But Cortés was obdurate and insisted that the Aztec should go, in spite of the fact that the Emperor offered him one of his sons and two of his daughters as hostages, so that he might be spared this disgrace. Thus two hours passed by in a fruitless discussion.
Finally Velasquez de Leon, one of the cavaliers, who was impatient at the long delay, cried out in loud tones:
“Why do we waste words on this barbarian? Let us seize him, and, if he resists, let us plunge our swords into his body!”
The fierce tones of the man in armor, coupled with his menacing gesture, alarmed Montezuma, who asked Marina what the angry Spaniard had remarked. The Mexican girl explained, as gently as she could, what had been said, then besought him to accompany the white men, who would surely treat him with respect and kindness.
“If you refuse,” she whispered, “you will, perhaps, be killed.”
As she said this, the Emperor shuddered, and, looking around for some sympathetic glance, saw only the stern faces and mail-clad forms of the Spaniards. He felt that, should he refuse, he would be immediately dispatched.
“I will go with you, Malinche,” said he, in a scarcely audible voice. “Bring forward the royal litter!”
As the Aztec retinue marched dejectedly down the avenue to the Spanish quarters, the people crowded together, crying out that Montezuma had been carried off by force.
“Disperse, subjects!” cried the Emperor. “I am visiting my friends of my own accord.”