"but I believed that
he was lying to me. I had heard often of John of Gamala, and deemed
that he was a brave and skilful warrior; and it seemed impossible that
young man could be he. As to what I am going to do with him, I have
nothing to do but what he has himself demanded--namely, to be sent to
Titus. He produced the signet ring of Caesar; said that it was given
to him by the general, himself; and that he told him that, if he
presented it to a Roman at any time, he would lead him to his presence.
I believed that he had stolen the ring, or had got it from somebody
that had stolen it; and he then told me of the story, very much as you
have told it--save that he said that, when he was well-nigh conquered by
Titus, and sprang upon him, Caesar's foot slipped, and he fell--hinting
that his success was the result of accident, rather than his own effort.
He spoke by no means boastingly of it, but as if it was the most natural
thing in the world."

"There he showed discretion, and wisdom," the general said; "but
truly this is a marvellous story. If he had not appealed to Caesar,
I should have said, 'Give him his freedom.' You can buy a new slave
for a few sesterces. This young fellow is too good to be a slave
and, now that Judea is finally crushed, he could never become
dangerous; but as he has demanded to be sent to Caesar, you must,
of course, send him there. Besides, with the ideas that Titus has,
he may be really glad to see the youth again.

"But we shall like to see him, also. We all honour a brave
adversary, and I should like to see him who so long set us at
defiance."

"I will bring him down, tomorrow, at this hour," Tibellus said; and
then, taking leave of the officers, he mounted and rode back.

On reaching home, he at once sent for John.

"I doubted your story, when you told it to me," he said, "and
deemed it impossible; but I have been down to the officers of the
legion which arrived, last week, from Judea. It chances to be the
very one which was at Carmelia, when Vespasian lay at Hebron; and I
find that your story is fully confirmed--although, indeed, they did
not know that the wounded man Titus sent in was John of Gamala--but
as they admit that he answered, exactly, to the description which
they have heard of that leader, they doubt not that it was he.

"However, be assured that your request is granted, and that you
shall be sent to Rome by the next ship that goes thither."

Chapter 19: At Rome.