or Ben Amon was returning from a prosperous trip that
had taken him as far as Rome, and having business with Herod Antipas
had sent word of his visit to Tiberias. It was with a smile he stroked
his perfumed beard as he caught sight of an equipage making its way to
the water-front. A flock of goats and rams being driven by Arabs
across the wharf, scattered, and to both right and left sailors and
slaves made way for the driver of Herod's horses.

Black as ravens were the horses of Herod Antipas, and shiny as satin.
Their manes and tails hung in closely curled, glossy ringlets and their
heavy harness was thickly studded with polished gold buttons. The
glossy black hair of Antipas was also curled, and the crown-like
head-gear he wore was thickly studded with jewels, as was also the
richly gold embroidered border of his robe. In his ears he wore rings
which swung down against the upper edge of his curled and greased beard.

The greeting between Antipas and the money-changer was cordial; and
before they went to the palace, Zador Ben Amon was driven about the
city to see the stadium, the new theatre, the streets and the
underground watercourses. And he was taken to the famous hot baths a
mile down the seaside, considered by Romans one of the great
curiosities of the world. It was in the feast room Zador made known
his business, and yet, not until some discussion of other matters had
taken place, beginning with a description of a Roman banquet at which
the Jew had been a guest.

"The table at which we sat was of citron wood from Mauritania, more
precious than gold. And it was covered with a plateau of massive
silver weighing five hundred pounds--five hundred pounds, mind you,
chased and carven. Dost thou marvel that I made friends with the
Romans?"

"Thou art wise, Son of Amon," Antipas answered.

"After the feast, young slave girls strewed the mosaic with sawdust
dyed saffron and vermilion, mixed with sparkling powder, and naked
virgins danced--_naked_ virgins!"

Herod Antipas rubbed his palms and smiled, showing the tips of several
sharp teeth.

"And the next day," continued the guest, "we went to the circus and
waved our ribbon-decked palms while half a score of combatants were
dragged to the spoilarium and carted through the Gate of Death. A
bloody sport, but they enjoy it, and gladiators are plenty. Gorgeous
the shows of Rome; like the waters of the Tiber doth her wine flow, and
her gold is like the star