Page:Ben-Hur a tale of the Christ.djvu/344

Rh &quot;Every man,&quot; he answered, at first sadly, &quot;has a cup of pleasure poured for him, and soon or late it comes to his hand, and he tastes and drinks—every man but me. I see, Simonides, and thou, O generous sheik!—I see whither the proposal tends. If I accept, and enter upon the course, farewell peace, and the hopes which cluster around it. The doors I might enter and the gates of quiet life will shut behind me, never to open again, for Rome keeps them all; and her outlawry will follow me, and her hunters; and in the tombs near cities and the dismal caverns of remotest hills, I must eat my crust and take my rest.&quot; The speech was broken by a sob. All turned to Esther, who hid her face upon her father's shoulder.

&quot;I did not think of you, Esther,&quot; said Simonides, gently, for he was himself deeply moved.

&quot;It is well enough, Simonides,&quot; said Ben-Hur. &quot;A man bears a hard doom better, knowing there is pity for him. Let me go on.&quot;

They gave him ear again.

&quot;I was about to say,&quot; he continued, &quot;I have no choice, but take the part you assign me; and as remaining here is to meet an ignoble death, I will to the work at once.&quot;

&quot;Shall we have writings?&quot; asked Simonides, moved by his habit of business.

&quot;I rest upon your word,&quot; said Ben-Hur.

&quot;And I,&quot; Ilderim answered.

Thus simply was effected the treaty which was to alter Ben-Hur’s life. And almost immediately the latter added,

&quot;It is done, then.&quot;

&quot;May the God of Abraham help us!&quot; Simonides exclaimed.

&quot;One word now, my friends,&quot; Ben-Hur said, more cheerfully. &quot;By your leave, I will be my own until after the games. It is not probable Messala will set peril on foot for me until he has given the procurator time to answer him; and that cannot be in less than seven days from the despatch of his letter. The meeting him in the Circus is a pleasure I would buy at whatever risk.&quot;

Ilderim, well pleased, assented readily, and Simonides, intent on business, added, &quot;It is well; for look you, my