Do you find your lot so hard that you would die to escape it,
and so tell me this impossible story? For death, and a horrible
death, will assuredly be your portion. If you persist in this tale
and, showing me this ring, say: 'I demand that you send me and my
companion to Titus,' I should be bound to do so; and then torture
and death will be your portion, for mocking the name of Caesar."

"My lord," John said, calmly, "I repeat that I mock not the name of
Caesar, and that what I have told you is true. I am not weary of
life, or discontented with my station. I have been kindly treated
by Philo, and work no harder than I should work at my father's
farm, in Galilee; but I naturally long to return home. I have
abstained from showing you this ring before, because Titus had not
as yet conquered Jerusalem; but now that I hear he has been
received in triumph, in Rome, he would have time to give me an
audience; and therefore I pray that I may be sent to him."

"But how is it possible that Titus could have given you this ring?"
Tibellus asked, impressed by the calmness of John's manner, and yet
still unable to believe a statement which appeared to him
altogether incredible.

"I will tell you, my lord, but I will tell you alone; for although
Titus made no secret of it at the time, he might not care for the
story to be generally told."

Tibellus waved his hand to Philo, who at once withdrew.

"You have found it hard to believe what I have told you, my lord,"
John went on. "You will find it harder, still, to believe what I
now tell you; but if it is your command, I am bound to do so."

"It is my command," Tibellus said, shortly. "I would fain know the
whole of this monstrous tale."

"I must first tell you, my lord, that though as yet but twenty-one
years old, I have for four years fought with my countrymen against
the Romans.

"You see," he said, pointing to the scars on his head, arms, and
body, "I have been wounded often and, as you may see for yourself,
some of these scars are yet unhealed. Others are so old that you
can scarce see their traces. This is a proof of so much, at least,
of my story. My companion here and I were, by the protection of our
God, enabled to escape from Jotapata, when all else save Josephus
perished there. This was regarded by my countrymen as well-nigh a
miracle, and as a proof that I had divine favour. In consequence a
number of young men, when they took up arms, elected me as their
leader and,