Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/195

Rh, for I am in the mood to prove thy learning and my own. Dost believe that a Messiah will come?" "Most assuredly," said Caiaphas. "All the prophets say so."

"I accept thy answer," rejoined Pilate, with an elated look. "Then, if the Messiah hath yet to come, how thinkest thou that He will come, and whence, and when?"

"Such momentous problems, noble Procurator, take much time and thought to solve. Methinks it would be better to choose an occasion when business presseth less."

"Nay, nay, my friend," replied Pontius Pilate hastily; " where a man's life is in the balance matters surely press; and, if this man be a Messiah, for sure there is no more urgent matter to you and to me and to the whole world; but answer me, Caiaphas: How thinkest thou the real Messiah will come? How is it written?"

Caiaphas hesitated, from no ignorance, but that he was revolving in his mind how far he would be compromised if he should quote the prophets; and, betwixt fear of seeming ignorant and dread of compromising himself, he was sorely troubled. Then he replied: "Zechariah hath said, 'Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.'"

The words seemed to come reluctantly from his lips, as though he were the unwilling mouthpiece of the prophecy. Then, as if to conceal their full significance, he added: "But there are many other things that hath not yet come to pass. It saith