Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/364

352 Man; and this blinded people must be allowed no more to think and reason, and meet to preach and pray, for the indolent do love to idle and to gossip, and are readily misled."

Then, lowering his voice, added another: "Methinks that Lazarus, too, must needs be put to death; else will he follow in the traditions and false doctrines of this Nazarene. Thus peace will be restored in Israel once more."

I know not whether Lazarus be worth the tumult that would ensue. He blasphemeth not, nor calleth himself the Son of God," replied the High Priest unctuously. "It is for blasphemy alone we crucified this Nazarene; for, in all else, He was a righteous man; and 't is ever a hard task to condemn a man, except for blasphemy."

So spoke the High Priest, Caiaphas. He had cheated the Jews, he had sought to cheat his God, but he could not cheat the scribes and rulers, who, with words of farewell and affected homage, then dispersed.