?"

"Alas," said the centurion, "it is not within my power to permit this."

Then came back Caiaphas and Annas and all the rulers of the Sanhedrin
from the temple to Golgotha. Caiaphas, speaking as they approached,
said, "It will be all the more delightful to see the body of this
evil-doer cast into the pit of shame, because we have witnessed the
destruction he has brought to pass within the temple."

Annas answered, "What joy it would be if my eyes could see him torn
limb from limb by wild beasts."

"Ha," said Caiaphas, as they saw the hangman bearing off the bodies of
the thieves, "they are already being taken down. Now we shall soon see
our ardent desires fulfilled."

Hardly had Caiaphas and the priests approached the cross when from the
other side there came Joseph of Arimathea and with him a servant of
Pilate. The servant said to the centurion, "The governor has sent me
to inquire of thee whether it can really be true that Jesus of Nazareth
is already dead as this man has informed me."

"It is so, indeed," replied the centurion, pointing to the cross.
"Look for yourself. Besides, for a complete certainty, his heart has
been thrust through with a lance."

Then said the servant, "I have orders to inform you that the body is to
be delivered over to this man as a gift from Pilate." And having said
this he departed.

"Oh, blessed tidings!" cried the holy women still gathered together
around the foot of the cross.

But the Jews hearing the message, waxed furious and the rabbi, speaking
of Jesus, said to the other priests and rulers, "The traitor of the
synagogue, he has fooled us again."

"And spoiled our triumph," said Annas.

But Caiaphas would not submit and said haughtily, "We shall not
tolerate it that his body be laid anywhere else than in the grave of
the transgressors."

The centurion replied, "As the body is given to this man, it is obvious
that he can bury it where and how he will. There is no disputing that."

Then he said to the soldiers and executioners, "Men, our work is done.
We will return."

Then the hangmen gathered up their basket and their cord, their dice
and the fragments of Christ's mantle and departed. With them went the
centurion and his band, leaving Caiaphas and the Jews face to face with
the holy women and their friends at the foot of the cross. The Jews
were exceedingly wroth and raged amongst themselves at the centurion.

Annas cried out to Joseph of Arimathea, "Do