y command. Go thou
daily to the Temple of the Jews and bring me word."

"Be it permitted a slave of Rome to enter the Temple of the Jews?
Sweet is one scar, but there are no others like it."

"The Tower of Antonio stands guard against the Temple and behind its
frowning walls hides the arm of Rome. Into one court thou art
permitted to go. Here if any say thee nay, reply thou, 'I am the
property of Claudia, wife of Pilate.'"

"Thy kindness doth make my heart glad. With rejoicing will I go and
come again to thee with the wisdom of the Jew."

"Keep thou thy ears open and thy mouth shut. Understandest thou? Go
now. Bring wreaths of flowers. Thy master, Pilate, will soon come
with Roman Senators."

CHAPTER X

I WOULD SEE JESUS

The busy days immediately preceding the Passover had gone, and on the
eve of the New Year the hush of expectancy brooded over Jerusalem. The
family of Lazarus, at the time of the evening meal, awaited the coming
of Joseph of Arimathea who was to spend the night with them and with
Lazarus go to offer his sacrifice on the next day. The rays of the
setting sun shone through the big lattice window and fell across the
table.

"Look at those clouds of flame!" Mary exclaimed. "Lazarus--Joel--hast
thou ever seen aught more gorgeous? In my garden I have a lily red
like the sky. In honor of our guest I shall pluck it."

"Unless he tippeth it over Joseph will not see Mary's red lily," Joel
said as she left the room.

"Where is Mary?" Martha called from the kitchen a moment later.

"Gone to the garden to pluck a red lily," called Joel in answer.

Martha appeared in the doorway. "Already," she complained, "hath she
plucked lilies when she should have been plucking sparrows. Now she is
gone again and preparation there be yet to make before we sup. Mary!
Mary!" she called, turning toward the court door. When her sister
entered a moment later, Martha said, "Thou dost leave me to do much
service. Fix thou the cushions at the head of the table where our
guest of honor will be seated."

"Yea, my sister," Mary answered, as she arranged her choice lily in a
vase and put it near the place of the guest.

"Hurry, Mary," Martha urged. "The sun is down, soon will our guest
appear, and he is rich. Lazarus doth say the richest man in Arimathea."

"Content would I be with half his possessions," observed Joel.

"To-day in the Temple I did see him," Lazarus said. "He too is given
to th