n to the house of Mary the mother of Mark,
excited them still more, and they made the place re-echo with sobs and
lamentations, while they surrounded and almost carried her in their
arms. Mary was speechless from grief, and did not open her lips after
she reached the house of Mary the mother of Mark, until the arrival of
John, who related all he had seen since Jesus left the supper-room; and
a little later she was taken to the house of Martha, which was near
that of Lazarus. Peter and John, who had followed Jesus at a distance,
went in haste to some servants of the High Priest with whom the latter
was acquainted, in order to endeavour by their means to obtain
admittance into the tribunal where their Master was to be tried. These
servants acted as messengers, and had just been ordered to go to the
houses of the ancients, and other members of the Council, to summon
them to attend the meeting which was convoked. As they were anxious to
oblige the Apostles, but foresaw much difficulty in obtaining their
admittance into the tribunal, they gave them cloaks similar to those
they themselves wore, and made them assist in carrying messages to the
members in order that afterwards they might enter the tribunal of
Caiphas, and mingle, without being recognised, among the soldiers and
false witnesses, as all other persons were to be expelled. As
Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, and other well-intentioned persons were
members of this Council, the Apostles undertook to let them know what
was going to be done in the Council, thus securing the presence of
those friends of Jesus whom the Pharisees had purposely omitted to
invite. In the mean time Judas wandered up and down the steep and wild
precipices at the south of Jerusalem, despair marked on his every
feature, and the devil pursuing him to and fro, filling his imagination
with still darker visions, and not allowing him a moment's respite.

CHAPTER IV.

Means employed by the enemies of Jesus for carrying out their
designs against him.

No sooner was Jesus arrested than Annas and Caiphas were informed,
and instantly began to arrange their plans with regard to the course to
be pursued. Confusion speedily reigned everywhere--the rooms were lighted
up in haste, guards placed at the entrances, and messengers dispatched
to different parts of the town to convoke the members of the Council,
the scribes, and all who were to take a part in the trial. Many among
them had, however, assem