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 said, blushing beneath her olive skin as she spoke.

‘Surely a god may sit where he chooses, royal Otomie,’ I answered; ‘besides,’ I added in a low voice, ’what better place can he find than by the side of the most lovely goddess on the earth.’

Again she blushed and answered, ’Alas!  I no goddess, but only a mortal maid.  Listen, if you desire that I should be your companion at our feasts, you must issue it as a command; none will dare to disobey you, not even Montezuma my father.’