Page:The Mastering of Mexico.djvu/182

148 Cortes then told how glad his heart was at meeting Montezuma face to face, and of the honor he had done us in coming himself to meet us. Montezuma, also, for his part spoke words of politeness, and then ordered the two caciques who were his nephews to conduct us to our quarters, he himself returning to the city with his numerous suite. As they passed us we stood watching how all paid him formal veneration and marched with head bent forward and eyes fixed on the ground. The road before us was now less crowded, and yet who could count the vast number of men, women and children gathered merely to look upon us!

Our quarters were in a building where there was room enough for all of us, apartments which had been occupied in his lifetime by the father of Montezuma. They chose it for our dwelling because it was near by temples with idols, and since they termed us teules and thought us such, that we might dwell as equals by their gods. The chambers were very spacious, and those set apart for our captain were canopied with cloth. Every one of us had his own bed of matting, and no better bed is given, how great soever the chief. Notwithstanding the large size of the building every place was swept clean, coated with fresh plaster and garlanded.

When we came to the great court-yard of the palace Montezuma, himself, was waiting and he took