

on the azoteas at Chapultepec. His faith in them forbade
suspicion. Whence then the exposure? And to the dealer
in mysteries Mystery answered, “The gods!” If his former
faith in the divinity of the stranger came not back, now,
at least, he knew him sustained by powers with which contention
were folly. He sunk down again; his head dropped
upon his struggling breast; — HE WAS CONQUERED!

And the stern Spaniard, as if moved by the sight, said,
in a softened voice, —

“I know not of thy religion; but there is a law of
ours, — a mercy of the dear Christ who hath us in his
almighty keeping, — by which every sin may be atoned by
sacrifices, not of innocent victims, but of the sinner's self. In
the world I come from, so much is the law esteemed, that
kings greater than thou have laid down their crowns, the
better to avail themselves of its salvation. Thou art an unbeliever,
and I may do wrong, — if so, I pray pardon of the
Holy Ghost that heareth me, — I may do wrong, I say, but,
infidel as thou art, if thou wilt obey the precept, thou shalt
have the benefit of the privilege. I do not want war which
would end in thy destruction and the ruin of thy city and
people; therefore I make thee a proposal. Hear me!”

The unhappy king raised his head, and listened eagerly.

“Arise, and go with us to our quarters, and take up thy
abode there. King shalt thou continue. Thy court can go
with thee, and thou canst govern from one palace as well
as another. To make an end of speech,” — and Cortes
raised his hand tightly clenched, — “to make an end of
speech, finally and plainly, choose now: go with us or die!
I have not brought these officers without a purpose.”

All eyes centred on the pale face of the monarch, and the
stillness of the waiting was painful and breathless. At
last, from the depths of his tortured soul, up rose a sparkle
of resentment.

[figure description] Page 334.[end figure description]

“Who ever heard of a great prince, like myself, voluntarily
leaving his own palace to become a prisoner in the hands
of a stranger?”

“Prisoner! Not so. Hear me again. Court, household,
and power, with full freedom for its exercise, and the treatment
due a crowned prince, — all these shalt thou have. So,
in my master's name, I pledge thee.”

“No, Malinche, press me not so hardly. Were I to consent
to such a degradation, my people would not. Take one
of my sons rather. This one,” — and he laid his hand on
Io's shoulder, — “whom I love best, and have thought to
make my successor. Take him as hostage; but spare me
this infamy.”

The debate continued; an hour passed.

“Gentlemen, why waste words on this wretched barbarian?”
exclaimed Leon, at last, half drawing his sword,
while his face darkened with dreadful purpose. “We cannot
recede now. In Christ's name, let us seize him, or
plunge our swords in his body!”

The captains advanced, baring their swords; Cortes retired
a step, as if to make way for them. Brief time remained for
decision. Trembling and confused, the monarch turned to
Marina, and asked, “What did the teule say?”

As became a gentle woman, fearful lest death be done before
her, she replied, —

“O king, I pray you make no further objection. If you
yield, they will treat you kindly; if you refuse, they will
kill you. Go with them, I pray you.'

Upon the advance of the captains, Io' stepped in front of
the king; as they hesitated, either waiting Cortes' order or
the answer to Marina's prayer, he knelt, and clasped his
father's knees, and cried tearfully, —

“Do not go, O king! Rather than endure such shame,
let us die!”

[figure description] Page 335.[end figure description]

Stupefied, almost distraught, the monarch seemed not
to hear the heroic entreaty. His gaze was on the face of
Cortes, now as impenetrable and iron-like as the armor on
his breast. “The gods have abandoned me!” he cried,
despairingly. “I am lost! Malinche, I will go with you!”
His head drooped, and his hands fell nerveless on the chair.

The boy arose, and turned to the conquerors, every feature
convulsed with hate.

“Thanks, good king, thanks!” said Cortes, smiling.
“Thou hast saved my soul a sin. I will be thy friend till
death!”

Thereupon, he stepped forward, and kissed the royal hand,
which fell from his lips as if palsied — I will not say profaned—
by the touch. And, one after another, Leon, Lugo,
Avila, Alvarado, and Sandoval approached, and knelt on the
dais, and in like manner saluted the fallen prince.

“Are you done, Malinche?” the victim asked, when
somewhat revived.

“What I wish now, above all things,” was the reply,
spoken with rare pretence of feeling, “is to be assured, good
king, that we are forgiven the pain we have caused thee,
since, though of our doing, it was not of our will as much as
of the ambition of some of thy own lords and chiefs. What
I desire next is, that thy goodness may not be without immediate
results. I and my officers, thy son and these councillors,
are witnesses that thou didst consent to my proposal
out of great love of peace and thy people. To secure the
object, — noble beyond praise, — the lords here in the palace,
and those of influence throughout the provinces, must
be convinced that thou dost go with me of thine own free
will; not as prisoner, but as trusted guest returning the favor
of guest. How to do that best is in thy knowledge more
than mine. Only, what thy judgment approveth, set about
quickly. We wait thy orders.”

[figure description] Page 336.[end figure description]

“Io', uncles,” said Montezuma, his eyes dim with tears,
“as you love me, be silent as to what has here taken place.
I charge you that you tell it to no man, while I live. Bid
Maxtla come.”

Summoning all his strength to meet the shrewd eyes of
the chief, the monarch sat up with a show of cheerfulness.

“Bring my palanquin,” he said, after Maxtla's salutation;
“and direct some of the elder lords to be ready to accompany
me without arms or ceremony. As advised by Huitzil',
and these good uncles, I have resolved to go, and for a time
abide with Malinche in the old palace. Send an officer, with
the workmen, to prepare quarters for my use and that of the
court. Publish my intention. Go quickly.

Afterwhile from the palace issued a procession which no
man, uninformed, might look upon and say was not a funeral:
in the palanquin, the dead; on its right and left, the guard
of honor; behind, the friends, a long train, speechless and
sorrowing. The movement was quiet and solemn; three
squares and as many bridges were passed, when, from down
the street, a man came running with all speed. He gained
the rear of the cortege, and spoke a few hurried words there;
a murmur arose, and spread, and grew into a furious outcry, —
a moment more, and the cortege was dissolved in tumult. At
the last corner on the way, the cavaliers had been joined by
some of the armed parties, who, for the purpose, had preceded
them into the city in the early morning; these closed firmly
around, a welcome support.

“Mirad!” cried Cortes, loudly. “The varlets are without
arms. Let no one strike until I say so.”

The demonstration increased. Closer drew the mob, some
adjuring the monarch, some threatening the Christians. That
an understanding of the situation was abroad was no longer
doubtful; still Cortes held his men in check, for he knew,
if blood were shed now, the common-sense of the people

[figure description] Page 337.[end figure description]

would refuse the story he so relied upon, — that the king's
coming was voluntary.

“Can our guest,” he asked of Sandoval, “be sleeping the
while?”

“Treachery, Señor.”

“By God's love, captain, if it so turn out, drive thy sword
first of all things through him!”

While yet he spoke, the curtains of the carriage were
drawn aside; the carriers halted instantly; and of the concourse,
all the natives fell upon their knees, and became still,
so that the voice of the monarch was distinctly heard.

“The noise disturbs me,” he said, in ordinary tone. “Let
the street be cleared.”

The lords whom he addressed kept their faces to the
ground.

“What is the cause of the clamor?”

No one answered. A frown was gathering upon his face,
when an Aztec sprang up, and drew near him. He was
dressed as a citizen of the lower class. At the side of the
carriage he stopped, and touched the pavement with his palm.

“Guatamozin!” said the king, more in astonishment than
anger.

“Even so. O king, — father, — to bear a soldier's part
to-day, I have dared your judgment.” Lifting his eyes to
the monarch's, he endured his gaze steadily, but, at the same
time, with such an expression of sympathy that reproof was
impossible. “I am prepared for any sentence; but first, let
me know, let these lords and all the people know, is this
going in truth of your own free will?”

Montezuma regarded him fixedly, but not in wrath.

“I conjure you, uncle, father, king, — I conjure you, by
our royal blood, by our country, by all the gods, — are these
strangers guests or guards? Speak, — I pray you, speak but
one word.”

[figure description] Page 338.[end figure description]

The poor, stricken monarch heard, and was penetrated by
the tone of anguish; yet he replied, —

“My brother's son insults me by his question. I am still
the king, — free to go and come, to reward and punish.”

He would have spoken further, and kindly, but for the interruption
of Cortes, who cried impatiently, —

“Ho, there! Why this delay? Forward!”

And thereupon Avila stepped rudely and insolently between
the king and 'tzin. The latter's broad breast swelled,
and his eyes blazed; he seemed like a tiger about to leap.

“Beware!” said the king, and the warning was in time.
“Beware! Not here, not now!”

The 'tzin turned to him with a quick, anxious look of inquiry;
a revulsion of feeling ensued; he arose, and said,
with bowed head, “I understand. O king, if we help not
ourselves, we are lost. `Not here, not now.' I catch the
permission.” Pointing to Avila, he added, “This man's life
is in my hands, but I pass it by; thine, O uncle, is the most
precious. We will punish these insolents, but not here; we
will give you rescue, but not now. Be of cheer.”

He stepped aside, and the melancholy cortege passed on,
leaving the lords and people and the empire, as represented
by them, in the dust. Before the teocallis, under the eyes
of Cuitlahua, within hailing distance of the ten thousand
warriors, the doughty cavaliers bore their prize unchallenged.

And through the gates of the old palace, through the files
of Spaniards in order of battle waiting, they also carried
what they thought was the empire, won without a blow, to
be parcelled at pleasure, — its lands, its treasure, its cities,
and its people.

p733-358

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