ben-hur-第83节

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　tunics。　They　had　not　the　air　of　masters　of　the　house　or　domestics。　Everything　they　saw　appeared　wonderful　to　them；　everything　they　stopped　to　examine　they　touched。　They　were　vulgarians。　The　atrium　seemed　profaned　by　their　presence。　At　the　same　time；　their　leisurely　manner　and　the　assurance　with　which　they　proceeded　pointed　to　some　right　or　business；　if　business；　with　whom？

With　much　jargon　they　sauntered　this　way　and　that；　all　the　time　gradually　approaching　the　pillar　by　which　Ben…Hur　was　standing。　Off　a　little　way；　where　a　slanted　gleam　of　the　sun　fell　with　a　glare　upon　the　mosaic　of　the　floor；　there　was　a　statue　which　attracted　their　notice。　In　examining　it；　they　stopped　in　the　light。

The　mystery　surrounding　his　own　presence　in　the　palace　tended；　as　we　have　seen；　to　make　Ben…Hur　nervous；　so　now；　when　in　the　tall　stout　stranger　he　recognized　the　Northman　whom　he　had　known　in　Rome；　and　seen　crowned　only　the　day　before　in　the　Circus　as　the　winning　pugilist；　when　he　saw　the　man's　face；　scarred　with　the　wounds　of　many　battles；　and　imbruted　by　ferocious　passions；　when　he　surveyed　the　fellow's　naked　limbs；　very　marvels　of　exercise　and　training；　and　his　shoulders　of　Herculean　breadth；　a　thought　of　personal　danger　started　a　chill　along　every　vein。　A　sure　instinct　warned　him　that　the　opportunity　for　murder　was　too　perfect　to　have　come　by　chance；　and　here　now　were　the　myrmidons；　and　their　business　was　with　him。　He　turned　an　anxious　eye　upon　the　Northman's　comradeyoung；　black…eyed；　black…haired；　and　altogether　Jewish　in　appearance；　he　observed；　also；　that　both　the　men　were　in　costume　exactly　such　as　professionals　of　their　class　were　in　the　habit　of　wearing　in　the　arena。　Putting　the　several　circumstances　together；　Ben…Hur　could　not　be　longer　in　doubt：　he　had　been　lured　into　the　palace　with　design。　Out　of　reach　of　aid；　in　this　splendid　privacy；　he　was　to　die！

At　a　loss　what　to　do；　he　gazed　from　man　to　man；　while　there　was　enacted　within　him　that　miracle　of　mind　by　which　life　is　passed　before　us　in　awful　detail；　to　be　looked　at　by　ourselves　as　if　it　were　another's；　and　from　the　evolvement；　from　a　hidden　depth；　cast　up；　as　it　were；　by　a　hidden　hand；　he　was　given　to　see　that　he　had　entered　upon　a　new　life；　different　from　the　old　one　in　this：　whereas；　in　that；　he　had　been　the　victim　of　violences　done　to　him；　henceforth　he　was　to　be　the　aggressor。　Only　yesterday　he　had　found　his　first　victim！　To　the　purely　Christian　nature　the　presentation　would　have　brought　the　weakness　of　remorse。　Not　so　with　Ben…Hur；　his　spirit　had　its　emotions　from　the　teachings　of　the　first　lawgiver；　not　the　last　and　greatest　one。　He　had　dealt　punishment；　not　wrong；　to　Messala。　By　permission　of　the　Lord；　he　had　triumphed；　and　he　derived　faith　from　the　circumstancefaith　the　source　of　all　rational　strength；　especially　strength　in　peril。

Nor　did　the　influence　stop　there。　The　new　life　was　made　appear　to　him　a　mission　just　begun；　and　holy　as　the　King　to　come　was　holy；　and　certain　as　the　coming　of　the　King　was　certaina　mission　in　which　force　was　lawful　if　only　because　it　was　unavoidable。　Should　he；　on　the　very　threshold　of　such　an　errand；　be　afraid？

He　undid　the　sash　around　his　waist；　and；　baring　his　head　and　casting　off　his　white　Jewish　gown；　stood　forth　in　an　undertunic　not　unlike　those　of　the　enemy；　and　was　ready；　body　and　mind。　Folding　his　arms；　he　placed　his　back　against　the　pillar；　and　calmly　waited。

The　examination　of　the　statue　was　brief。　Directly　the　Northman　turned；　and　said　something　in　the　unknown　tongue；　then　both　looked　at　Ben…Hur。　A　few　more　words；　and　they　advanced　towards　him。

〃Who　are　you？〃　he　asked；　in　Latin。

The　Northman　fetched　a　smile　which　did　not　relieve　his　face　of　its　brutalism；　and　answered；

〃Barbarians。〃

〃This　is　the　palace　of　Idernee。　Whom　seek　you？　Stand　and　answer。〃

The　words　were　spoken　with　earnestness。　The　strangers　stopped；　and　in　his　turn　the　Northman　asked；　〃Who　are　you？〃

〃A　Roman。〃

The　giant　laid　his　head　back　upon　his　shoulders。

〃Ha；　ha；　ha！　I　have　heard　how　a　god　once　came　from　a　cow　licking　a　salted　stone；　but　not　even　a　god　can　make　a　Roman　of　a　Jew。〃

The　laugh　over；　he　spoke　to　his　companion　again；　and　they　moved　nearer。

〃Hold！〃　said　Ben…Hur；　quitting　the　pillar。　〃One　word。〃

They　stopped　again。

〃A　word！〃　replied　the　Saxon；　folding　his　immense　arms　across　his　breast；　and　relaxing　the　menace　beginning　to　blacken　his　face。　〃A　word！　Speak。〃

〃You　are　Thord　the　Northman。〃

The　giant　opened　his　blue　eyes。

〃You　were　lanista　in　Rome。〃

Thord　nodded。

〃I　was　your　scholar。〃

〃No；〃　said　Thord；　shaking　his　head。　〃By　the　beard　of　Irmin；　I　had　never　a　Jew　to　make　a　fighting…man　of。〃

〃But　I　will　prove　my　saying。〃

〃How？〃

〃You　came　here　to　kill　me。〃

〃That　is　true。〃

〃Then　let　this　man　fight　me　singly；　and　I　will　make　the　proof　on　his　body。〃

A　gleam　of　humor　shone　in　the　Northman's　face。　He　spoke　to　his　companion；　who　made　answer；　then　he　replied　with　the　naivete　of　a　diverted　child；

〃Wait　till　I　say　begin。〃

By　repeated　touches　of　his　foot；　he　pushed　a　couch　out　on　the　floor；　and　proceeded　leisurely　to　stretch　his　burly　form　upon　it；　when　perfectly　at　ease；　he　said；　simply；　〃Now　begin。〃

Without　ado；　Ben…Hur　walked　to　his　antagonist。

〃Defend　thyself；〃　he　said。

The　man；　nothing　loath；　put　up　his　hands。

As　the　two　thus　confronted　each　other　in　approved　position；　there　was　no　discernible　inequality　between　them；　on　the　contrary；　they　were　as　like　as　brothers。　To　the　stranger's　confident　smile；　Ben…Hur　opposed　an　earnestness　which；　had　his　skill　been　known；　would　have　been　accepted　fair　warning　of　danger。　Both　knew　the　combat　was　to　be　mortal。

Ben…Hur　feinted　with　his　right　hand。　The　stranger　warded；　slightly　advancing　his　left　arm。　Ere　he　could　return　to　guard；　Ben…Hur　caught　him　by　the　wrist　in　a　grip　which　years　at　the　oar　had　made　terrible　as　a　vise。　The　surprise　was　complete；　and　no　time　given。　To　throw　himself　forward；　to　push　the　arm　across　the　man's　throat　and　over　his　right　shoulder；　and　turn　him　left　side　front；　to　strike　surely　with　the　ready　left　hand；　to　strike　the　bare　neck　under　the　earwere　but　petty　divisions　of　the　same　act。　No　need　of　a　second　blow。　The　myrmidon　fell　heavily；　and　without　a　cry；　and　lay　still。

Ben…Hur　turned　to　Thord。

〃Ha！　What！　By　the　beard　of　Irmin！〃　the　latter　cried；　in　astonishment；　rising　to　a　sitting　posture。　Then　he　laughed。

〃Ha；　ha；　ha！　I　could　not　have　done　it　better　myself。〃

He　viewed　Ben…Hur　coolly　from　head　to　foot；　and；　rising；　faced　him　with　undisguised　admiration。

〃It　was　my　trickthe　trick　I　have　practised　for　ten　years　in　the　schools　of　Rome。　You　are　not　a　Jew。　Who　are　you？〃

〃You　knew　Arrius　the　duumvir。〃

〃Quintus　Arrius？　Yes；　he　was　my　patron。〃

〃He　had　a　son。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Thord；　his　battered　features　lighting　dully；　〃I　knew　the　boy；　he　would　have　made　a　king　gladiator。　Caesar　offered　him　his　patronage。　I　taught　him　the　very　trick　you　played　on　this　one　herea　trick　impossible　except　to　a　hand　and　arm　like　mine。　It　has　won　me　many　a　crown。〃

〃I　am　that　son　of　Arrius。〃

Thord　drew　nearer；　and　viewed　him　carefully；　then　his　eyes　brightened　with　genuine　pleasure；　and；　laughing；　he　held　out　his　hand。

〃Ha；　ha；　ha！　He　told　me　I　would　find　a　Jew　herea　Jewa　dog　of　a　Jewkilling　whom　was　serving　the　gods。〃

〃Who　told　you　so？〃　asked　Ben…Hur；　taking　the　hand。

〃HeMessalaha；　ha；　ha！〃

〃When；　Thord？〃

〃Last　night。〃

〃I　thought　he　was　hurt。〃

〃He　will　never　walk　again。　On　his　bed　he　told　me　between　groans。〃

A　very　vivid　portrayal　of　hate　in　a　few　words；　and　Ben…Hur　saw　that　the　Roman；　if　he　lived；　would　still　be　capable　and　dangerous；　and　follow　him　unrelentingly。　Revenge　remained　to　sweeten　the　ruined　life；　therefore　the　clinging　to　fortune　lost　in　the　wager　with　Sanballat。　Ben…Hur　ran　the　ground　over；　with　a　distinct　foresight　of　the　many　ways　in　which　it　would　be　possible　for　his　enemy　to　interfere　with　him　in　the　work　he　had　undertaken　for　the　King　who　was　coming。　Why　not　he　resort　to　the　Roman's　methods？　The　man　hired　to　kill　him　could　be　hired　to　strike　back。　It　was　in　his　power　to　offer　higher　wages。　The　temptation　was　strong；　and；　half　yielding；　he　chanced　to　look　down　at　his　late　antagonist　lying　still；　with　white　upturned　face；　so　like　himself。　A　light　came　to　him；　and　he　asked；　〃Thord；　what　was　Messala　to　give　you　for　killing　me？〃

〃A　thousand　sestertii。〃

〃You　shall　have　them　yet；　and　so　you　do　now　what　I　tell　you；　I　will　add　three　thousand　more　to　the　sum。〃

The　giant　reflected　aloud；

〃I　won　five　thousand　yesterday；　from　the　Roman　onesix。　Give　me　four；　good　Arriusfour　moreand　I　will　stand　firm　for　you；　though　old　Thor；　my　namesake；　strike　me　with　his　hammer。　Make　it　four；　and　I　will　kill　the　lying　patrician；　if　you　say　so。　I　have　only　to　cover　his　mouth　with　my　handthus。〃

He　illustrated　the　process　by　clapping　his　hand　over　his　own　mouth。

〃I　see；〃　said　Ben…Hur；　〃ten　thousand　sestertii　is　a　fortune。　It　will　enable　you　to　return　to　Rome；　and　open　a　wine…shop　near　the　Great　Circus；　and　live　as　becomes　the　first　of　the　lanistae。〃

The　very　scars　on　the　giant's　face　glowed　afresh　with　the　pleasure　the　picture　gave　him。

〃I　will　make　it　four　thousand；〃　Ben…Hu