ing bade him summon six of his counselors, and tell the queen
and the princess that he awaited them.

In a short time these entered. The pomp and ceremony of royalty
were, to a considerable extent, laid aside in Tezcuco in the
interior of the palace--the custom there differing much from that
which prevailed at the court of Montezuma, where the emperor never
relaxed, in the slightest, in exacting the lowliest and most
profound homage from all who approached him.

Chapter 9: Life In A Palace.

"Now," the young king exclaimed joyously, as soon as the party he
had invited had assembled, and the silk hangings at the entrance of
the door had been closed: "Now we can talk at our ease. In the
first place, what can I call you?"

"My name is Roger Hawkshaw, your Majesty."

The king repeated the name.

"It is two words," Roger said. "With us, people have two names--the
one which is common to all the family, the other which is given
particularly to each person. The name of my family is Hawkshaw, my
own name is Roger. Your Majesty can call me by either one, or by
both."

Long names were common in Mexico, and Roger Hawkshaw seemed by no
means long to the king.

"Roger Hawkshaw shall be your name in public," he said. "It has a
strange grand sound, and will impress the people; but I will call you
Roger. This is my queen and first wife, Maclutha. This is my sister,
Amenche. These are two of my oldest and ablest counselors--both are
great nobles, and have led the armies of my father to victory. These
four young men are, as you see, my friends--they are the sons of four
of my chief nobles, and have been brought up with me since we were
children. Now, tell us more about yourself and your people."

The whole party took their seats upon the couches, half sitting,
half reclining. Attendants brought in cocoa of many different
flavors, confections, and tobacco. Roger took the cocoa, but
refused the tobacco.

"We do not know this herb in our country," he said.

"That is a grave misfortune for you," the king remarked. "It is
known and used by all peoples that we know of, here. It was used by
the people we found here, when we came from the far north, and all
the tribes there used it also.

"First, tell me what induced you to make this long journey across
the sea."

Roger had been expecting this question, and as he had already
determined that he would, in all matters, adhere to the truth, he
did not hesitate in his reply.