The people raised a shout, and it was evident to Roger that, in spite of the terrible losses suffered by their troops in the attacks upon the white men, their admiration for their visitors far outweighed any animosity for the defeats inflicted upon them.
Near the officer, whom Roger judged to be the leader of the expedition, were an elderly man and a young woman.

The Spaniard addressed the old man, who spoke to the girl, and she translated it to the chiefs.
Roger recognized her at once--it was certainly his friend, the slave girl of Tabasco.

In the eight months since he had seen her, she had grown to complete womanhood; and now--richly attired as she was, and evidently regarded as a person of great importance, both by the Spaniards and the native chiefs--carried herself with an air of confidence and pride; and was, Roger thought, the most beautiful woman he had seen in Mexico.
As the party moved down the steps of the palace, and along the street, evidently discoursing on some important business, Roger followed them closely.

He waited until Malinche happened, for a moment, to be at the outside of the party, then he pressed forward and said to her: "Malinche, do you remember your white friend ?" She looked up, and would have cried out with astonishment, had he not touched his lips.
"I want to speak to you alone, first.

Where can I meet you ?" "In an hour I shall be able to slip away from their meal," she said; "be near the palace gate." Roger at once fell back into the crowd, and soon took an opportunity to extricate himself from it, and to go down a side street.