ccount of the Last Judgment," said a dealer
in skins from Jericho.

"It's quite true," shouted a tailor, "nothing good comes from Galilee!"

"Nor from Judaea," laughed an unpatriotic tailor from Joppa. "I can
tell you I expect nothing until we have expelled all our Jewish princes
and Rabbis and become Romans out and out. The Emperor of Rome is the
true Messiah. All the rest should be impaled."

So they gave vent to their various opinions. The Temple authorities
rubbed their hands in satisfaction. "He is not clever enough to be
dangerous. He will hardly come within the arm of the law after what He
has said."

"But the people will judge Him," said one of the oldest among them,
"the people themselves. Mark that! I promise you they will."

"No, indeed. He is not a man of fair words," said one of the
overseers. "He does not flatter the mob, and my contempt for the
Nazarene is less than it was yesterday. If He falls in the eyes of the
people, He rises in mine."

"The man makes me think that He will soon give Himself up. Did you
hear His allusion to Golgotha?"

"Bless my soul, a famous prophet has got to be right in something,"
mocked one of the high priests. "I think we ought to confer with the
authorities so as to prevent any disturbance to-morrow at the festival.
You understand me?"

"That's worth consideration with all this concourse of people."

"I think he has poured enough water on the fire," said the high priest.
"No one would stir a finger if we took Him."

"Let's wait till the festival is over. You can never be sure of the
mob."

"What! After laying traps for Him all over the country, are we to let
Him insult us here in the Temple itself? No, I don't fear the mob any
more. The law is more hazardous."

CHAPTER XXIX

The little town of Bethany was situated in a narrow valley at the foot
of the Mount of Olives. There was a large house there belonging to a
man who had been ill for many years; formerly he had been filled with
despair, but since he had become an adherent of the Nazarene, he was
resigned and cheerful. His incurable disease became almost a blessing,
for it destroyed all disquieting worldly desires and hopes, and also
all fears. In peaceful seclusion he gave up his heart to the Kingdom
of God. When he sat in his garden and looked out over the quiet
working of Nature, he hardly remembered that he was ill. He was so
entirely imbued with the happiness of life in the K