Page:Ben-Hur a tale of the Christ.djvu/79

Rh Herod's face was troubled, and his eyes fell upon the parchment while he thought. Those beholding him scarcely breathed; they spoke not, nor did he. At length he turned about and left the chamber.

&quot;Brethren,&quot; said Hillel, &quot;we are dismissed.&quot;

The company then arose, and in groups departed.

&quot;Simeon,&quot; said Hillel again.

A man, quite fifty years old, but in the hearty prime of life, answered and came to him.

&quot;Take up the sacred parchment, my son; roll it tenderly.&quot;

The order was obeyed.

&quot;Now lend me thy arm; I will to the litter.&quot;

The strong man stooped; with his withered hands the old man took the offered support, and, rising, moved feebly to the door.

So departed the famous Rector, and Simeon, his son, who was to be his successor in wisdom, learning, and office.

Yet later in the evening the wise men were lying in a lewen of the khan awake. The stones which served them as pillows raised their heads so they could look out of the open arch into the depths of the sky; and as they watched the twinkling of the stars, they thought of the next manifestation. How would it come? What would it be? They were in Jerusalem at last; they had asked at the gate for Him they sought; they had borne witness of his birth; it remained only to find him; and as to that, they placed all trust in the Spirit. Men listening for the voice of God, or waiting a sign from Heaven, cannot sleep.

While they were in this condition, a man stepped in under the arch, darkening the lewen.

&quot;Awake!&quot; he said to them; &quot;I bring you a message which will not be put off.&quot;

They all sat up.

&quot;From whom?&quot; asked the Egyptian.

&quot;Herod the king.&quot;

Each one felt his spirit thrill.

&quot;Are you not the steward of the khan?&quot; Balthasar asked next.