Page:Ben-Hur a tale of the Christ.djvu/519

Rh &quot;When the game is over, they refer to their tablets and cast up their accounts; then they libate the gods and put a crown upon the happy winner. We have had a game—it has lasted through many days and nights. Why, now that it is at an end, shall not we see to which the chaplet belongs?&quot;

Yet very watchful, Ben-Hur answered, lightly, &quot;A man may not balk a woman bent on having her way.&quot;

&quot;Tell me,&quot; she continued, inclining her head, and permitting the sneer to become positive—&quot;tell me, O prince of Jerusalem, where is he, that son of the carpenter of Nazareth, and son not less of God, from whom so lately such mighty things were expected?&quot;

He waved his hand impatiently, and replied, &quot;I am not his keeper.&quot;

The beautiful head sank forward yet lower.

&quot;Has he broken Rome to pieces?&quot;

Again, but with anger, Ben-Hur raised his hand in deprecation.

&quot;Where has he seated his capital?&quot; she proceeded. &quot;Cannot I go see his throne and its lions of bronze? And his palace—he raised the dead; and to such a one, what is it to raise a golden house? He has but to stamp his foot and say the word, and the house is, pillared like Karnak, and wanting nothing.&quot;

There was by this time slight ground left to believe her playing; the questions were offensive, and her manner pointed with unfriendliness; seeing which, he on his side became more wary, and said, with good-humor, &quot;Egypt, let us wait another day, even another week, for him, the lions, and the palace.&quot;

She went on without noticing the suggestion.

&quot;And how is it I see you in that garb? Such is not the habit of governors in India or vice-kings elsewhere. I saw the satrap of Teheran once, and he wore a turban of silk and a cloak of cloth of gold, and the hilt and scabbard of his sword made me dizzy with their splendor of precious stones. I thought Osiris had lent him a glory from the sun. I fear you have not entered upon your kingdom—the kingdom I was to share with you.&quot;