[Montezuma’s Daughter by H. Rider Haggard]@TWC D-Link book
Montezuma’s Daughter

CHAPTER XXXIII
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I stood by and let the victim pass, but as he passed I spoke to him in Spanish, saying: 'Remember that which it may well be you have forgotten, holy father, remember now the dying prayer of Isabella de Siguenza whom many years ago you did to death in Seville.' The man heard me; he turned livid beneath his bronzed skin and staggered until I thought that he would have fallen.

He stared upon me, with terror in his eye, to see as he believed a common sight enough, that of an Indian chief rejoicing at the death of one of his oppressors.
'What devil are you,' he said hoarsely, 'sent from hell to torment me at the last ?' 'Remember the dying prayer of Isabella de Siguenza, whom you struck and cursed,' I answered mocking.

'Seek not to know whence I am, but remember this only, now and for ever.' For a moment he stood still, heedless of the urgings of his tormentors.
Then his courage came to him again, and he cried with a great voice: 'Get thee behind me, Satan, what have I to fear from thee?
I remember that dead sinner well--may her soul have peace--and her curse has fallen upon me.

I rejoice that it should be so, for on the further side of yonder stone the gates of heaven open to my sight.

Get thee behind me, Satan, what have I to fear from thee ?' Crying thus he staggered forward saying, 'O God, into Thy hand I commend my spirit!' May his soul have peace also, for if he was cruel, at least he was brave, and did not shrink beneath those torments which he had inflicted on many others.
Now this was a little matter, but its results were large.


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