"Judge for yourself: Heaven forbid I should breed ill-will where there is none, or plant thorns in my friend's flower-garden. Judge for yourself, señor: if, being innocent of all crime, Cortes has yet doomed you, basely and perfidiously, to death,--"
"To death!" exclaimed Juan, with a voice that reached the ears of his late companions, and brought them to a sudden stand; "Heaven be my help! and do I come back but to die?"
"You went forth but to die!" said Villafana; "and, you may judge, with what justice. Come, señor,--the thing is said in a moment. The expedition was designed for your death-warrant."
"Villain!" exclaimed Juan; "dare you impute this horrible treachery to Cortes?"
"Not,--no, not, if it appear at all doubtful to your own excellent penetration," replied the Alguazil, with a laugh. "I do but repeat you the belief of some half the army--had it been but before the Noche Triste, I might have said, _all_: but, in truth, we are now, more than half of us, new men, who know but little of the matter."
"Does any one charge this upon the general?" said Juan, with a look of horror.
"Ay,--if you call them not 'villains,'" replied the soldier.
"I will know the truth," said Juan. "I will find who has belied me."
"You will find that of any one but Don Hernan. Señor Don Juan, I pity you. You have returned at an evil moment; your presence will chill old friends, and sharpen ancient enemies."
"If he seek my life, it is his: but, by heaven, the man who has wronged me,--"
"Get thy horse and arms first. Wilt thou be wise? Thou shalt have friends to back thee. Listen: A month since, there came for thee, in a ship from the islands, two very noble horses, and a suit of goodly armour, sent, as was said, by some benevolent friend, whom thou mayst be quicker at remembering than myself."
"Sent by heaven, I think," said Lerma, "for I know not what earthly friend would so supply my necessities."
"Oh, then," said Villafana, "the rumour is, they were sent thee by the lady Catalina, our general's wife."
"May heaven bless her!" exclaimed Juan; "for she is mine only friend: and this bounty I have not deserved."
"In this matter," said Villafana, dryly, "she will prove rather thine enemy; that is, if thou art resolute to demand the restoration of her gifts."