the majesty of
Montezuma. The counsellors and nobles having fallen back, these priests
entered into talk with the emperor, and presently two of them came
forward and taking me from the custody of the guards, led me forward
before the throne. Then of a sudden I was commanded to strip myself of
my garments, and this I did with no little shame, till I stood naked
before them all. Now the priests came forward and examined every part of
me closely. On my arms were the scars left by de Garcia's sword, and on
my breast the scarcely healed marks of the puma's teeth and claws. These
wounds they scanned, asking how I had come by them. I told them, and
thereupon they carried on a discussion among themselves, and out of my
hearing, which grew so warm that at length they appealed to the emperor
to decide the point. He thought a while, and I heard him say:

'The blemishes do not come from within the body, nor were they upon it
at birth, but have been inflicted by the violence of man and beast.'

Then the priests consulted together again, and presently their leader
spoke some words into the ear of Montezuma. He nodded, and rising from
his throne, came towards me who stood naked and shivering before him,
for the air of Mexico is keen. As he advanced he loosed a chain of
emeralds and gold that hung about his neck, and unclasped the royal
cloak from his shoulders. Then with his own hand, he put the chain about
my throat, and the cloak upon my shoulders, and having humbly bent the
knee before me as though in adoration, he cast his arms about me and
embraced me.

'Hail! most blessed,' he said, 'divine son of Quetzal, holder of the
spirit of Tezcat, Soul of the World, Creator of the World. What have
we done that you should honour us thus with your presence for a season?
What can we do to pay the honour back? You created us and all this
country; behold! while you tarry with us, it is yours and we are nothing
but your servants. Order and your commands shall be obeyed, think and
your thought shall be executed before it can pass your lips. O Tezcat,
I, Montezuma your servant, offer you my adoration, and through me the
adoration of all my people,' and again he bowed the knee.

'We adore you, O Tezcat!' chimed in the priests.

Now I remained silent and bewildered, for of all this foolery I could
understand nothing, and while I stood thus Montezuma clapped his hands
and women entered bearing beautiful clothing with them, and a wreath of
flow