Page:Ben-Hur a tale of the Christ.djvu/356

Rh admirers, plying him with questions. There is, of course, but one topic.

Enter Drusus and Cecilius.

&quot;Ah!&quot; cries the young prince, throwing himself on the divan at Messala’s feet, &quot;Ah, by Bacchus, I am tired!&quot;

&quot;Whither away?&quot; asks Messala.

&quot;Up the street; up to the Omphalus, and beyond—who shall say how far? Rivers of people; never so many in the city before. They say we will see the whole world at the Circus to-morrow.&quot; Messala laughed scornfully.

&quot;The idiots! Perpol! They never beheld a Circensian with Cæsar for editor. But, my Drusus, what found you?&quot;

&quot;Nothing.&quot;

&quot;O—ah! You forget,&quot; said Cecilius.

&quot;What?&quot; asked Drusus.

&quot;The procession of whites.&quot;

&quot;Mirabile!&quot; cried Drusus, half rising.

&quot;We met a faction of whites, and they had a banner. But—ha, ha, ha!&quot;

He fell back indolently.

&quot;Cruel Drusus—not to go on,&quot; said Messala.

&quot;Scum of the desert were they, my Messala, and garbage-eaters from the Jacob’s Temple in Jerusalem. What had I to do with them?&quot;

&quot;Nay,&quot; said Cecilius, &quot;Drusus is afraid of a laugh, but I am not, my Messala.&quot; &quot;Speak thou, then.&quot;

&quot;Well, we stopped the faction, and—&quot;

&quot;Offered them a wager,&quot; said Drusus, relenting, and taking the word from the shadow’s mouth. &quot;And—ha, ha, ha!—one fellow with not enough skin on his face to make a worm for a carp stepped forth, and—ha, ha, ha! said—yes. I drew my tablets. Who is your man? I asked. ’Ben-Hur, the Jew,’ said he. Then I: ’What shall it be? How much?’ He answered, ’A—a—’ Excuse me, Messala. By Jove’s thunder, I cannot go on for laughter! Ha, ha, ha!&quot;

The listeners leaned forward.

Messala looked to Cecilius.

&quot;A shekel,&quot; said the latter.