he will soon come under the notice of Pilate;
and Joseph was not surprised when Pilate asked him if he knew an
extravagantly dressed young man, Nicodemus by name. Joseph replied that
he did, giving Pilate to understand that Nicodemus was no more than one
of the many eccentrics to be found in every city, with a taste for the
beauty of engraved swords, and little for the use of these weapons; and
Pilate, who seemed to be of the same opinion himself, suddenly asked him
if he had ever met in Galilee one named Jesus. Jesus from Nazareth,
Pilate said; and Joseph watched the tall, handsome, pompous Roman, one
of those intelligently stupid men of which there are so many about. He
arrived, Pilate continued, in Jerusalem yesterday with a number of
Galileans, all talking of the resurrection, and news has just reached me
that he had been preaching in the Temple, creating some disturbance,
which will, I hope, not be repeated, for disturbances in the Temple lead
to disturbances in the streets. Does your father know this new prophet?
As Joseph was about to answer one of Pilate's apparitors entered
suddenly with papers that demanded the procurator's attention. We will
talk over this on another occasion, Pilate said as he bent over the
papers, and Joseph went out muttering: so he has come, so he has come to
Jerusalem at last.

At any moment he might meet Jesus, and to stop to speak to him in the
street would, in a sense, involve a profanation of his oath to his
father; and he knew he could not turn aside from Jesus. He must
therefore refrain from going up to Jerusalem and transact his business
from his house by means of messengers. But if Pilate were to send for
him? We cannot altogether avoid risk, he said to himself. I can do no
more than remain within doors.

It was not many days afterwards that one of his servants came suddenly
into the room. Nicodemus, Sir, is waiting in the hall and would see you,
though I told him you were engaged with business. He says the matter on
which he is come to speak to you is important. Well, then, let me see
him, Joseph answered.

Now, what has happened? he asked. Has he said anything that the
Sanhedrin will be able to punish him for? He threw some more olive roots
on the fire and told the servant to bring a lamp. A lamp, he said, will
be welcome, for this grey dusk is disheartening.

The weather is cold, so draw your chair near to the fire. I am glad to
see you. The men waited for the servant to l