ngdom greater than that of Rome. Let us
now to bed and see thou hast no dreams to disturb thy rest," and
throwing down his cup, Pilate arose.

"Dreams are signs, my Pilate."

"Dream then of the prosperity of Pilate." As he paused under the drawn
curtains, Pilate stopped to command his guard, "Waken me not until the
sun doth clear the Temple tower. Draw the curtains tight and let no
man pass them."

When he had entered the bedchamber the curtains were lowered and the
guards stationed themselves at the door. A moment later, Claudia
paused as she pushed the curtain aside, saying to the guards, "Forget
not thy Lord Pilate's command. Wake him not."

CHAPTER XXVII

CAESAR'S FRIEND

After Pilate and Claudia had retired behind the curtains, the guards
took their places for the night. Inside the door to the left and right
a picked man of Pilate's body-guard stationed himself. An enormous
spear, which lifted its shining point like an ensign over his head, was
held by each soldier and shifted from hand to hand as these motionless
and silent men grew drowsy. In the outer hall soldiers of the Legion
stood on guard from the entrance into the inner room, down the long
corridor to the portico steps. In spite of orders that no word be
spoken in the hallway after Pilate had retired, these soldiers, knowing
his manner of sleep, made use of the night hours to discuss such
daytime gossip as had reached their ears. The comment began when news
was passed that Pilate had gone to sleep, and between the left guard
and the right guard a conversation took place which would have been
interesting to the public.

"Had I as much ripe wine in my paunch as hath the gracious Pilate, I
would also sleep."

"Aye. But by the shades of Caesar did not his sleep of yesternight
outmatch even the measure of his cups? Drank and drank did our master
Pilate until his eyes bulged and his tongue was pushed out of his
throat by the fulness thereof. And he did sleep and sleep until the
sun had started down next day."

"And were there not soldiers and priests and lawyers and centurions and
Senators clamoring to have speech with him? And did not Claudia pass
out the word that he was engaged in matters of importance to Tiberius?"

"Thou makest my inwards to shake with choked laughter when thou sayest
this--'business of importance to Tiberius.'"

"Yea--and wherefore the smothered laughter. Is not the important
business of Caesar Tiberius