Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/202

190 me my message justified my speedy entrance. Lazarus is raised from the dead. I have it from one who saw him leave the grave. He waiteth outside to give thee further news, if thou wilt see him."

While the man was speaking, Pilate rose and held on with one hand to the couch, while he turned his head with terror-stricken look over his shoulder towards the soldier.

"Dost believe 't is true?" he asked.

"True, how can it be true? What fool's folly is this?" interrupted Caiaphas, stamping his feet, and with one arm clasping his elbow while he bowed his chin upon his hand. 'T is some foul trick, some chicanery of this Nazarene and His company. Maybe they have taken away the body of Lazarus, and this is some other man." Then, turning to Pilate, he continued: "With all thy arguments and unwillingness, we are too late to stop the people now. They will altogether go after this juggling Nazarene. Hadst thou but heard me, the quieting of Judæa had been an easy task. Now who will say how it will end, for this unlearned people will believe that this is a miracle from God. All Jewry hath waited for this day and wondered why it came not. Four days had this schemer left the people to grow heated with endless uproar; and now He bringeth His pretended miracles to a frenzied people, who know not whether they dream or not."

But Pilate answered nothing to his recriminations.

"Bring us hither thy messenger," said he, turning to the soldier.

"It is Chuza who hath come."

"And who is Chuza?" asked Caiaphas, with