Page:Ben-Hur a tale of the Christ.djvu/80

Rh &quot;I am.&quot;

&quot;What would the king with us?&quot;

&quot;His messenger is without; let him answer.&quot;

&quot;Tell him, then, to abide our coming.&quot;

&quot;You were right, my brother!&quot; said the Greek, when the steward was gone. &quot;The question put to the people on the road, and to the guard at the gate, has given us quick notoriety. I am impatient; let us up quickly.&quot;

They arose, put on their sandals, girt their mantles about them, and went out.

&quot;I salute you, and give you peace, and pray your pardon; but my master, the king, has sent me to invite you to the palace, where he would have speech with you privately.&quot;

Thus the messenger discharged his duty.

A lamp hung in the entrance, and by its light they looked at each other, and knew the Spirit was upon them. Then the Egyptian stepped to the steward, and said, so as not to be heard by the others, &quot;You know where our goods are stored in the court, and where our camels are resting. While we are gone, make all things ready for our departure, if it should be needful.&quot;

&quot;Go your way assured; trust me,&quot; the steward replied.

&quot;The king's will is our will,&quot; said Balthasar to the messenger. &quot;We will follow you.&quot;

The streets of the Holy City were narrow then as now, but not so rough and foul; for the great builder, not content with beauty, enforced cleanliness and convenience also. Following their guide, the brethren proceeded without a word. Through the dim starlight, made dimmer by the walls on both sides, sometimes almost lost under bridges connecting the house-tops, out of a low ground they ascended a hill. At last they came to a portal reared across the way. In the light of fires blazing before it in two great braziers, they caught a glimpse of the structure, and also of some guards leaning motionlessly upon their arms. They passed into a building unchallenged. Then by passages and arched halls; through courts, and under colonnades not always lighted; up long flights of stairs, past innumerable cloisters and chambers, they were