w again hear we more."

"Lazarus is much taken with his teachings which he calleth wisdom.
Methinks his sayings are hard, eh, Lazarus?"

"Yea, hard sayings," the master of the house replied seriously, as he
settled himself on the window couch. "Yet is there that within them
which giveth wine its flavor," and again he laughed.

"What was the saying that did please thee?" Mary asked.

"Knowest thou what the Law sayeth about graven images? Aye, to touch
one defileth a Jew. With fierce righteousness do those in authority
contend for observance of the letter of the law. Was not much blood
spilled when Pilate sought to put an image of Caesar in the Temple?
The Galilean Prophet oft setteth aside the Law. For this reason do the
Scribes and Pharisees seek to entangle him. Taking council, they did
say to him, 'What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute to
Caesar, or not?' Hard by stood many with their ears well open. And
near at hand stood I. Upon him who spoke and those his followers, did
the Galilean look. Then did he say, 'Why tempt me, ye hypocrites?'
With these words did the countenances of his tempters grow long like
their beards and take on a grievous expression like a beast unjustly
berated. 'Show me the tribute money,' said he. With exceeding
quickness were their hands thrust into their pockets, while the eyes of
those who stood by watched close. As the Prophet of Galilee did take
on his palm the coins, the corners of his beard did twitch yet was his
voice grave as he said, 'Whose is this image and superscription?' With
one voice they did answer, 'Caesar's'--and by my most precious beard so
bore the coins the image of Tiberius! Dost thou get the flavor of the
situation? Breathing out fierce contention for the letter of the Law,
go they about with their wallets stuffed with images--stuffed with
images of Tiberius! Ha! ha! ha! Thou shouldst have seen their faces
when those who stood by to see them entrap the Galilean laughed at them
boisterously."

The story told by the young man ended in a hearty laugh, which was
entered into by the others.

"Did he make answer?" Mary asked.

"Aye. Listen now if thou wouldst hear wisdom. Giving their images
back to those who sought to entangle him, he said, 'Render unto Caesar
the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's.'"

"Had they an answer?" It was Mary again who questioned.

"None save the face of them. It were enough--h