Presently Montezuma made another signal, and three aged men whom I understood to be ambassadors, advanced and asked some prayer of him.

He answered them with a nod of the head and they retreated from his presence, making obeisance and stepping backward till they mingled with the crowd.

Then the emperor spoke a word to one of the counsellors, who bowed and came slowly down the hall looking to the right and to the left.

Presently his eye fell upon Guatemoc, and, indeed, he was easy to see, for he stood a head taller than any there.
'Hail, prince,' he said.

'The royal Montezuma desires to speak with you, and with the Teule, your companion.' 'Do as I do, Teule,' said Guatemoc, and led the way up the chamber, till we reached the place where the wooden screen had been, which, as we passed it, was drawn behind us, shutting us off from the hall.
Here we stood a while, with folded hands and downcast eyes, till a signal was made to us to advance.
'Your report, nephew,' said Montezuma in a low voice of command.
'I went to the city of Tobasco, O glorious Montezuma.