“With Tula, I suppose,” said the king, laughing.
“Would it were! She says her lover is called Tonatiah. Much I fear, however, that what she thinks love is really a delusion, wrought by magic. She is not herself. When did Malinche go to the temple?”
“Four days ago,” the king replied.
“Well, the teule met her there, and spoke to her, and gave her a present. Since that, like a child, she has done little else than play with the trinket.”
Montezuma became interested. He seated himself, and asked, “You said the spell proceeds from the present: why do you think so?”
“The giver said the gift was a symbol of his religion, and whoever wore it became of his faith, and belonged to his god.”
“Mictlan!” muttered Cuitlahua.
“Strange! what is the thing?” the king persisted.
“Something of unknown metal, white, like silver, about a hand in length, and attached to a chain.”
“Of unknown metal,—a symbol of religion! Where is the marvel now?”