s he shouted, "The wrath of Jove! What meaneth this?"

"In the Judgment Hall thou art wanted. Thy soldiers have taken captive
one charged with sedition. At a midnight meeting of the Sanhedrin hath
he been found guilty."

"And what care I, Pontius Pilate, whether he be guilty or no? On the
Law of Moses would I myself spit. Yet by their own Law can not the
swine-fearing dogs condemn a man before morning. By their own law will
I condemn them and take their Temple. Go thou to those long-faced
circumcized and say in their ears that for causing this unlawful
disturbance ere the morning watch, I will make them suffer."

"Aye," replied the officer. "But my most gracious Pilate, conspiracy
is also charged against the Jew for it is he who was acclaimed King of
the Jews while all Jerusalem did shout his praises. A great following
hath he of Galileans, Zealots and Judean warriors. Revolution against
the throne of Caesar is all but born."

"Thou sayest this is he that was acclaimed King of the Jews?" and
Pilate's eye shone with a new glow.

"The same. He is a conspirator."

"And they have taken _him_? Then have they favored Pilate who hath not
yet discovered the nightly hiding-place of this conspirator."

"Nay! Nay! He is no conspirator, my Lord Pilate," cried Claudia,
hurrying from behind the curtains as she wrapped her shoulders in a
veil. "He is no conspirator! Naught save a teacher of Truth is he."

"Thou sayest he hath been taken?" Pilate asked of the officer.

"Yea, by the soldiers which thou didst despatch before midnight with
the guard of the Temple. He was betrayed by one of his followers, and
his hiding-place discovered. Already hath he been before Annas who did
send him to Caiaphas. Now waiteth he at the Judgment Hall around which
a crowd is gathered, and they say thou art not Caesar's friend unless
thou cometh."

"They say I am not Caesar's friend?" he exclaimed in excitement.
"Hasten thou to the Judgment Hall and say thou to the right and to the
left, as a trumpeteer doth lead thee, 'Pilate is already on the way!'"
When the officer had made a hurried exit, Pilate in great haste
shouted: "Up, laggards! Move! My coat! Quick with the royal ensign
and the eagle! Pilate is a friend of Caesar and this conspirator for
the throne of our Tiberius shall be stretched on a cross ere the
new-day sun reach the mountain top."

"Calm thyself, my Lord Pilate," Claudia said. "Nor let the words of
the