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There　had　been　discussion；　but　at　this　moment　of　introduction　the　company　had　reached　a　conclusion；　each　one　was　in　an　attitude　of　rest；　and　the　venerable　Hillel；　without　moving；　called　the　page。

〃Hist！〃

The　youth　advanced　respectfully。

〃Go　tell　the　king　we　are　ready　to　give　him　answer。〃

The　boy　hurried　away。

After　a　time　two　officers　entered　and　stopped；　one　on　each　side　the　door；　after　them　slowly　followed　a　most　striking　personage　an　old　man　clad　in　a　purple　robe　bordered　with　scarlet；　and　girt　to　his　waist　by　a　band　of　gold　linked　so　fine　that　it　was　pliable　as　leather；　the　latchets　of　his　shoes　sparkled　with　precious　stones；　a　narrow　crown　wrought　in　filigree　shone　outside　a　tarbooshe　of　softest　crimson　plush；　which；　encasing　his　head；　fell　down　the　neck　and　shoulders；　leaving　the　throat　and　neck　exposed。　Instead　of　a　seal；　a　dagger　dangled　from　his　belt。　He　walked　with　a　halting　step；　leaning　heavily　upon　a　staff。　Not　until　he　reached　the　opening　of　the　divan；　did　he　pause　or　look　up　from　the　floor；　then；　as　for　the　first　time　conscious　of　the　company；　and　roused　by　their　presence；　he　raised　himself；　and　looked　haughtily　round；　like　one　startled　and　searching　for　an　enemyso　dark；　suspicious；　and　threatening　was　the　glance。　Such　was　Herod　the　Greata　body　broken　by　diseases；　a　conscience　seared　with　crimes；　a　mind　magnificently　capable；　a　soul　fit　for　brotherhood　with　the　Caesars；　now　seven…and…sixty　years　old；　but　guarding　his　throne　with　a　jealousy　never　so　vigilant；　a　power　never　so　despotic；　and　a　cruelty　never　so　inexorable。

There　was　a　general　movement　on　the　part　of　the　assemblagea　bending　forward　in　salaam　by　the　more　aged；　a　rising…up　by　the　more　courtierly；　followed　by　low　genuflections；　hands　upon　the　beard　or　breast。

His　observations　taken；　Herod　moved　on　until　at　the　tripod　opposite　the　venerable　Hillel；　who　met　his　cold　glance　with　an　inclination　of　the　head；　and　a　slight　lifting　of　the　hands。

〃The　answer！〃　said　the　king；　with　imperious　simplicity；　addressing　Hillel；　and　planting　his　staff　before　him　with　both　hands。　〃The　answer！〃

The　eyes　of　the　patriarch　glowed　mildly；　and；　raising　his　head；　and　looking　the　inquisitor　full　in　the　face；　he　answered；　his　associates　giving　him　closest　attention；

〃With　thee；　O　king；　be　the　peace　of　God；　of　Abraham；　Isaac；　and　Jacob！〃

His　manner　was　that　of　invocation；　changing　it；　he　resumed：

〃Thou　hast　demanded　of　us　where　the　Christ　should　be　born。〃

The　king　bowed；　though　the　evil　eyes　remained　fixed　upon　the　sage's　face。

〃That　is　the　question。〃

〃Then；　O　king；　speaking　for　myself；　and　all　my　brethren　here；　not　one　dissenting；　I　say；　in　Bethlehem　of　Judea。〃

Hillel　glanced　at　the　parchment　on　the　tripod；　and；　pointing　with　his　tremulous　finger；　continued；　〃In　Bethlehem　of　Judea；　for　thus　it　is　written　by　the　prophet；　'And　thou；　Bethlehem；　in　the　land　of　Judea；　art　not　the　least　among　the　princes　of　Judah；　for　out　of　thee　shall　come　a　governor　that　shall　rule　my　people　Israel。'〃

Herod's　face　was　troubled；　and　his　eyes　fell　upon　the　parchment　while　he　thought。　Those　beholding　him　scarcely　breathed；　they　spoke　not；　nor　did　he。　At　length　he　turned　about　and　left　the　chamber。

〃Brethren；〃　said　Hillel；　〃we　are　dismissed。〃

The　company　then　arose；　and　in　groups　departed。

〃Simeon；〃　said　Hillel　again。

A　man；　quite　fifty　years　old；　but　in　the　hearty　prime　of　life；　answered　and　came　to　him。

〃Take　up　the　sacred　parchment；　my　son；　roll　it　tenderly。〃

The　order　was　obeyed。

〃Now　lend　me　thy　arm；　I　will　to　the　litter。〃

The　strong　man　stooped；　with　his　withered　hands　the　old　one　took　the　offered　support；　and；　rising；　moved　feebly　to　the　door。

So　departed　the　famous　Rector；　and　Simeon；　his　son；　who　was　to　be　his　successor　in　wisdom；　learning；　and　office。

*　*　*　*　*　*

Yet　later　in　the　evening　the　wise　men　were　lying　in　a　lewen　of　the　khan　awake。　The　stones　which　served　them　as　pillows　raised　their　heads　so　they　could　look　out　of　the　open　arch　into　the　depths　of　the　sky；　and　as　they　watched　the　twinkling　of　the　stars；　they　thought　of　the　next　manifestation。　How　would　it　come？　What　would　it　be？　They　were　in　Jerusalem　at　last；　they　had　asked　at　the　gate　for　Him　they　sought；　they　had　borne　witness　of　his　birth；　it　remained　only　to　find　him；　and　as　to　that；　they　placed　all　trust　in　the　Spirit。　Men　listening　for　the　voice　of　God；　or　waiting　a　sign　from　Heaven；　cannot　sleep。

While　they　were　in　this　condition；　a　man　stepped　in　under　the　arch；　darkening　the　lewen。

〃Awake！〃　he　said　to　them；　〃I　bring　you　a　message　which　will　not　be　put　off。〃

They　all　sat　up。

〃From　whom？〃　asked　the　Egyptian。

〃Herod　the　king。〃

Each　one　felt　his　spirit　thrill。

〃Are　you　not　the　steward　of　the　khan？〃　Balthasar　asked　next。

〃I　am。〃

〃What　would　the　king　with　us？〃

〃His　messenger　is　without；　let　him　answer。〃

〃Tell　him；　then；　to　abide　our　coming。〃

〃You　were　right；　O　my　brother！〃　said　the　Greek；　when　the　steward　was　gone。　〃The　question　put　to　the　people　on　the　road；　and　to　the　guard　at　the　gate；　has　given　us　quick　notoriety。　I　am　impatient；　let　us　up　quickly。〃

They　arose；　put　on　their　sandals；　girt　their　mantles　about　them；　and　went　out。

〃I　salute　you；　and　give　you　peace；　and　pray　your　pardon；　but　my　master；　the　king；　has　sent　me　to　invite　you　to　the　palace；　where　he　would　have　speech　with　you　privately。〃

Thus　the　messenger　discharged　his　duty。

A　lamp　hung　in　the　entrance；　and　by　its　light　they　looked　at　each　other；　and　knew　the　Spirit　was　upon　them。　Then　the　Egyptian　stepped　to　the　steward；　and　said；　so　as　not　to　be　heard　by　the　others；　〃You　know　where　our　goods　are　stored　in　the　court；　and　where　our　camels　are　resting。　While　we　are　gone；　make　all　things　ready　for　our　departure；　if　it　should　be　needful。〃

〃Go　your　way　assured；　trust　me；〃　the　steward　replied。

〃The　king's　will　is　our　will；〃　said　Balthasar　to　the　messenger。　〃We　will　follow　you。〃

The　streets　of　the　Holy　City　were　narrow　then　as　now；　but　not　so　rough　and　foul；　for　the　great　builder；　not　content　with　beauty；　enforced　cleanliness　and　convenience　also。　Following　their　guide；　the　brethren　proceeded　without　a　word。　Through　the　dim　starlight；　made　dimmer　by　the　walls　on　both　sides；　sometimes　almost　lost　under　bridges　connecting　the　house…tops；　out　of　a　low　ground　they　ascended　a　hill。　At　last　they　came　to　a　portal　reared　across　the　way。　In　the　light　of　fires　blazing　before　it　in　two　great　braziers；　they　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　structure；　and　also　of　some　guards　leaning　motionlessly　upon　their　arms。　They　passed　into　a　building　unchallenged。　Then　by　passages　and　arched　halls；　through　courts；　and　under　colonnades　not　always　lighted；　up　long　flights　of　stairs；　past　innumerable　cloisters　and　chambers；　they　were　conducted　into　a　tower　of　great　height。　Suddenly　the　guide　halted；　and；　pointing　through　an　open　door；　said　to　them；

〃Enter。　The　king　is　there。〃

The　air　of　the　chamber　was　heavy　with　the　perfume　of　sandal…wood；　and　all　the　appointments　within　were　effeminately　rich。　Upon　the　floor；　covering　the　central　space；　a　tufted　rug　was　spread；　and　upon　that　a　throne　was　set。　The　visitors　had　but　time；　however；　to　catch　a　confused　idea　of　the　placeof　carved　and　gilt　ottomans　and　couches；　of　fans　and　jars　and　musical　instruments；　of　golden　candlesticks　glittering　in　their　own　lights；　of　walls　painted　in　the　style　of　the　voluptuous　Grecian　school；　one　look　at　which　had　made　a　Pharisee　hide　his　head　with　holy　horror。　Herod；　sitting　upon　the　throne　to　receive　them；　clad　as　when　at　the　conference　with　the　doctors　and　lawyers；　claimed　all　their　minds。

At　the　edge　of　the　rug；　to　which　they　advanced　uninvited；　they　prostrated　themselves。　The　king　touched　a　bell。　An　attendant　came　in；　and　placed　three　stools　before　the　throne。

〃Seat　yourselves；〃　said　the　monarch；　graciously。

〃From　the　North　Gate；〃　he　continued；　when　they　were　at　rest；　〃I　had　this　afternoon　report　of　the　arrival　of　three　strangers；　curiously　mounted；　and　appearing　as　if　from　far　countries。　Are　you　the　men？〃

The　Egyptian　took　the　sign　from　the　Greek　and　the　Hindoo；　and　answered；　with　the　profoundest　salaam；　〃Were　we　other　than　we　are；　the　mighty　Herod；　whose　fame　is　as　incense　to　the　whole　world；　would　not　have　sent　for　us。　We　may　not　doubt　that　we　are　the　strangers。〃

Herod　acknowledged　the　speech　with　a　wave　of　the　hand。

〃Who　are　you？　Whence　do　you　come？〃　he　asked；　adding　significantly；　〃Let　each　speak　for　himself。〃

In　turn　they　gave　him　account；　referring　simply　to　the　cities　and　lands　of　their　birth；　and　the　routes　by　which　they　came　to　Jerusalem。　Somewhat　disappointed；　Herod　plied　them　more　directly。

〃What　was　the　question　you　put　to　the　officer　at　the　gate？〃

〃We　asked　him；　Where　is　he　that　is　born　King　of　the　Jews。〃

〃I　see　now　why　the　people　were　so　curious。　You　excite　me　no　less。　Is　there　another　King　of　the　Jews？〃

The　Egyptian　did　not　blanch。

〃There　is　one　newly　born。〃

An　expression　of　pain　knit　the　dark　face　of　the　monarch；　as　if　his　mind　were　swept　by　a　harrowing　recollection。

〃Not　to　me；　not　to　me！〃　he　exclaimed。

Possibly　the　accusing　images　of　his　murdered　children　flitted　before　him；　recovering　from　the　emotion；　whatever　it　was；　he　asked；　steadil