Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/208



HE Sanhedrim had been called together; and more, it was not without disquietude that Caiaphas had appeared in the midst of the assembly. Jerusalem was convulsed by the events of the preceding day. Lazarus was alive again to swell the ranks of Christ's supporters and the High Priest's opponents.

"Our enemies are multiplied," Caiaphas had said unctuously to Nicodemus, and the latter had answered with significance: "Yea, methinks they are too strong for us."

In the privacy of his own chamber, with none but Annas to hear his asseverations of what he meant to do, the infuriated accents of his oaths, the mingled scorn and terror of his remarks, Caiaphas gave up all pretence of being actuated by religious fervour or noble impulses.

"Yes, if I be eternally damned, if Satan claim me for his own, if this be the Christ, the very Son of God, yet He shall perish, for that He hath striven to contend with me, to pervert the nation, to insult the teachers of the law, of whom I am chief. Dost not fear, Annas, thou who art the father of many priests, that if this Man once gain the mastery all priesthood shall be ended? What need of priests, if a common carpenter can come and teach in our