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o's　blow；　or　a　judge's　sentence　obtained　by　perjury。　Messala　and　the　procurator　Gratus　are　rich　with　plunder　of　my　father's　estate；　and　it　is　more　important　to　them　to　keep　their　gains　now　than　was　their　getting　in　the　first　instance。　A　peaceable　settlement　is　out　of　reach；　because　of　the　confession　it　would　imply。　And　thenthen　Ah；　Esther；　if　I　could　buy　them；　I　do　not　know　that　I　would。　I　do　not　believe　peace　possible　to　me；　no；　not　even　in　the　sleepy　shade　and　sweet　air　of　the　marble　porches　of　the　old　villano　matter　who　might　be　there　to　help　me　bear　the　burden　of　the　days；　nor　by　what　patience　of　love　she　made　the　effort。　Peace　is　not　possible　to　me　while　my　people　are　lost；　for　I　must　be　watchful　to　find　them。　If　I　find　them；　and　they　have　suffered　wrong；　shall　not　the　guilty　suffer　for　it？　If　they　are　dead　by　violence；　shall　the　murderers　escape？　Oh；　I　could　not　sleep　for　dreams！　Nor　could　the　holiest　love；　by　any　stratagem；　lull　me　to　a　rest　which　conscience　would　not　strangle。〃

〃Is　it　so　bad　then？〃　she　asked；　her　voice　tremulous　with　feeling。　〃Can　nothing；　nothing；　be　done？〃

Ben…Hur　took　her　hand。

〃Do　you　care　so　much　for　me？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　answered；　simply。

The　hand　was　warm；　and　in　the　palm　of　his　it　was　lost。　He　felt　it　tremble。　Then　the　Egyptian　came；　so　the　opposite　of　this　little　one；　so　tall；　so　audacious；　with　a　flattery　so　cunning；　a　wit　so　ready；　a　beauty　so　wonderful；　a　manner　so　bewitching。　He　carried　the　hand　to　his　lips；　and　gave　it　back。

〃You　shall　be　another　Tirzah　to　me；　Esther。〃

〃Who　is　Tirzah？〃

〃The　little　sister　the　Roman　stole　from　me；　and　whom　I　must　find　before　I　can　rest　or　be　happy。〃

Just　then　a　gleam　of　light　flashed　athwart　the　terrace　and　fell　upon　the　two；　and；　looking　round；　they　saw　a　servant　roll　Simonides　in　his　chair　out　of　the　door。　They　went　to　the　merchant；　and　in　the　after…talk　he　was　principal。

Immediately　the　lines　of　the　galley　were　cast　off；　and　she　swung　round；　and；　midst　the　flashing　of　torches　and　the　shouting　of　joyous　sailors；　hurried　off　to　the　sealeaving　Ben…Hur　committed　to　the　cause　of　the　KING　WHO　WAS　TO　COME。




CHAPTER　X



The　day　before　the　games；　in　the　afternoon；　all　Ilderim's　racing　property　was　taken　to　the　city；　and　put　in　quarters　adjoining　the　Circus。　Along　with　it　the　good　man　carried　a　great　deal　of　property　not　of　that　class；　so　with　servants；　retainers　mounted　and　armed；　horses　in　leading；　cattle　driven；　camels　laden　with　baggage；　his　outgoing　from　the　Orchard　was　not　unlike　a　tribal　migration。　The　people　along　the　road　failed　not　to　laugh　at　his　motley　procession；　on　the　other　side；　it　was　observed　that；　with　all　his　irascibility；　he　was　not　in　the　least　offended　by　their　rudeness。　If　he　was　under　surveillance；　as　he　had　reason　to　believe；　the　informer　would　describe　the　semi…barbarous　show　with　which　he　came　up　to　the　races。　The　Romans　would　laugh；　the　city　would　be　amused；　but　what　cared　he？　Next　morning　the　pageant　would　be　far　on　the　road　to　the　desert；　and　going　with　it　would　be　every　movable　thing　of　value　belonging　to　the　Orchardeverything　save　such　as　were　essential　to　the　success　of　his　four。　He　was；　in　fact；　started　home；　his　tents　were　all　folded；　the　dowar　was　no　more；　in　twelve　hours　all　would　be　out　of　reach；　pursue　who　might。　A　man　is　never　safer　than　when　he　is　under　the　laugh；　and　the　shrewd　old　Arab　knew　it。

Neither　he　nor　Ben…Hur　overestimated　the　influence　of　Messala；　it　was　their　opinion；　however；　that　he　would　not　begin　active　measures　against　them　until　after　the　meeting　in　the　Circus；　if　defeated　there；　especially　if　defeated　by　Ben…Hur；　they　might　instantly　look　for　the　worst　he　could　do；　he　might　not　even　wait　for　advices　from　Gratus。　With　this　view；　they　shaped　their　course；　and　were　prepared　to　betake　themselves　out　of　harm's　way。　They　rode　together　now　in　good　spirits；　calmly　confident　of　success　on　the　morrow。

On　the　way；　they　came　upon　Malluch　in　waiting　for　them。　The　faithful　fellow　gave　no　sign　by　which　it　was　possible　to　infer　any　knowledge　on　his　part　of　the　relationship　so　recently　admitted　between　Ben…Hur　and　Simonides；　or　of　the　treaty　between　them　and　Ilderim。　He　exchanged　salutations　as　usual；　and　produced　a　paper；　saying　to　the　sheik；　〃I　have　here　the　notice　of　the　editor　of　the　games；　just　issued；　in　which　you　will　find　your　horses　published　for　the　race。　You　will　find　in　it　also　the　order　of　exercises。　Without　waiting；　good　sheik；　I　congratulate　you　upon　your　victory。〃

He　gave　the　paper　over；　and；　leaving　the　worthy　to　master　it；　turned　to　Ben…Hur。

〃To　you　also；　son　of　Arrius；　my　congratulations。　There　is　nothing　now　to　prevent　your　meeting　Messala。　Every　condition　preliminary　to　the　race　is　complied　with。　I　have　the　assurance　from　the　editor　himself。〃

〃I　thank　you；　Malluch；〃　said　Ben…Hur。

Malluch　proceeded：

〃Your　color　is　white；　and　Messala's　mixed　scarlet　and　gold。　The　good　effects　of　the　choice　are　visible　already。　Boys　are　now　hawking　white　ribbons　along　the　streets；　tomorrow　every　Arab　and　Jew　in　the　city　will　wear　them。　In　the　Circus　you　will　see　the　white　fairly　divide　the　galleries　with　the　red。〃

〃The　galleriesbut　not　the　tribunal　over　the　Porta　Pompae。〃

〃No；　the　scarlet　and　gold　will　rule　there。　But　if　we　win〃Malluch　chuckled　with　the　pleasure　of　the　thought〃if　we　win；　how　the　dignitaries　will　tremble！　They　will　bet；　of　course；　according　to　their　scorn　of　everything　not　Romantwo；　three；　five　to　one　on　Messala；　because　he　is　Roman。〃　Dropping　his　voice　yet　lower；　he　added；　〃It　ill　becomes　a　Jew　of　good　standing　in　the　Temple　to　put　his　money　at　such　a　hazard；　yet；　in　confidence；　I　will　have　a　friend　next　behind　the　consul's　seat　to　accept　offers　of　three　to　one；　or　five；　or　tenthe　madness　may　go　to　such　height。　I　have　put　to　his　order　six　thousand　shekels　for　the　purpose。〃

〃Nay；　Malluch；〃　said　Ben…Hur；　〃a　Roman　will　wager　only　in　his　Roman　coin。　Suppose　you　find　your　friend　to…night；　and　place　to　his　order　sestertii　in　such　amount　as　you　choose。　And　look　you；　Malluchlet　him　be　instructed　to　seek　wagers　with　Messala　and　his　supporters；　Ilderim's　four　against　Messala's。〃

Malluch　reflected　a　moment。

〃The　effect　will　be　to　centre　interest　upon　your　contest。〃

〃The　very　thing　I　seek；　Malluch。〃

〃I　see；　I　see。〃

〃Ay；　Malluch；　would　you　serve　me　perfectly；　help　me　to　fix　the　public　eye　upon　our　raceMessala's　and　mine。〃

Malluch　spoke　quickly〃It　can　be　done。〃

〃Then　let　it　be　done；〃　said　Ben…Hur。

〃Enormous　wagers　offered　will　answer；　if　the　offers　are　accepted；　all　the　better。〃

Malluch　turned　his　eyes　watchfully　upon　Ben…Hur。

〃Shall　I　not　have　back　the　equivalent　of　his　robbery？〃　said　Ben…Hur；　partly　to　himself。　〃Another　opportunity　may　not　come。　And　if　I　could　break　him　in　fortune　as　well　as　in　pride！　Our　father　Jacob　could　take　no　offence。〃

A　look　of　determined　will　knit　his　handsome　face；　giving　emphasis　to　his　further　speech。

〃Yes；　it　shall　be。　Hark；　Malluch！　Stop　not　in　thy　offer　of　sestertii。　Advance　them　to　talents；　if　any　there　be　who　dare　so　high。　Five；　ten；　twenty　talents；　ay；　fifty；　so　the　wager　be　with　Messala　himself。〃

〃It　is　a　mighty　sum；〃　said　Malluch。　〃I　must　have　security。〃

〃So　thou　shalt。　Go　to　Simonides；　and　tell　him　I　wish　the　matter　arranged。　Tell　him　my　heart　is　set　on　the　ruin　of　my　enemy；　and　that　the　opportunity　hath　such　excellent　promise　that　I　choose　such　hazards。　On　our　side　be　the　God　of　our　fathers。　Go；　good　Malluch。　Let　this　not　slip。〃

And　Malluch；　greatly　delighted；　gave　him　parting　salutation；　and　started　to　ride　away；　but　returned　presently。

〃Your　pardon；〃　he　said　to　Ben…Hur。　〃There　was　another　matter。　I　could　not　get　near　Messala's　chariot　myself；　but　I　had　another　measure　it；　and；　from　his　report；　its　hub　stands　quite　a　palm　higher　from　the　ground　than　yours。〃

〃A　palm！　So　much？〃　cried　Ben…Hur；　joyfully。

Then　he　leaned　over　to　Malluch。

〃As　thou　art　a　son　of　Judah；　Malluch；　and　faithful　to　thy　kin；　get　thee　a　seat　in　the　gallery　over　the　Gate　of　Triumph；　down　close　to　the　balcony　in　front　of　the　pillars；　and　watch　well　when　we　make　the　turns　there；　watch　well；　for　if　I　have　favor　at　all；　I　will　Nay；　Malluch；　let　it　go　unsaid！　Only　get　thee　there；　and　watch　well。〃

At　that　moment　a　cry　burst　from　Ilderim。

〃Ha！　By　the　splendor　of　God！　what　is　this？〃

He　drew　near　Ben…Hur　with　a　finger　pointing　on　the　face　of　the　notice。

〃Read；〃　said　Ben…Hur。

〃No；　better　thou。〃

Ben…Hur　took　the　paper；　which；　signed　by　the　prefect　of　the　province　as　editor；　performed　the　office　of　a　modern　programme；　giving　particularly　the　several　divertisements　provided　for　the　occasion。　It　informed　the　public　that　there　would　be　first　a　procession　of　extraordinary　splendor；　that　the　procession　would　be　succeeded　by　the　customary　honors　to　the　god　Consus；　whereupon　the　games　would　begin；　running；　leaping；　wrestling；　boxing；　each　in　the　order　stated。　The　names　of　the　competitors　were　given；　with　their　several　nationalities　and　schools　of　training；　the　trials　in　which　they　had　been　engaged；　the　prizes　won；　and　the　prizes　now　offered；　under　the　latter　head　the　sums　of　money　were　stated　in　illuminated　letters；　telling　of　the　departure　of　the　day　when　the　simple　chaplet　of　pine　or　laurel　was　full