, will you not
come in?"

"The precepts of the law will not allow us so to do today," said the
rabbi.

The servant said, "Is that so? Can I carry your message?"

"The high priest sends us to bring a petition to the viceroy of Caesar
to ask if he will allow the council to appear before him and to bring
before him a malefactor for the confirmation of his sentence."

"I will deliver the message at once to my lord; wait here in the
meantime," said the servant, and went into Pilate.

The rabbi returning down the steps joined Dariabbas and Rabinth, who
stood below. "It is very sad," said Dariabbas, "that we must knock at
the door of a Gentile in order to get the behests of our holy law
executed."

"Take courage," said the rabbi, "when once this domestic enemy is
removed out of the way, who knows whether we might not soon free
ourselves from the foreign foe?"

Rabinth exclaimed, "Oh, may I live to see the day which will bring
freedom to the children of Israel!"

Pilate's servant returned and spoke unto them saying, "The governor
greets you. You are to inform the high priest that Pilate is ready to
receive the petition of the Sanhedrin."

"Accept our thanks for thy kindness," said the rabbi. "Now let us
hasten to report to the high priest the result of our errand." The
servant then returned and closed the door behind him.

The three messengers then returned. Rabinth remarked anxiously,
"Pilate will surely agree to the demand of the council."

"He must," said the rabbi, "how could he resist it when the Sanhedrin
and the whole people demand with one voice the death of this man?"

"And besides," said Dariabbas, "what does the governor care about the
life of a single Galilean? Were it merely to please the high priest,
who is of great importance to him, he would not hesitate to permit the
execution."

Now, Judas, being distracted by remorse, found himself, after wandering
to and fro, in the potter's field, purchased with the thirty pieces of
silver, in the midst of which stood a blasted tree. Then after wildly
looking around to see if anyone was near, he said: "Oh, where, where
can I go to hide my shame, to escape the torments of conscience? No
forest is dark enough! No rocky cavern deep enough! O, earth, open
and swallow me up! I can no longer exist. O, my dear Master! Him,
best of all men, have I sold, giving him up to ill treatment, to a most
painful death of torture. I, detestable betrayer--oh! wh