hou makest me to
forget my gifts," and taking up the frontlet he handed it to Antipas.
"This is a gift for the High Priest. Look thou at the filigree work
around the amethyst, and the hyacinth color of the ribbon."

Antipas took it and Zador noticed that his fingers seemed to stick as
he relinquished his hold.

"And this," Zador took the ring, "hath been made by workers of rare
skill. Its jaspers came from far India. This is for Herod Antipas
from his friend Zador Ben Amon," and he handed it to Herod.

The keen edge of the sharp teeth now came into view for a smile of long
duration. When the ring had been duly admired, Antipas glanced at the
third leather case. Zador opened it and drew forth an anklet which
Antipas reached for. Slipping it over the fingers of his hand he held
it up, and after examining its jewels, he shook it until it tinkled,
and enjoyed it as a child enjoys a toy. When he had played with it a
few moments he lifted his eyes to the Jew and studied him. "Thy desire
is buried well under thy itch for gain," he said. "Yet do I now
remember the eye of the money-changer when he spoke of the naked
virgins."

"Is a money-changer not as other men?"

"With his two eyes ever set on gold and his ten fingers ever counting
treasure, what eye or finger touch hath he left for woman? Is this for
the profit of thy purse or the pleasure of the flesh?"

"It is a betrothal gift."

"Thou sayest! Beware an Asmonean princess!" and Antipas smiled broadly.

"A princess of Israel she is. I saw her in the shop of a Jerusalem
silk dealer named Joel who will wed her sister. Her hair is fine as
webs spun at night. She hath arms and a bosom her veil did but half
conceal. So was I stirred into loving her. Her brother liveth at
Bethany where she too abides and there have I been. Fair she is and
not upper-minded, and I go to make her my betrothed."

"And doth this fit?" Taking the circlet from his fingers Antipas put
it on his wrist and shoved it as far up on his hair-grown arm as it
would go. He then placed his broad hand on the table and gave an
imitation of a woman walking. Both men roared with laughter as the
hairy leg skipped and danced and hobbled while the bangles tinkled
merrily.

"Thou art a keen Jew, my friend," Antipas said. "Thou tellest not the
name of the woman. If she shall scorn thy gift then canst thou give it
to another for, ever there are women whose softness can be thine for a
jewele