Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/194

182 Then, with strange passion, and a vehemence too powerful to be repressed, Pilate shot out the words:

"And if He be the Son of God, what then, most noble Caiaphas?"

This was a question too wide for Caiaphas to deal with unconsidered, too unexpected to be readily replied to; but, ever an adept at cunning, Caiaphas rejoined with subtlety: "Dost think He is?"

Then Pilate remembered all the risks he would run, should he side openly with the Nazarene; nor was he assured enough in his own mind to answer with full confidence.

"I ask thee a question, and thou answerest me with another," he said impatiently. "Give me thy answer, for thou art great in argument and in the knowledge of the law, and I would argue with thee, as we do in the Tribunal; for argument hath that good about it that oft two lies do form a truth; and, when one doth controvert the other, he that contradicteth contradicteth what he himself doth think to make the other in his turn contradict again; thus, much is learned, and the truth is often come at; for both sides are openly discussed, and the judge hath means thereby to form his judgment.

"Say, if this were the Son of God and we should condemn Him, how would it be in the Judgment Day? What say the prophets will be done of him that destroyeth the Son of God?"

"If He were the Son of God," rejoined Caiaphas, guarded in his answer, yet interested in the argument, "He could not be destroyed by human hands."

"Then I will ask thee yet another question,