e proceedings, he had sent disguised soldiers amongst them, to stab
them with daggers concealed beneath their garments; how he had once
massacred 3,000 of them, and how at another festal season, 20,000 dead
bodies had strewed the courts of the Temple. And up before his mind
there came also the recollection of how, at one of their feasts, he had
killed some Galileans, and mingled their blood with that of their
sacrifices upon the altar; and how he had also attacked the Samaritans,
as they worshipped upon Mount Gerizim.

Yes, he had given the Jews just cause of complaint; and if he vexed them
further, they might report him to Rome, and have him banished or put to
death. So he would have to be careful how he treated them for the
future.

The knowledge of this in nowise calmed his perturbed spirit. And as he
wondered how, in case of another riot, he should manage to curb his
wrathful and impatient disgust, he paced uneasily the Hall of Judgment.

This was an apartment in a splendid edifice--which was known as the
fortress of Antonia--in which he resided when at Jerusalem, an old
palace of Herod the Great. Its floors were of agate and lazuli. The
ceilings of its gilded roofs were of cedar painted with vermilion. The
bema, on which he sat to administer justice, was probably the golden
throne of Archelaus. In front of the Hall of Judgment was a costly
pavement of variously coloured marble, called by the Jews Gabbatha. Yet
amid all this splendour he was but ill at ease.

And now suddenly the Roman procurator stopped and listened. Hooting and
yelling, there were the wild cries of a dreaded mob, as he had
anticipated. Yes, it was even so. They had begun early enough, those
Jews. What could it be all about?

Nearer and nearer came the ominous sounds. He went to the door of his
apartment, and looked out. There, coming across the bridge that spanned
the Tyropeon Valley, was an infuriated crowd, venting their spleen
upon some poor victim, whom they were evidently bringing to him. His
arms were fast bound to His side. A rope was round His neck. And they
were dragging Him along, as if He were some wild beast that they had
caught in the act of making ravages amongst them.

After Him came the chief men of Jerusalem, the Sanhedrists, with,
perhaps, the High Priest at their head, followed by the chief priests
and scribes, and a great crowd of people.

Now they reached the Hall of Judgment; and the foremost of them were
dragging the