IsawsomeSpaniardsalso，butthemostoftheseweresodrunkwithmescal，andwithjoyatthetidingsthatTenoctitlanhadfallen，andtheirlabourswereendedatlast，thattheytooknoheedofme。
　　NeverdidIseesuchmadnessaspossessedthem，forthesepoorfoolsbelievedthathenceforththeyshouldeattheirverybreadoffplatesofgold。
　　ItwasforgoldthattheyhadfollowedCortes；forgoldtheyhadbravedthealtarofsacrificeandfoughtinahundredfights，andnow，astheythought，theyhadwonit。
　　Theroomofthestonehousewheretheyprisonedmehadawindowsecuredbybarsofwood，andthroughthesebarsIcouldseeandheartherevellingsofthesoldiersduringthetimeofmyconfinement。
　　Alldaylong，whentheywerenotonduty，andmostofthenightalso，theygambledanddrank，stakingtensofpesosonasinglethrow，whichthelosermustpayoutofhisshareofthecountlesstreasuresoftheAztecs。
　　Littledidtheycareiftheywonorlost，theyweresosureofplunder，butplayedontilldrinkoverpoweredthem，andtheyrolledsenselessbeneaththetables，ortilltheysprangupanddancedwildlytoandfro，catchingatthesunbeamsandscreaming’Gold！gold！gold！’
　　ListeningatthiswindowalsoIgatheredsomeofthetidingsofthecamp。
　　IlearnedthatCorteshadcomeback，bringingGuatemocandseveraloftheprinceswithhim，togetherwithmanyofthenobleAztecladies。
　　IndeedIsawandheardthesoldiersgamblingforthesewomenwhentheywerewearyoftheirplayformoney，adescriptionofeachofthembeingwrittenonapieceofpaper。
　　OneoftheseladiesansweredwelltoOtomie，mywife，andshewasputuptoauctionbythebrutewhowonherinthegamble，andsoldtoacommonsoldierforahundredpesos。
　　Forthesemenneverdoubtedbutthatthewomenandthegoldwouldbehandedovertothem。
　　Thusthingswentforseveraldays，duringwhichIsatandsleptinmyprisonuntroubledbyany，exceptthenativewomanwhowaitedonmeandbroughtmefoodinplenty。
　　DuringthosedaysIateasI
　　havenevereatenbeforeorsince，andIsleptmuch，formysorrowscouldnotridmybodyofitsappetitesandcommandingneedforfoodandrest。
　　IndeedIverilybelievethatattheendofaweek，Ihadincreasedinweightbyafullhalf；alsomywearinesswasconqueredatlength，andIwasstrongagain。
　　ButwhenIwasneithersleepingnoreatingIwatchedatmywindow，hoping，thoughinvain，tocatchsomesightofOtomieorofGuatemoc。
　　IfImightnotseemyfriends，however，atleastIsawmyfoe，foroneeveningdeGarciacameandstaredatmyprison。
　　Hecouldnotseeme，butIsawhim，andthedevilishsmilethatflickeredonhisfaceashewentawaylikeawolf，mademeshiverwithapresageofwoestocome。
　　Fortenminutesormorehestoodgazingatmywindowhungrily，asacatgazesatacagedbird，andI
　　feltthathewaswaitingforthedoortobeopened，andKNEWthatitwouldsoonbeopened。
　　ThishappenedontheeveofthedayuponwhichIwasputtotorture。
　　Meanwhile，astimewenton，Inoticedthatachangecameoverthetemperofthecamp。
　　Thesoldiersceasedtogambleforuntoldwealth，theyevenceasedfromdrinkingtoexcessandfromtheirriotousjoy，buttooktohangingtogetherinknotsdiscussingfiercelyIcouldnotlearnofwhat。
　　OnthedaywhendeGarciacametolookatmyprisontherewasagreatgatheringinthesquareoppositemyprison，towhichIsawCortesrideuponawhitehorseandrichlydressed。
　　Themeetingwastoofarawayformetooverhearwhatpassed，butInotedthatseveralofficersaddressedCortesangrily，andthattheirspeecheswereloudlycheeredbythesoldiers。
　　Atlengththegreatcaptainansweredthematsomelength，andtheybrokeupinsilence。
　　NextmorningafterIhadbreakfasted，foursoldierscameintomyprisonandorderedmetoaccompanythem。
　　’Whither？’Iasked。
　　’Tothecaptain，traitor，’theirleaderanswered。
　　’Ithascomeatlast，’Ithoughttomyself，butIsaidonly:
　　’Itiswell。
　　Anychangefromthisholeisoneforthebetter。’
　　’Certainly，’hereplied；’anditisyourlastshift。’
　　ThenIknewthatthemanbelievedthatIwasgoingtomydeath。
　　InfiveminutesIwasstandingbeforeCortesinhisprivatehouse。
　　AthissidewasMarinaandaroundhimwereseveralofhiscompanionsinarms。
　　Thegreatmanlookedatmeforawhile，thenspoke。
　　’YournameisWingfield；youareofmixedblood，halfEnglishandhalfSpanish。
　　YouwerecastawayintheTobascoRiverandtakentoTenoctitlan。
　　ThereyouweredoomedtopersonatetheAztecgodTezcat，andwererescuedbyuswhenwecapturedthegreatteocalli。
　　SubsequentlyyoujoinedtheAztecsandtookpartintheattackandslaughterofthenochetriste。
　　YouwereafterwardsthefriendandcounsellorofGuatemoc，andassistedhiminhisdefenceofTenoctitlan。
　　Isthistrue，prisoner？’
　　’Itisalltrue，general，’Ianswered。
　　’Good。
　　Youarenowourprisoner，andhadyouathousandlives，youhaveforfeitedthemallbecauseofyourtreacherytoyourraceandblood。
　　IntothecircumstancesthatledyoutocommitthishorribletreasonIcannotenter；thefactremains。
　　YouhaveslainmanyoftheSpaniardsandtheirallies；thatis，beinginastateoftreasonyouhavemurderedthem。
　　Wingfield，yourlifeisforfeitandIcondemnyoutodiebyhangingasatraitorandanapostate。’
　　’Thenthereisnothingmoretobesaid，’Iansweredquietly，thoughacoldfearfrozemyblood。
　　’Thereissomething，’answeredCortes。
　　’Thoughyourcrimeshavebeensomany，Iamreadytogiveyouyourlifeandfreedomuponacondition。
　　Iamreadytodomore，tofindyouapassagetoEuropeonthefirstoccasion，whereyoumayperchanceescapetheechoesofyourinfamyifGodisgoodtoyou。
　　Theconditionisthis。
　　WehavereasontobelievethatyouareacquaintedwiththehidingplaceofthegoldofMontezuma，whichwasunlawfullystolenfromusonthenightofthenochetriste。
　　Nay，weknowthatthisisso，foryouwereseentogowiththecanoesthatwereladenwithit。
　　Choosenow，apostate，betweenashamefuldeathandtherevealingtousofthesecretofthistreasure。’
　　ForamomentIwavered。
　　Ontheonehandwasthelossofhonourwithlifeandlibertyandthehopeofhome，ontheotheradreadfulend。
　　ThenIrememberedmyoathandOtomie，andwhatshewouldthinkofmelivingordead，ifIdidthisthing，andIwaverednomore。
　　’Iknownothingofthetreasure，general，’Iansweredcoldly。
　　’Sendmetomydeath。’
　　’Youmeanthatyouwillsaynothingofit，traitor。
　　Thinkagain。
　　IfyouhaveswornanyoathstheyarebrokenbyGod。
　　TheempireoftheAztecsisatanend，theirkingismyprisoner，theirgreatcityisaruin。
　　ThetrueGodhastriumphedoverthesedevilsbymyhand。
　　Theirwealthismylawfulspoil，andImusthaveittopaymygallantcomradeswhocannotgrowrichondesolation。
　　Thinkagain。’
　　’Iknownothingofthistreasure，general。’
　　’Yetmemorysometimeswakens，traitor。
　　Ihavesaidthatyoushalldieifyoursshouldfailyou，andsoyoushalltobesure。
　　Butdeathisnotalwaysswift。
　　Therearemeans，doubtlessyouwhohavelivedinSpainhaveheardofthem，’andhearchedhisbrowsandglaredatmemeaningly，’bywhichamanmaydieandyetliveformanyweeks。
　　Now，lothasIamtodoit，itseemsthatifyourmemorystillsleeps，Imustfindsomesuchmeanstorouseit——
　　beforeyoudie。’
　　’Iaminyourpower，general，’Ianswered。
　　’Youcallmetraitoragainandagain。
　　Iamnotraitor。
　　IamasubjectoftheKingofEngland，notoftheKingofSpain。
　　Icamehitherfollowingavillainwhohaswroughtmeandminebitterwrong，oneofyourcompanynameddeGarciaorSarceda。
　　TofindhimandforotherreasonsIjoinedtheAztecs。
　　TheyareconqueredandIamyourprisoner。
　　Attheleastdealwithmeasabravemandealswithafallenenemy。
　　Iknownothingofthetreasure；killmeandmakeanend。’
　　’AsamanImightwishtodothis，Wingfield，butIammorethanaman，IamthehandoftheChurchhereinAnahuac。
　　Youhavepartakenwiththeworshippersofidols，youhaveseenyourfellowChristianssacrificedanddevouredbyyourbrutecomrades。
　　Forthisaloneyoudeservetobetorturedeternally，anddoubtlessthatwillbesoafterwehavedonewithyou。
　　AsforthehidalgoDonSarceda，Iknowhimonlyasabravecompanioninarms，andcertainlyIshallnotlistentotalestoldagainsthimbyawanderingapostate。
　　Itis，however，unluckyforyou，’andhereagleamoflightshotacrossthefaceofCortes，’thatthereshouldbeanyoldfeudbetweenyou，seeingthatitistohischargethatI
　　amabouttoconfideyou。
　　NowforthelasttimeIsaychoose。
　　Willyourevealthehidingplaceofthetreasureandgofree，orwillyoubehandedovertothecareofDonSarcedatillsuchtimeasheshallfindmeanstomakeyouspeak？’
　　Nowagreatfaintnessseizedme，forIknewthatIwascondemnedtobetortured，andthatdeGarciawastobethetorturer。
　　WhatmercyhadItoexpectfromhiscruelheartwhenI，hisdeadliestfoe，layinhispowertowreakhisvengeanceon？
　　Butstillmywillandmyhonourprevailedagainstmyterrors，andIanswered:
　　’Ihavetoldyou，general，thatIknownothingofthistreasure。
　　Doyourworst，andmayGodforgiveyouforyourcruelty。’
　　’DarenottospeakthatholyName，apostateandworshipperofidols，eaterofhumanflesh。
　　LetSarcedabesummoned。’
　　Amessengerwentout，andforawhiletherewassilence。
　　IcaughtMarina’sglanceandsawpityinhergentleeyes。
　　Butshecouldnothelpmehere，forCorteswasmadbecausenogoldhadbeenfound，andtheclamourofthesoldiersforrewardhadwornhimoutandbroughthimtothisshamefulremedy，hewhowasnotcruelbynature。
　　Stillshestrovetopleadformewithhim，whisperingearnestlyinhisear。
　　ForawhileCorteslistened，thenhepushedherfromhimroughly。
　　’Peace，Marina，’hesaid。
　　’What，shallIsparethisEnglishdogsomepangs，whenmycommand，andperchancemyverylife，hangsuponthefindingofthegold？
　　Nay，heknowswellwhereitlieshid；yousaidityourselfwhenIwouldhavehunghimforatraitor，andcertainlyhewasoneofthosewhomthespysawgooutwithituponthelake。
　　Ourfriendwaswiththemalso，buthecamebacknomore；
　　doubtlesstheymurderedhim。
　　Whatisthismantoyouthatyoushouldpleadforhim？
　　Ceasetotroubleme，Marina，amInottroubledenoughalready？’andCortesputhishandstohisfaceandremainedlostinthought。
　　AsforMarina，shelookedatmesadlyandsighedasthoughtosay，’Ihavedonemybest，’andIthankedherwithmyeyes。
　　PresentlytherewasasoundoffootstepsandIlookeduptoseedeGarciastandingbeforeme。
　　Timeandhardshiphadtouchedhimlightly，andthelinesofsilverinhiscurlinghairandpeakedbearddidbutadddignitytohisnoblepresence。
　　Indeed，whenI