" Martha asked him.

"Knowest thou not, woman, how the plot doth thicken that would make way
with Jesus? Passed is that day when the Sanhedrin did sneer and
condemn and mutter and hatch plans. Now doth it openly seek his death."

"Yet," said Lazarus, "he hath been threatened before and hath escaped,
even though they took up stones against him. Plans have we made for a
long journey, yea, even to Rome will he journey and under the throne of
Caesar will he preach the Kingdom greater than that of Tiberius."

Joseph stroked his beard slowly. "There doth come a time," and his
voice was low, "when fire, long smoldering, doth burst into a devouring
flame. Was I not in the Sanhedrin? Did I not hear? Such fire, to the
eternal undoing of Israel, doth burn in the hearts of the Sanhedrin."

"They dare not take him by day," Lazarus protested, "and by night he
abideth not in Jerusalem and none knoweth his dwelling place save those
his heart trusts."

"In hiding and flight lieth now his safety. Would that I might know he
is secure this night."

"Mary hath said he will return to-night to Bethany," Martha told Joseph.

He raised his face to the sky saying, "The moon doth climb the heavens."

"Yet ofttimes do guests tarry over the Pascal cup until the hour grow
late. Methinks he will yet come, Joseph," said Lazarus.

"So hopeth my heart. But from the silence I get no answer to my
question, 'Will Israel cast off her Lord's anointed?'"

"Nay, nay. All will be well. But let us to rest, the hour is growing
late," and Lazarus turned to the house.

"And Mary?" The question was asked by Joseph.

"Mary doth yet sit with her writings," Martha answered, looking in the
door, "though her ear is to the roadway. When I shall enter and say,
'Mary, wilt thou go to rest?' she will answer, 'Shortly.' And lo, when
I have gone, she will come into the garden and from her place at the
wall watch down the hillside."

CHAPTER XXIX

SWIFT MESSENGERS

As Martha had expected, Mary refused to go to rest and when all about
was quiet she went into the garden. For a moment she paused before the
stone bench, then with lingering step she sought the fountain. Under
the light of the moon the garden seemed to lie in a silver aura. Where
the lilies grew thick and white the aura seemed to be a cloud-like halo
lying close to earth and on the pool the light was caught in tiny
shining bars.

"How still the garden!" Mary said, speaking t