'You lie, murderer,' I gasped, tearing at the ropes that bound me.
'I must ask you to protect me from such insult, general,' de Garcia
answered coldly. 'Were the prisoner worthy of my sword, I would ask
further that his bonds should be loosed for a little space, but my
honour would be tarnished for ever were I to fight with such as he.'
'Dare to speak thus once more to a gentleman of Spain,' said Cortes
coldly, 'and, you heathen dog, your tongue shall be dragged from you
with red-hot pincers. For you, Sarceda, I thank you for your confidence.
If you have no worse crime than a love affair upon your soul, I think
that our good chaplain Olmedo will frank you through the purgatorial
fires. But we waste words and time. This man has the secret of the
treasure of Guatemoc and of Montezuma. If Guatemoc and his nobles will
not tell it, he at least may be forced to speak, for the torments that
an Indian can endure without a groan will soon bring truth bubbling from
the lips of this white heathen. Take him, Sarceda, and hearken, let
him be your especial care. First let him suffer with the others, and
afterwards, should he prove obdurate, alone. The method I leave to you.
Should he confess, summon me.'
'Pardon me, general, but this is no task for an hidalgo of Spain. I have
been more wont to pierce my enemies with the sword than to tear them
with pincers,' said de Garcia, but as he spoke I saw a gleam of triumph
shine in his black eyes, and heard the ring of triumph through the mock
anger of his voice.
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