It was by the light of these fires chiefly that I saw the sight.

On the floor of the chamber were placed three solid chairs, one of them empty.

The other two were filled by none other than Guatemoc, Emperor of the Aztecs, and by his friend and mine the cacique of Tacuba.

They were bound in the chairs, the burning braziers were placed at their feet, behind them stood a clerk with paper and an inkhorn, and around them Indians were busy at some dreadful task, directed to it by two Spanish soldiers.

Near the third chair stood another Spaniard who as yet took no part in the play; it was de Garcia.