carried me back to Chapoltepec.

Here new honours awaited me, for I was conducted to a splendid range of
apartments, next to those of the emperor himself, and I was told that
all Montezuma's household were at my command and that he who refused to
do my bidding should die.

So at last I spoke and said it was my bidding that I should be suffered
to rest a while, till a feast was prepared for me in the apartments of
Guatemoc the prince, for there I hoped to meet Otomie.

My tutors and the nobles who attended me answered that Montezuma my
servant had trusted that I would feast with him that night. Still my
command should be done. Then they left me, saying that they would come
again in an hour to lead me to the banquet. Now I threw off the emblems
of my godhead and cast myself down on cushions to rest and think, and a
certain exultation took possession of me, for was I not a god, and had I
not power almost absolute? Still being of a cautious mind I wondered why
I was a god, and how long my power would last.

Before the hour had gone by, pages and nobles entered, bearing new robes
which were put upon my body and fresh flowers to crown my head, and I
was led away to the apartments of Guatemoc, fair women going before me
who played upon instruments of music.

Here Guatemoc the prince waited to receive me, which he did as though
I, his captive and companion, was the first of kings. And yet I thought
that I saw merriment in his eye, mingled with sorrow. Bending forward I
spoke to him in a whisper:

'What does all this mean, prince?' I said. 'Am I befooled, or am I
indeed a god?'

'Hush!' he answered, bowing low and speaking beneath his breath. 'It
means both good and ill for you, my friend Teule. Another time I will
tell you.' Then he added aloud, 'Does it please you, O Tezcat, god of
gods, that we should sit at meat with you, or will you eat alone?'

'The gods like good company, prince,' I said.

Now during this talk I had discovered that among those gathered in the
hall was the princess Otomie. So when we passed to the low table around
which we were to sit on cushions, I hung back watching where she would
place herself, and then at once seated myself beside her. This caused
some little confusion among the company, for the place of honour had
been prepared for me at the head of the table, the seat of Guatemoc
being to my right and that of his wife, the royal Tecuichpo, to my left.

'Your seat is yonder, O Tezcat,' she