Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/203

Rh scathing scorn, "that his word is to have weight with the two rulers of Judæa?"

Peace, Caiaphas; I would but hear the rumour from his lips," said Pilate, and he signed to the soldier to bring the man.

A moment later there was announced a little man whose black ringlets and piercing eyes proclaimed him a Jew, while his dress was that worn by the house stewards of the time.

He came in, making low obeisance, but with a troubled look, as if recent events had overwhelmed him. "Who art thou?" asked Caiaphas with scorn.

"May it please thee, High Caiaphas, I am now the steward of Antipas; but I was the steward of Herod, and so well did I rule his household for him, that Antipas did bid me stay."

Caiaphas became less cynical.

The steward in the house of the Tetrarch was a man at least deserving of consideration.

"And dost thou know the Nazarene?"

"May it please thee, High Caiaphas, I have a wife Joanna, who for many years suffered from the disease of madness; and, at the seasons of the moon, she would throw herself into the fire or tear her clothing. She had seen many physicians, but they had availed her nothing, and much money had been spent, which I could ill afford."

"Albeit thou robbest the Tetrarch not a little," put in Caiaphas, with a sneering laugh.

"Let him tell his tale," said Pontius Pilate with impatience. "Proceed, Chuza."

Then the man went on: "But when my wife did