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secretly taken away, and of
which he had deprived his companions in arms, there was a good deal
elsewhere from which the royal fifths had not been deducted, and that,
in his capacity of royal treasurer, he could not suffer the emperor's
interest to be thus prejudiced.

This, consequently, led to high words between both parties, so that they
drew swords, and would certainly have killed each other if we had not
instantly parted them; for both were high-spirited men and excellent
swordsmen, and each had already wounded his antagonist.

As soon as Cortes was informed of this affair, he ordered both to be
arrested and heavily chained. As, however, he always had been heart in
hand with Leon, many were of opinion that all this was a mere blind to
make us believe that he preferred justice to friendship; besides which
it was whispered that he secretly visited him during his arrest, and
assured him that he should not be confined beyond a couple of days, when
he and Mexia would again be set at liberty. But all this did not go to
quiet our suspicions, and now Mexia, in his turn, was reproached for not
having fulfilled the duties of royal treasurer, and he was compelled by
the soldiers to inquire of Cortes what had become of the missing gold?

I will, however, cut this matter short here, and return to Leon, who was
confined in a room not far from the apartments occupied by Motecusuma.
When Leon, therefore, who was a tall powerful man, paced up and down his
room, his heavy chains dragged along the floor, so that the monarch
could plainly hear the jingling noise, and he inquired of Orteguilla who
the prisoner was? His page then told him that it was Leon, who had
previously been captain of the guard, an appointment now filled by Oli,
and told him that the reason of his confinement was on account of some
gold that was missing.

When Cortes that day, as usual, paid his visit to the monarch, and the
first compliments had passed between them, the latter inquired of our
general how it came that such a distinguished officer as Leon should
have been thrown into chains? To which Cortes answered, jokingly, that
all was not as it should be with him, he having threatened, because he
had not received sufficient gold, to travel around to the different
towns, and demand gold of the caziques. Fearing, therefore, he might put
his threats into execution, and kill one or other chief, he had thrown
him into prison. Motecusuma, on hearing this, begged Cortes to set him
at liberty again, and promised he would soon drive such thoughts from
his mind by presenting him with gold from his own private treasure.

Cortes feigned great unwillingness to grant the monarch's request, but
at length assured him he would comply merely on account of the affection
he bore him, Motecusuma. Leon was, consequently, released, and Cortes
brought about a reconciliation between him and Mexia; then despatched
him with some of Motecusuma's principal officers to raise gold at
Cholulla, from which place he did not return till the end of six days,
and now he had more gold than ever. Mexia, however, never forgot this
affair, and a coolness ever after existed between him and our general.

I have related this story, though foreign to my narrative, to show the
reader what artful devices Cortes was accustomed to set on foot, and
what a show he made of justice to make us fear him.

CHAPTER CVII.

 _How Motecusuma offers one of his daughters in marriage to Cortes,
 who accepts her, and pays her the attentions due to her high
 station._

I have often related how we strove, in every possible manner, to amuse
Motecusuma in his confinement, and daily visited him in his apartments.
It was on one of these occasions that the monarch said to our general,
"Malinche! in order to prove the great affection I have for you, I must
acquaint you that it is my intention to give you one of my prettiest
daughters in marriage."

Cortes took his cap off, and thanked him for the honour he was going to
confer upon him, and said he was already married, and that the religion
and laws of our country would not allow a man to have more than one
wife; but that he would accept her and treat her with the respect due to
her high rank, and it was requisite she should become converted to
Christianity, as the daughters of many of his grandees had been.

Motecusuma readily agreed to this, as he did in everything else we
desired, save the sacrificing of human beings, which nothing could
induce him to abolish; day after day were those abominations committed:
Cortes remonstrated with him in every possible way, but with so little
effect, that at last he deemed it proper to take some decided step in
the matter. But the great difficulty was to adopt a measure by which
neither the inhabitants nor the priesthood would be induced to rise up
in arms. We, however, came to the determination, in a meeting called for
the purpose, to throw down the idols from the top of Huitzilopochtli's
temple; and should the Mexicans rise up in arms for their defence, then
to content ourselves by demanding permission to build an altar on one
side of the platform, and erect thereon the image of the holy Virgin
with the cross.

Thus determined, Cortes, accompanied by seven officers and soldiers,
repaired to Motecusuma, and spoke to him as follows: "Great monarch, I
have already so many times begged of you to abolish those false idols by
whom you are so terribly deluded, and no longer to sacrifice human
beings to them; and yet these abominations are continued daily: I have,
therefore, come to you now, with these officers, to beg permission of
you to take away these idols from the temple, and place in their stead
the holy Virgin and the cross. The whole of my men feel determined to
pull down your idols, even should you be averse to it; and you may well
suppose that one or other of your papas will become the victim."

When Motecusuma heard this, and saw how determined our officers were, he
said to Cortes, "Alas, Malinche! why is it you wish to compel me to
bring down total destruction on this town? Our gods are already angry
with us, and who can tell what revenge they contemplate against you? I
will, however, assemble all the papas, to know their opinion."

Cortes made a sign with his hand for the other officers to retire, and
begged of Motecusuma to grant him and father Olmedo a private audience.
Cortes then told the monarch he only knew one way of saving the town
from open rebellion, and the idols from destruction, namely, by our
being allowed to erect an altar, with the cross and Virgin Mary, on the
top of the great temple. He would then pledge himself to silence the
murmurs of his men, and the Mexicans themselves would soon be convinced
how greatly such a change would benefit their souls, what great
blessings would be showered down upon them, and how abundant their
harvests would be.

To this Motecusuma likewise answered, with a deep sigh, and a
countenance full of sorrow, that he would discuss the matter

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