Time and hardship had touched him lightly, and the lines of silver in his curling hair and peaked beard did but add dignity to his noble presence.

Indeed, when I looked at him in his dark Spanish beauty, his rich garments decked with chains of gold, as he bowed before Cortes hat in hand, I was fain to confess that I had never seen a more gallant cavalier, or one whose aspect gave the lie so wholly to the black heart within.

But knowing him for what he was, my very blood quivered with hate at the sight of him, and when I thought of my own impotence and of the errand on which he had come, I ground my teeth and cursed the day that I was born.

As for de Garcia, he greeted me with a little cruel smile, then spoke to Cortes.
'Your pleasure, general ?' 'Greeting to you, comrade,' answered Cortes.

'You know this renegade ?' 'But too well, general.