kept near him, and by night hath he cunningly
concealed himself. Cowards and curs are these Jews whose faces are
solemn and whose prayers are long. Rome shows her hand in the open.
But these move under dark cloaks of piety, spin webs and heap up much
spoil."

"Hast thou seen this stirrer up of strife?"

"Yea, and heard his speech. Daily he taught in the Temple and though
he is called a Galilean peasant, he hath much knowledge. A strange
people were those of his race, and strange were the kings that once sat
on their thrones, for out of the Galilean's mouth their law allowed no
usury, left fruit on the vine for the poor, and turned vast estates
back to be redistributed. Aye, this stirrer up of sedition makes much
of the poor. Perchance hunger hath gnawed at his own vitals. By
traffic in 'traditions' and sacrifices have their priests grown rich
filching from the poor. For this did the Galilean call them a den of
thieves and curse and beat them, and for this gained he their hatred.
Yet they did not dare lay hands on him openly for fear of the populace.
Yesternight his hiding-place was learned. At midnight as his followers
lay sleeping on the hills outside the city, a body of armed men with
the midnight guard of the Temple, crossed Kedron and found the revolter
at an old olive farm. Then was he brought before the Sanhedrin--sly
foxes, evil beasts--for by their own law it is not lawful to hold
council until sunrise. But fearing lest his followers should rescue
him if daylight found him uncondemned, even at the cock crowing was he
led before Caiaphas. Then was he led before Pilate. By Pilate was he
sent to Herod. A raw joke, this that Pilate did poke at Herod in the
face of much people."

"Doth Pilate not love the Tetrarch of Galilee?"

"Nay, and yet more than Herod doth love him. The father of Herod, he
who was called the Great, was crowned a king by the Senate at Rome.
Yet did Pilate fall heir to the glory thereof and the hurt hath worked
on Herod like a running sore. Yet must his lips be ever sealed. Now
hath Pilate sent one accused to this man, knowing that he hath no power
of life and death under the Roman law in Jerusalem. But if he had, yet
would the joke be a raw one, for is not the following of the Galilean
from the province of Herod? With what wisdom could he lift his arm
against the chosen one of so great and zealous a following? So Herod
did send the accused back to Pilate and while the ma