night's sleep will refresh you,
and to-morrow you will be a new man. Perhaps you believe that I have
done my worst. Fool, this is but a beginning. Also you think doubtless
that your obstinacy angers me? Wrong again, my friend, I only pray that
you may keep your lips sealed to the last. Gladly would I give my share
of this hidden gold in payment for two more such days with you. I have
still much to pay you back, and look you, I have found a way to do it.
There are more ways of hurting a man than through his own flesh--for
instance, when I wished to be revenged upon your father, I struck him
through her whom he loved. Now I have touched you and you wonder what I
mean. Well, I will tell you. Perhaps you may know an Aztec lady of royal
blood who is named Otomie?'

'Otomie, what of her?' I cried, speaking for the first time, since fear
for her stirred me more than all the torments I had borne.

'A triumph indeed; I have found a way to make you speak at last; why,
then, to-morrow you will be full of words. Only this, Cousin Wingfield;
Otomie, Montezuma's daughter, a very lovely woman by the way, is
your wife according to the Indian customs. Well, I know all the story
and--she is in my power. I will prove it to you, for she shall be
brought here presently and then you can console each other. For listen,
dog, to-morrow she will sit where you are sitting, and before your eyes
she shall be dealt with as you have been dealt with. Ah! then you will
talk fast enough, but perhaps it will be too late.'

And now for the first time I broke down and prayed for mercy even of my
foe.

'Spare her,' I groaned; 'do what you will with me, but spare her! Surely
you must have a heart, even you, for you are human. You can never do
this thing, and Cortes would not suffer it.'

'As for Cortes,' he answered, 'he will know nothing of it--till it is
done. I have my warrant that charges me to use every means in my power
to force the truth from you. Torture has failed; this alone is left. And
for the rest, you must read me ill. You know what it is to hate, for you
hate me; multiply your hate by ten and you may find the sum of mine
for you. I hate you for your blood, I hate you because you have your
mother's eyes, but much more do I hate you for yourself, for did you not
beat me, a gentleman of Spain, with a stick as though I were a hound?
Shall I then shrink from such a deed when I can satisfy my hate by it?
Also perhaps, though you are a brave man