Page:Ben-Hur a tale of the Christ.djvu/82

Rh &quot;We asked him, Where is he that is born King of the Jews.&quot;

&quot;I see now why the people were so curious. You excite me no less. Is there another King of the Jews?&quot;

The Egyptian did not blanch.

&quot;There is one newly born.&quot;

An expression of pain knit the dark face of the monarch, as if his mind were swept by a harrowing recollection.

&quot;Not to me, not to me!&quot; he exclaimed.

Possibly the accusing images of his murdered children flitted before him; recovering from the emotion, whatever it was, he asked, steadily, &quot;Where is the new king?&quot;

&quot;That, O king, is what we would ask.&quot;

&quot;You bring me a wonder—a riddle surpassing any of Solomon's,&quot; the inquisitor said next. &quot;As you see, I am in the time of life when curiosity is as ungovernable as it was in childhood, when to trifle with it is cruelty. Tell me further, and I will honor you as kings honor each other. Give me all you know about the newly-born, and I will join you in the search for him; and when we have found him, I will do what you wish; I will bring him to Jerusalem, and train him in kingcraft; I will use my grace with Cæsar for his promotion and glory. Jealousy shall not come between us, so I swear. But tell me first how, so widely separated by seas and deserts, you all came to hear of him.&quot;

&quot;I will tell you truly, king.&quot;

&quot;Speak on,&quot; said Herod.

Balthasar raised himself erect, and said, solemnly.

&quot;There is an Almighty God.&quot;

Herod was visibly startled.

&quot;He bade us come hither, promising that we should find the Redeemer of the World; that we should see and worship him, and bear witness that he was come; and, as a sign, we were each given to see a star. His Spirit stayed with us. O king, his Spirit is with us now!&quot;

An overpowering feeling seized the three. The Greek with difficulty restrained an outcry. Herod's gaze darted quickly from one to the other; he was more suspicious and dissatisfied than before.