" said Manius, with inner smiles that showed not upon his
face.

"Then be servants of my love."

"And of our own welfare?"

"Certainly! You shall each have a palace in Jerusalem and fifty
thousand aurei; and you, Manius, shall command the forces on land and
sea, and you, John ben Joreb, of the tribe of Aaron, shall be
high-priest."

"I agree," said Manius, an overwhelming cupidity in the words.

"And I agree," said the Jew, who had entered upon this intrigue with
motives of patriotism, and now, although suspicious of the result, was
committed beyond a chance of turning.

"Angels of mercy!" Antipater exclaimed, rising and taking a hand of
each in his. "My love shall be ever a shield and weapon for you. One
other thing. The couriers who bring to Rome news of my father's
death--bid them hurry and take with them, also, word of the illness of
that dog Vergilius. After they leave let him not linger in needless
pain--do you understand me? For that, I say, each of you shall have
five thousand aurei added to his wealth."

The others nodded.

"Now take this--it may be useful," whispered the prince of Judea,
handing a little golden box to the assessor. "There is something in it
will hasten the effect of wine--a fine remedy for a weary land, good
Manius. He that makes it a friend shall have no enemies. Hold, let me
think. That old fox on the hill yonder has a thousand eyes and his
ears are everywhere. Not a word, Manius, after we leave this door. In
yon passage turn to the right. Walk until your head touches the
ceiling, then creep to the door. Open it and use your ears. If no one
is passing, go straight ahead. You will come to a gate on the Via
Sacra. You," he added, turning to Ben Joreb, "shall leave by the main
gate."

When both had gone, this prince of Judea walked across the inner hall
of his palace and flung himself on the cushions of a great divan.

A swarthy eunuch came near him on tip-toe.

"Begone!" The word burst from the lips of Antipater in a hoarse growl,
and, like a tiger's paw, his hand struck the cushions in front of him.
As he lay blinking drowsily, his chin upon his hands, there was still
in his face and attitude a suggestion of the monster cat.

And he thought fondly of his wreaking of vengeance when he should be
crowned the great king of prophetic promise--of the fury of armies, of
the stench of the slain, of the cry of the ravished, of "mountains
melting in blood."

CH