Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/238

226 I could see his face upturned, and lo, it was the face of him that is called Iscariot, and I started when I saw him, for methought he had been the follower of Christ."

Here Lazarus paused, as though fearing to impart a secret that was not his own; but Martha, looking at him, said: "I have ever had a strange mistrust of Judas."

"Yet we must not speak of this," said Lazarus, "for 't was but as the vision of a dream."

But the women's eager faces seemed to impel him to proceed. Another day was dawning, and now, one by one, the members of the household came in silently to the hall, marvelling to find their master there at this early hour. They ranged themselves in rapt attention to hear the words that fell from him.

"And when I looked on Judas," continued Lazarus, "I saw he had the same despairing look that I had noted in the face of Caiaphas. Withal there was not that hatred in him, and I pitied him, for I saw that his was a weak, timid heart, and that he feared this Caiaphas. When Judas entered, Caiaphas looked sternly at him and his voice came angrily. 'What wouldst thou with me, Judas? Have I not done with thee? Didst thou not covenant for thirty pieces of silver to sell the Nazarene? Wherefore troublest thou me?'—'I come to crave thy pardon, noble Caiaphas, and to beg thee to release me from my promise, for I wot not what I said. Methinks I was drunk with wine to say I would betray the Lord for thirty pieces of silver.' 'Dost want more?' asked Caiaphas, eying him with doubt. 'Nay, I