it out of his own mouth."

Then said Caiaphas, "Fathers of the people of Israel, it is now your
duty to come to a final decision as to the guilt and punishment of this
man."

Then cried they all, "He is guilty of blasphemy. He hath deserved
death."

Caiaphas said, "We will therefore lead him before the judgment seat of
Pilate."

And they all answered and said, "Yes, away with him. Let him die."

"Pilate," said Caiaphas, "must first be informed in order that he may
proclaim the sentence before the feast."

A rabbi said, "Could some one be sent from the council in order to give
him timely information?"

"Thou thyself," said Caiaphas, "together with Dariabbas and Rabinth
shalt go before. We will speedily come after."

When these three had departed Caiaphas said, "This day, then, will save
the religion of our fathers, and exalt the honor of the synagogue, so
that the echo of our fame shall reach our latest descendants."

All shouted, "Men will speak of us centuries hence!" and Caiaphas
resumed, "Lead him away; we follow."

Once more they cried, "Down with the Galilean!" and departed.

The three messengers sent by the Sanhedrin drew near to the house of
Pilate, and as they went they spoke among themselves. The rabbi said:
"At last we breathe more freely again; we have been insulted long
enough."

Dariabbas replied, "It was indeed high time; his following was becoming
very large."

"Now," said the rabbi, "there is nothing more to be feared from him.
The traders have in these days displayed the most creditable activity,
to have gained for us a crowd of determined people. You will see if it
comes to anything, they will effectively take the lead. The waverers
will concur with them, and the followers of the Nazarene will find it
well to be silent, and take themselves off."

Then said Rabinth, seeing they had approached the place of Pilate, "How
shall we bring our message to Pilate? We dare not enter the house of
the Gentile today, as in that case we should become unclean and could
not eat the Passover?"

"We will send a message through one of his own people," said the rabbi,
and going up the stairs to the balcony of Pilate's house, he knocked
gently at the door.

Standing and listening, he said, "Surely, there is some one there?
Yes, there is some one coming," and retired a little way down the
steps, so as to avoid any contact with the Gentile.

A servant of Pilate opened it and said, "Welcome, rabbi