In those days, had it not been for the tender kindness of Otomie, I think that my heart would have broken or I should have slain myself.

But this great and beauteous lady was ever at hand to cheer me in a thousand ways, and now and again she would let fall some vague words of hope that set my pulses bounding.
It will be remembered that when first I came to the court of Montezuma, I had found Otomie fair and my fancy turned towards her.

Now I still found her fair, but my heart was so full of terror that there was no room in it for tender thoughts of her or of any other woman.

Indeed when I was not drunk with wine or adoration, I turned my mind to the making of my peace with heaven, of which I had some need.
Still I talked much with Otomie, instructing her in the matters of my faith and many other things, as I had done by Marina, who we now heard was the mistress and interpreter of Cortes, the Spanish leader.

She for her part listened gravely, watching me the while with her tender eyes, but no more, for of all women Otomie was the most modest, as she was the proudest and most beautiful.
So matters went on until the Spaniards had left Cholula on their road to Mexico.