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diff --git a/old/61041-0.txt b/old/61041-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index bd02a7b..0000000 --- a/old/61041-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,11525 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, Aleph, the Chaldean; or, the Messiah as Seen -from Alexandria, by E. F. (Enoch Fitch) Burr - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: Aleph, the Chaldean; or, the Messiah as Seen from Alexandria - - -Author: E. F. (Enoch Fitch) Burr - - - -Release Date: December 29, 2019 [eBook #61041] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALEPH, THE CHALDEAN; OR, THE -MESSIAH AS SEEN FROM ALEXANDRIA*** - - -E-text prepared by MFR and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team -(http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by -Internet Archive (https://archive.org) - - - -Note: Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - https://archive.org/details/alephchaldeanor00burr - - - - - -ALEPH, THE CHALDEAN; - -Or, -The Messiah as Seen from Alexandria. - -by - -E. F. BURR, D.D., LL.D., - -Author of “Ecce Cœlum,” “Pater Mundi,” etc. - - “_So forth we gat us from our home;_ - _So we are here to-day:_ - _Now tell us where this King to find,_ - _Whose reign shall be alway._”—ANON. - - - - - - -New York: -Wilbur B. Ketcham, -2 Cooper Union. - -Copyright, 1891, -By Wilbur B. Ketcham. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -Two facts, at least, should be remembered by the readers of this book. - -1. It was not uncommon in the times of the Christ for Hebrew men, in -imitation of Joseph and Moses and Boaz, to marry outside of their own -people. - -2. It is a great mistake to suppose that women in the Roman Empire of the -First Century were secluded after the current oriental fashion. They had -about as much freedom on most lines of social intercourse as women have -among us. The New Testament shows this in regard to Palestine and such -contiguous countries as appear in the Acts of the Apostles. But it was -the same wherever the Roman authority and influence extended. - -“Tradition was in favor of restriction, but by a concurrence of -circumstances women had been liberated from the enslaving fetters of the -old legal forms, and enjoyed freedom of intercourse in society; they -walked and drove in the public thoroughfares with veils that did not -conceal their faces; they dined in the company of men; they studied -literature and philosophy; they took part in political movements; they -were allowed to defend their own law cases if they liked; and they helped -their husbands in the government of provinces and the writing of books.” - - LYME, CONN., U. S. A. - - - - -I. - -DOWN THE NILE. - - Φησὶ δὲ, τοις μὲν ευθὺ γινομένοις μιξαι χρυσὸν. - - —ARISTOTLE, _Polit._ ii. 3. - - _He says that some have gold in their composition from the - start._ - - 1. Who are they? - 2. A son of Misraim. - 3. The times of old. - 4. A seeming misfortune. - - - - -I. - -DOWN THE NILE. - - -From Coptus downward on the dreamy Nile—past innumerable canals with -their primitive water-wheels; past populous villages and lordly villas -embowered in sycamores and palms; past still more lordly ruins, silent -now for many a century; past caravans and pleasure-parties and bodies of -Roman soldiery, foot and horse, coming and going on the thoroughfares -that closely skirt the river on either hand; past water craft of all -sorts, from skin-buoyed rafts carrying sandstone from Chennu to the Delta -up to gay barges carrying travelers to Thebes and the dead Egypt of the -Pharaohs; past crocodiles and hippopotami and pelicans sporting in the -water, or basking along the muddy shore as so many logs or stones. - -_Who_ are moving downward on the dreamy Nile to Alexandria—in a large -merchant vessel, whose lateen sail swells gently to the south wind? -A large number of persons with whom we have no special concern. Two -persons with whom we have great concern, and whose appearance is striking -enough to draw much attention from their fellow-travelers, as they stand -together watching the ever-changing scene. - -Both wear the classic Greek dress, of plain material. The elder, a man -of some sixty years, is so Greek in feature that no dress is needed to -proclaim his nationality. The other, a young man of perhaps twenty years, -has a face of a different type. And what a face! Is it Egyptian? No. -Is it Roman? No. Is it Hebrew? No. As we take our privilege of drawing -very near, and of looking carefully at those features on all sides, and -even of lifting the abundant brown hair from the broad white forehead -that swells so loftily over the steady and somewhat austere gray eyes, -we would rather say that we are looking on the original type from which -all other racial faces have varied, so readily does it express the -better elements of all. Yes, the young man must be from Britain or the -Caucasus—and yet he certainly is not from Britain; for that is still a -land of savages, and this youth has an air of culture and refinement, -which the plainness of his garb cannot conceal. Is it mere fancy? Have I -really a sixth sense? There is something about the young man that seems -to breathe of lofty plateaus, and mountain summits, and torrents that -dash and roar on their way from the clouds to the sea. What does this -mountaineer here among the lowlands of the Nile? - -He is evidently looking at the country for the first time. Everything -seems to interest him much. His companion, as plainly, is by no means -an entire stranger to the scene, and yet shows the degree of interest -natural to one who is revisiting a country after long absence. The Greek -language flows easily between the two; as the elder from time to time -points this way and that, and seems to be recalling and introducing old -acquaintances, as the vessel slowly glides by object after object. - -“It is now more than thirty years,” said the Greek, whom we will call -Cimon, “since I left Egypt; but I notice very few changes—here and there -a new quay or villa, or an old palace decorated with new gardens and -trees. I once knew who lived in some of the finer dwellings; for example, -yonder low castellated building that covers so much ground on the eastern -bank. It is very ancient, and the gradual rise of the land from the -annual deposits by the river, long since converted the lower story into -a dungeon. The Roman proprætor lived here a part of the year. It once -belonged to Cleopatra; was given by her to a favorite noble and relative, -from whom the Romans took it, as being heirs to all the Pharaohs.” - -The vessel, from some cause, now approached the palace they were -observing, and the two men walked to the right side of the boat for -a closer view. While standing here and noticing various points of a -structure that was now seen to be a fortress as well as a palace, they -became aware of a man standing by their side. - -“You seem interested in this place,” he said in a grave but courteous -tone; “can I give you any information about it? I happen to be -particularly well acquainted in this neighborhood.” - -They had turned to see a man of majestic stature and mien, far advanced -in life, but still erect as a palm and keen-eyed—as thoroughly Egyptian -in his look and dress as Rameses the Great. - -“I see that you are strangers, and _not_ Romans,” he added -apologetically, “and old age likes to speak of the past when it can do -so safely.” And he looked around as if to assure himself that they were -alone. - -Cimon politely thanked the Egyptian, and said that he had just been -telling his young friend Aleph that the structure before them was once a -royal residence. - -“That is so,” said the old man; “not only a residence of the Ptolemies, -but also of our native kings. You see that the material is stone from -Syene, and that the style of building is old Egyptian. It passed to the -Ptolemies with the crown of the Pharaohs, but was restored to a direct -descendant of the old owners as an act of justice by Cleopatra. For a -generation it continued in his family; but at last the Roman governor -took a liking to the place and took it. The Romans are apt to take what -they like.” - -“Not a very uncommon thing for conquerors anywhere to do,” said Cimon. -“Perhaps the site of this very palace was taken without purchase or leave -by the Pharaoh who built it, from a weak subject or from another defeated -Pharaoh.” - -“I think not,” decidedly said the Egyptian. “I could show you papyri and -parchments in the Serapeum proving that the property has been in the -possession of the same priestly family to which it now belongs almost -as long as we have been historically a people; and that, you know, is a -great while, and nearly connects us with the time when vacant Misraim was -divided among our fathers.” - -“Certainly,” said the young man whom we have heard his companion call -Aleph, “no people between this and the Pillars of Hercules holds its land -by so ancient and original a tenure as does the people of Misraim. The -Egyptian is older than the Roman, older than the Greek; indeed, was wise -and powerful ages before Rome or Greece was born. And, if I mistake not, -there is no tradition, nor other reason for thinking, that your fathers -dispossessed any other people. They must stand as original proprietors. -If immemorial possession, without hint of wrong, does not give a just -title, the world knows of no such title, whether the party be a nation or -an individual.” - -“That seems to me well said,” came slowly from the old man, as his eye -rested on the ingenuous face of the youth. “We came to the valley of the -Nile so early that we did not have to inhabit at the expense of any other -nation. We may be said to hold our country directly from the immortal -gods.” - -“You say we _came_,” said Cimon. “So, in your opinion, this was not the -original site of the Egyptians. From whence do you suppose them to have -come, and at how early a period? For my part, I have no doubt that you -were here, and were here as a great and accomplished people, long before -the Greeks, or even the Phenicians, had any political existence.” - -“Your question would be variously answered among us,” returned the -Egyptian. “Some would claim for our past hundreds of thousands, and even -millions, of years; would say that such a civilization as ours was at the -date of our oldest monuments could not have ripened from that savagery -and even brutality which they fancy to have been the primitive human -condition in anything short of such immense periods. But such is not my -view. I see that you are surprised at this!” - -“Not surprised that you reject the brute-origin of mankind,” returned the -Greek; “for that seems to be contrary to the feeling and faith of all -nations; but rather surprised that you do not share what I have supposed -to be the fashionable opinion among Egyptians as to their immense -antiquity, and what would naturally be to you a very pleasant opinion.” - -“No opinion is pleasant to me,” replied the old man, slowly shaking -his head, “for which I can see no reasonable foundation. Manetho, our -only extant historian, was an ancestor of mine. I have his original -manuscripts, entire, and am satisfied by the careful study of them and of -the palace registers of Thebes that his earlier dynasties were largely -cotemporaneous. No; from two thousand to three thousand years are enough -to account for our whole history, monuments and all, if we suppose the -nation to have been originally gifted and far advanced in civilization on -their coming into the land.” - -“May I ask from whence you suppose them to have come?” inquired Aleph. - -“That is a very broad question at its broadest; and the broadest is -what I see in the depths of your eyes. There has been but one tradition -among us on the subject, and it is like the traditions of all these -western peoples. They look toward the sun-rising. Our fathers entered -the land from the north, after journeying from the east. From what part -of the great east, do you say? My answer is that Seti the aged is the -son of the youth who now stands before me. His is the primitive stock. -Caucasian Chaldea is the cradle of the nations. And if you go on to ask -whence that cradle and primitive stock, I have to tell you what primitive -Egypt thought and said—that AMUN RE, the eternal, almighty, and all-wise -Spirit, made the stars and the world, and the first parents of us all. -That your Democritus and Epicurus,” added the Egyptian, looking archly -at Cimon, “should have taught differently! They should have visited us -three thousand years ago and taken lessons. They would have steered their -way more successfully among the snags and breakers of thought. For, the -stream of history is like the Nile—broad with us, and not without its -monsters as well as fertilities, but beginning small and beginning very -high among mysterious mountains. I speak with confidence; for I feel -that, owing to certain circumstances, I stand on higher ground than most -observers do, and can see farther across the centuries. The horizon is -distant, but I can see that there _is_ a horizon, and that it sweeps high -among the clouds.” - - * * * * * - -At this moment a Roman officer, who had been lying intoxicated behind -some boxes, but was now sufficiently recovered to be miserable and -quarrelsome, came somewhat unsteadily toward them. They were standing -with their backs toward him; and, noticing their plain garbs, he was, -perhaps, encouraged in his thought of mischief. Coming up to the -Egyptian, he struck him a smart blow on the back with the flat of his -sheathed sword which he carried in his hand. - -“Ha, old mummy, did you never see a Roman before?” as Seti turned -suddenly toward him. “Improve your opportunity. But you will have an -opportunity to _feel_ a Roman as well as to see him if you do not at once -find the skipper for me. Come, hurry off, old fellow!” and he raised his -sword as if for another blow. - -Aleph stepped between. “It is more fitting that I should do your errand, -if it must be done. You see that I am a young man,” said he, fixing a -steady eye on the haughty and inflamed face before him. - -“Who are you who dare to stand between a Roman and his will?” cried the -officer furiously, his hand still uplifted. - -“Let it suffice you that we are peaceable people, moving quietly about -on our own private affairs, as Roman law and custom entitle us to do. Do -you understand?” - -“I understand that if you do not stand away from between Rome and Egypt, -the Caucasus will suffer,” and the madman began to draw his sword. - -“Listen,” said Aleph with composure and emphasis. “You had better not. -You have a superior officer, and we are going to Alexandria. I call all -these people to witness (by this time many had gathered about) that this -quarrel is not of our seeking.” - -“Dare you threaten a Roman commander, you beardless cub! By the -immortals, you shall see what I dare,” shouted the man, as he plucked his -sword from the scabbard. - -“You _shall_ not,” said Aleph; and, snatching a large bundle from a -by-stander, he thrust it into the face of the Roman. It burst and -enveloped the man in a cloud of pelican feathers, which a Jew had been -collecting for the rag-market of Alexandria. Before his assailant could -recover himself and sight, Aleph had thrown his arms about him, secured -his sword, and, despite his struggles, laid him supine on the floor. -Then, without much difficulty, he managed to swathe and bind his arms to -his body with his long sword-sash. Looking about, his eye caught a small -coil of rope near him; this he drew to himself, and with it fastened the -man in a sitting posture to one of the posts that supported the awning. -All this was not done without much struggling and cursing on the part -of the Roman; but Aleph was perfectly silent till his prisoner was well -secured. Then, turning to the spectators, he said: - -“In behalf of the general safety, let this man remain as you see him -till we reach Alexandria. Wine has made him dangerous; and you notice -that what has been done, I only have done, and that reluctantly, to -prevent something worse.” - -A cheer flashed out from the faces huddled about, and almost shaped -itself on their parted lips, but was suddenly suppressed before anything -more than an indistinct murmur had escaped; for their eyes fell on the -watchful and infuriated face of the officer. They were prudent people, -those passengers. They admired courage; they were glad to see a Roman -put down; but they were not ready to sacrifice safety to sentiment. So, -instead of cheering, they compromised and fell to laughing at the Jew, -who, exclaiming, “O, my feathers, my poor feathers! Ah, father Abraham, -I am a ruined man this day; what will become of me!” crept about on his -hands and knees, trying to collect as much of his volatile property as -possible. - -“Do not worry yourself, my friend,” said Seti to him in a low voice; -“gather what you can, and add this coin to make the weight good. What has -been lost for my sake shall not be loss to you.” - -The Jew glanced at the coin that had been slipped into his hand, and, -catching the gleam of gold, hurried it dexterously to his pouch, at -the same time exclaiming, “May all the patriarchs ... oh, my beautiful -feathers for which I paid ... may Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ... ah, what -will become of me!” - -And so he went on groping and exclaiming and stuffing handful after -handful of his recovered property into his bag amid the merriment of the -crowd. - -Making a sign to the two friends to follow, the Egyptian led the way to -another part of the vessel free from people, where was a single seat. On -this he seated himself. - -“I take the privilege of age,” said he, “and I am by no means sure but -that age gives me the only advantage I have over you. I suspect that the -eyes of Seti, though aged, have made a discovery.” - -The two friends glanced inquiringly at each other, but said nothing. -They were now moving along the canal that connected the Nile with Lake -Mareotis; and for some time they silently watched the agricultural -operations and the ever-increasing number of people and dwellings on -either bank. At length, emerging into the lake, they saw in the distance -the crowded shipping and towers of the city of Alexandria. - -Seti roused himself from the mood of intense thoughtfulness, into which -he had fallen, and asked: - -“Are you acquainted with Alexandria?” - -Cimon answered: “With the city, well; with the people of the city, not at -all. A generation has passed since I was here.” - -“Excuse one further question,” continued the Egyptian. “Do you stay long -in the city?” - -“That depends on circumstances,” replied Cimon; “but probably our affairs -will keep us here for some time.” - -“This young man has to-day made an enemy, and a powerful one; no less a -person than the dissipated son of Flaccus, the Governor of Egypt. But he -has also found a friend; and if at any time you should need such aid, in -whatever affairs you have in hand, as can be given by a native of the -country, and by one well acquainted with things and persons here and not -altogether without influence, ask at the Serapeum for the priest Seti, -and you will find that I have not forgotten to-day. Do you believe in -faces?” looking at Aleph. - -“In _some_ faces, as interpreted by circumstances, I do certainly,” -replied the young man. - -“And so do I, at least so far as you are concerned,” said the Egyptian; -“and it is largely because I do so that I now say what I do. There are -two men in Alexandria with whom you should have as little dealing as -possible. One is Flaccus, the Roman; the other is Malus, the Jew. The one -is violent, the other is crafty, and both are wicked and powerful. Avoid -them, if possible; but if it is not possible, then remember Seti, the -Egyptian. It is true—what the proverb says, that in this world the worst -men often occupy the best places.” - -As the vessel approached the quay, Seti continued: “I think that, -contrary to my expectation, I will ask one more question before we part. -Of what faith are you? All sorts are found here; also multitudes with no -faith at all. Where do you stand?” looking at Cimon. “Do you hold with -your fathers?” - -“With my father,” said the Greek; “but not with my fathers. I follow not -Zeus, but Jehovah; not the oracles of Delphi and Dodona, but those of the -Hebrew prophets. This young man the same.” - -“It is as I supposed,” said the old man, after a moment adding, as if to -himself, “and it is well. Zeus, Jupiter, Amun Re, and Jehovah, rightly -understood, are the same.” - -Giving them his hand, he stepped ashore, and disappeared in the crowd. -Runners from the various khans now came noisily aboard and fought for -customers, as they do now, and have done from time out of mind. To one -of these troublesome fellows Cimon delivered certain packages, and then, -with his young companion, followed them. In passing the spot where they -had left the Roman, they found that he had disappeared. Who had set him -free? No matter; he is gone. We hope they have seen the last of him. We -hope that returning soberness has made the man so ashamed of himself that -hereafter he will carefully keep out of view. But we have our fears. -The appeal from Philip drunk to Philip sober is not always a success. -Besides, Philip was not a Roman. - - - - -II. - -THE CARAVANSARY. - - Αλλη δ’ αλλων γλῶσσα μεμιγμένη. - - —HOMER, _Odyss._ xix. 175. - - _There was a great confusion of tongues._ - - 1. All sorts. - 2. What all believe. - 3. An exception. - 4. A wrong righted. - - - - -II. - -THE CARAVANSARY. - - -The khan to which our two friends were conducted was not far from the -landing. It was the chief point, in that part of the city, of arrival and -departure for commercial people; and, as evening was now near, the great -court within was bustling and picturesque with arrivals. Donkeys were -being led through it to stables in the rear, camels were being unloaded, -horsemen were dismounting; it was a very Babel of sounds, of costumes, -and of movements. - -“Is Nathan still the keeper of this khan?” inquired Cimon of their guide, -as they were being shown to their quarters. - -“He is,” said the man; “but he is now out of the city. Do you wish to see -his assistant? The master himself will not be at home for, perhaps, some -days.” - -Cimon answered in the negative. Following their guide and parcels into -a small sleeping-room, with an ante-room opening on the piazza which -surrounded the court, and directing that a simple meal should be sent -to them in the evening, they busied themselves for a while in arranging -matters for the night. Then they went out on the cooler piazza, and -seated themselves on a bench. - -“This adventure with the Roman seems unfortunate,” said Cimon -thoughtfully. “Unless matters have much changed since I was here, the -ill-will of any Roman official is not to be coveted; while that of the -Roman governor looks like quite a serious matter to people on such an -errand as ours.” - -“My interference, I suppose,” said Aleph, “would hardly be considered -prudent by most people; but I cannot but think that there is something -better than prudence. Shall we never allow our hearts to speak and act -without stopping to consider how our interests will be affected? Safety -gained in that way seems to me hardly worth the having.” - -“I think you are right,” said the other. “I am far from finding fault -with what you have done. Under like circumstances I would have you do -it again. Our first thought, no doubt, should be, What is highest and -worthiest? If that is not prudence, it is something vastly better. But it -_is_ prudence, on the whole; for it will never do for a man to despise -himself and offend Heaven. God governs. But we must wait for Him. A cloud -is not always a calamity. A rough wind may help one toward the harbor -sought. I know that these are your father’s views, and that he would be -unwilling to have his son sacrifice, even magnanimity to any appearance -of present advantage.” - -“Have you any idea who Seti is?” inquired the young man after a moment. - -“I have been trying,” answered the other, “to find in my memory something -about him. I know that when I was here, the Egyptians as well as the Jews -had an official head or _alabarch_ of their own nation, who was the organ -of communication between them and the Roman authorities. My impression -is that the Egyptian alabarch was of Pharaonic family and a priest of the -Serapeum. It may be that Seti is the man. I hope he is.” - -“I confess,” said Aleph, “that the man has quite taken possession of me. -It seems to me that I would be willing to venture almost anything on his -thorough uprightness and even grandeur of character, although I have -known him but such a short time. Did you notice what an aspect he turned -on the Roman just after the blow? Had not the fellow been besotted, the -surprised majesty of that look alone would have quelled him. But how is -it possible for such a man to be a worshipper of brutes, and even to act -as their priest?” - -“That is not a question easily answered,” replied the Greek. “But -probably Seti, like all superior Egyptian priests from time immemorial, -believes in a religion for the few and another religion for the many. -The doctrine of One God to be worshiped without sensible figures is for -the few elect who are prepared for it; the lower classes in general are -not prepared for it, but need to have the various divine attributes -shadowed out to them in sensible forms; and as no forms that man can make -are equal to even the familiar living creatures with their wonderful -mysteries of internal structure, these are offered to assist the feeble -thought of feeble men. Of course, this is all wrong; but it is a wrong -imbedded in the traditions and prejudices of ages, and so not easily -escaped from. Jehovah makes allowances for such people, whether their -names be Socrates and Plato or Zoroaster and Seti. Aristotle says that -some of our species have gold blended in their composition from the very -beginning. Seti seems to me one of these.” - -By this time the sun was below the west side of the khan, and the -open court was quite in the shade. This brought out into it and the -surrounding piazzas all the guests. It was a motley to see as well as -to hear. Almost every nation seemed represented, almost every style of -features and costume. There were Romans, Greeks, Phenicians, Egyptians, -Persians, Arabs, and even a sprinkling of natives from Gaul, Spain, and -other places. Such a variety of faces, dress, and, when one listened -attentively, of speech! A drag-net of all seas was Nathan’s khan. - -Aleph was all eyes and ears. The scene was full of novelty and interest -to him. At length, turning to his companion, he said: - -“This scene reminds me of what I have often heard you and my father say.” - -“And what is that?” asked Cimon. “Your father, at least, is wont to say -wise things beyond any man I ever knew.” - -“That, wide as is the variety of religious beliefs among men, they -believe alike in certain main respects. What differences among the faces -before us as to color, size, proportion of parts, expression; and yet -they are all faces, all human faces, all faces having the same general -plan of structure and location of the various organs.” - -“Yes,” added the elder; “_Homines diversi sed homines_, as said a -Roman before you. And see how various the costume; and yet it is all -clothing,—all clothing that recognizes the warm climate, the season of -the year, and to a certain extent the time of day and the convenience of -travelers.” - -“And you might add,” continued the young man, after a moment of close -listening, “that it is just so with the various articulate sounds that -come to us. While they differ in tone, in time, in syntax, in dialect, -they are all speech, all articulate speech, and, for the most part, -speech so much of the Greek pattern as to be intelligible to nearly all -of us.” - -“Yes,” said Cimon, “and I suppose that it is very much so with the -religious beliefs of these people. Though their creeds differ much among -themselves, they are alike in many most important particulars. They all -recognize a realm of spiritual beings superior to man, a Supreme Deity, -his concern in human affairs, messages from him, our responsibility to -him, a future state of rewards and punishments, and the main principles -of good morals. There may be some exceptions; for these, I understand, -are skeptical times in the Roman world. Almost everything is called in -question among the philosophers, even the fact that there is something -to be called in question; though it is found hard to get men to question -that the Romans are masters, that Tiberius reigns, and that Alexandria -is the greatest emporium of the world. But the vagaries of the schools -make but little impression on the people at large. They never have done -so. The more fundamental beliefs have kept a firm hold on all nations and -ages. A little pool will show the heavens as well as the ocean. This khan -is a little pool; and at the bottom of it, amid many wrinkles and clouds, -one can discover many of the larger stars of religious truth which have -shone on the world from the beginning.” - -“And how do you account for these universal beliefs?” asked Aleph. - -“It seems to me that they came from a Divine revelation to the first -fathers of the race, and that they were carried forth with them as they -gradually dispersed from their original seats, and that they took root so -deeply in the needs and reasons of men that no evil circumstances have -been able to remove them. It seems to me that as all the routes of trade -in our day naturally converge on Alexandria, so the natural highways of -thought and need all over the world converge on these fundamental truths.” - -“No doubt you also think it reasonable to believe that Deity, who -made the deposits with the race, has been personally active all along -to preserve it, as a broad ground for responsibility and further -enlightenment? In addition to a mighty undertow in human nature itself -toward these fundamental truths, there are winds and currents of external -circumstance setting in the same direction by the personal agency of the -Most High.” - -“Just so. But look at those men!” - -The two persons pointed at had been sitting not far away in the open -court, conversing in a low tone. By degrees their conversation had become -more animated and loud, until now they were earnestly gesturing and -talking so as to be distinctly understood at a distance. It seemed that -one of the disputants was a Phenician, and was endeavoring to settle -an account of long standing with an Alexandrian dealer in Tyrian dyes, -to whom these goods had from time to time been consigned. This dealer -claimed that several of the consignments had been short in both quantity -and quality; and so offered about half the regular price for the whole -lot. - -The other protested, called Baal and Ashtaroth to witness that his claim -was just; said that he had trusted for so long and for so much, that if -his accounts were not now allowed, he would be ruined. He had arrived -from Sidon some days before, expressly for the purpose of trying to get -a settlement, but had till now been unable to get even an interview with -the dealer, who was always too busy to see him, but had at last agreed to -have his agent meet him at the khan. This was the meeting. The Phenician -had at first quietly represented the hardships of his case with some hope -of softening the agent, but, growing desperate, he hotly rose from his -seat and exclaimed in a voice that was almost a wail: - -“I shall be undone,—quite undone! Have you no mercy?” - -“Not much,” said the other, “for some people.” - -“Thou flint! Before all the gods my claim is just. What shall I do? My -children will starve.” - -“Let them. The fewer such brats the better. Business is business. Take -what I offer or nothing. You have only yourself to blame; you shouldn’t -cheat so.” - -“_Cheat!_” exclaimed the Phenician in a transport of wrath that for the -moment drank up his tears like a hot blast from the desert. “_Cheat!_ you -Cretan rascal! You are a pretty fellow to advise against cheating; you -who, I verily believe, never did anything else; nor your fathers either, -for that matter. Who does not know what the honesty of a Cretan is worth?” - -By this time many had gathered around. Turning to them, the Phenician -besought their help to make his debtor do him justice. - -“Why not go to the judge?” said a by-stander. - -“Ah, my friend, I have been imprudent. I cannot _prove_ that my goods -were all right; for I was so careless that I took it for granted that I -was dealing with an honest man, and so neglected to have them examined -and registered at Sidon. Besides, if I had done this, how could I know -but that the packages had been tampered with on their way here? I could -not swear that they came into this man’s hands in as good condition as -they were when they left mine. But _he_ could swear to anything. Why -shouldn’t he? He told me a little while ago, while we were opening our -conference with some general talk, that he did not believe in any god or -hereafter; in short, that he had no religion of any sort. What is to keep -such a man from wronging his neighbor out of his dues when it can be done -safely?” - -“This man speaks truth,” said a substantial looking man hard by; “for, as -I was passing here some time ago, I overheard this atheist sneering at -all religion. Said I to myself, that man is a rogue. Is cheating too bad -a thing for such a fellow to do? Hassan thinks not.” - -On this another cried out: “Some of us know Hassan. His word is good. I -think as he does: that a man who has robbed himself of his conscience -would not hesitate to rob a Phenician of his goods.” - -“Exactly so,” said another just behind, as he gave his neighbor a push -toward the Cretan. “A man who does not believe in anything good believes -in everything bad.” - -“Oh, the fellow is an imitation philosopher, is he? The genuine is bad -enough, but an imitation is worse—mere husks. And husks are thrown away. -Let’s throw him away;” and the speaker drew his girdle a hit tighter. - -“And _I_ would not trust the rascal with a fig,” cried another, as he -shied a rather sorry specimen of the fruit at the Cretan. - -“Hustle him out—hustle him out,” cried several at once, throwing up their -hands. - -The crowd seemed on the point of doing it. The Cretan turned pale as he -saw them moving upon him, and began to retreat toward the gate. Seeing -this, some of the people ran and planted themselves in the way. Finding -himself intercepted, the man jumped on a bench and cried in a frightened -voice: - -“Friends, do not harm me. I am only an agent in this matter. I do what I -am bid. My principal is MALUS.” - -Malus, Malus—the word passed from mouth to mouth in a low tone. It -seemed magical. At once the outcry ceased. The billow of angry faces -and hands that was rushing toward the Cretan suddenly stood still, and -then slowly broke into many little whispering, murmuring whirlpools. The -way to the gate was no longer barred, and the Cretan made his way to it -precipitately, and disappeared. There was no danger of pursuit. - -The Phenician sat down again, and covered his face with his hands. Our -two friends talked together for a few moments in a low tone. Then Aleph -rose and went to the man; and, after exchanging a few words with him, -conducted him to Cimon. A long conversation followed. At last Cimon came -forward to the edge of the piazza, and beckoned for attention. He already -had it—had indeed been having it for some time; but seeing the gesture, -the people came nearer. - -“I do not express any opinion,” said the Greek, “as to the justice of -this man’s cause. We have not at present the means for judging that. But, -unless all the usual marks fail, this is a case of genuine distress; and -one that is not likely to be helped by a resort to the courts. The man -confesses that he has been imprudent. Besides, he is too poor to bear the -expense of a suit. And if he could, a suit would probably be in vain. -When the weak contend with the powerful, the weak must go to the wall. -So, rightly or wrongly, the poor man will lose his debt; his family will -suffer, and he will be in danger of losing all heart by losing in his old -age the labor of years. I propose that we help him. The sum lost, though -large to him, would not be large to us. A small contribution from each of -us will set him on his feet again. Who of you will join me in making it, -perhaps in righting a great wrong?” - -And, stepping forward, he laid a piece of gold on the bench where the -Phenician had sat. Aleph rose and put another by the side of it. Hassan -promptly came up and did the same. The example was followed by others, -until at last Aleph, coming forward and examining the amount contributed, -pronounced it quite sufficient to cover the loss. He handed the sum to -the Phenician. - -The man seemed for a moment almost bewildered as he received it. He then -fell on his knees and thanked his gods in a few trembling words; then -springing to his feet, he lifted up his voice and wept. At last he found -words and composure enough to say to the people: - -“My friends, you have saved me. I was ready to die; would gladly have -died a few moments ago; but now I can live, because my family can. I -bless you in the name of my little children. You may be sure that you -have not helped a rogue; the facts are as I have given them. Before the -gods I am an honest man, though I could not prove it before your judges. -Again I thank you; and,” turning to Cimon and Aleph, “especially these -two friends, who, though strangers to me, have this day stood between me -and ruin. If Sansciano ever forgets them, may....” - -Here he fairly broke down, and suddenly turning to one of the pillars -that supported the piazza, buried his face in his hand. - -The sudden night of Egypt was now upon them, and the torches began to -flame. After exchanging a few more words with the Phenician, the two -friends withdrew to their rooms; but not before they had caught glimpse -of a Roman uniform entering the little office near the gate of the court. -Did it give them any uneasiness? I hope not. Borrowing trouble is poor -business. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. And then, is there -not a shield broad as the heavens above the good? Trust it, ye strangers, -and go to sleep—if ye are indeed good. - -_Are_ they good men? For one, I am inclined to believe in them. Not -so much because of their good looks, as because they look good. Not -so much from what they have said and done during the few hours of our -acquaintance with them, as from a certain—well, let the word be written, -though deservedly somewhat unpopular of late—_intuition_. There is -something wonderfully prepossessing in the look of both these strangers. -It is hard to say what that something is that so bespeaks confidence, -but that it exists and speaks mightily there is no denying—at least -by me. I seem to look right through those frank and fearless yet kind -eyes into noble souls. It may be only a seeming. I shall not attempt to -justify myself to the philosophers. If they choose to remind me that -appearances are sometimes deceptive; that virtue is often very cleverly -imitated; in short, that old proverbs declare that “All is not gold that -glitters,” and that “Fair outsides often cover foul insides,” I have -nothing to say against it. I shall not argue the case with them. They -would have the best of it from the arguing stand-point. Intuitions cannot -be defended. So I will do nothing but express a modest opinion that such -well-appearing people will turn out as good as they look. Even this, no -doubt, will look sufficiently foolish to some; and should they conclude -to suspend judgment as to the character of Cimon and Aleph till they have -seen more of them in the progress of the narrative, I shall not complain. -They are acting sensibly—as the world goes. They certainly are on very -safe ground. “By their fruits ye shall know them” is a maxim whose -authority cannot be controverted. And if, in the application of this -maxim, they shall discover that the two strangers are no better than they -should be, or as bad as the worst, I can only hang my head in confusion, -and confess that the logic of experience is better than intuition—_my_ -intuition. - - - - -III. - -THE BANKER. - - Τὰ χρήματα νεῦρα τῶν πραγμάτον. - - PLUTARCH, _Cleom._ 27. - - _Money, the sinews of business._ - - 1. A financial emperor. - 2. His greatest treasure. - 3. Pharisees and Sadducees. - 4. Poor Miriam! - - - - -III. - -THE BANKER. - - -Whether Cimon and Aleph slept the sleep of the just we must leave to -be settled in the progress of the narrative. I am, I again confess, -prepossessed in their favor. At any rate, they slept so soundly that most -of the guests of the khan had gone off on their various affairs before -the two friends made their appearance. - -Perhaps, too, they were delayed by a cause that did not delay many of -their fellow-guests—morning worship. It seems that they acknowledged -Jehovah and a revelation from him; and it is to be presumed that such -people began their day in the reasonable and old-fashioned way. When have -devout believers not acted on the principle that prayer and provender -hinder no man’s journey? Besides, they breakfasted in their own room; -whereas most inmates of the khan patronized the cook shops that abounded -in the neighborhood. - -After the meal they went out and seated themselves on the bench they had -occupied the evening before. - -“The first thing to be done,” said Cimon, “is to find a suitable banker -and open an account with him for such Alexandrian funds as we may need. -As one of our objects requires that we be unknown, and especially that -our connection with your father should not reach the ears of Malus, we -cannot use our draft on him except in case of absolute necessity. We must -depend on the jewels. And they are too valuable to be trusted to any but -the best hands. If the Jewish family that held the alabarchate when I -was here last is still in business, this would be the one to apply to. -They were as noted for their integrity as for their immense wealth and -influence at Rome. I will go and ask our deputy-host whether they have -now any representative in Alexandria.” - -After a short absence the Greek returned with two canes in his hand, -and with the information that the old banking-house was flourishing -more than ever in the person of Alexander, the son of the old Alabarch; -that the son had succeeded to all his father’s honors and more than his -father’s wealth; and that, as the imperial banker, his influence at Rome -was supposed to be even greater than among his own people for whom he -had lately enriched the nine gates of the temple at Jerusalem with gold -plates of enormous value. It was generally understood in the city that -he had lately prevented certain oppressive measures against the Jews of -Antioch by threatening to withhold a loan. Some went so far as to tell -how many millions of sesterces each minute brought him, and even supposed -that he had discovered the art of turning base metals into gold. - -“I am sorry that we did not ask Seti about the present Alabarch,” said -Cimon; “but I have no doubt from what I know of the family that he is the -person to whom we should apply.” - -“I have also learned two other facts,” he continued. “One is that the -greatest galley in all the three harbors is Malus himself, and that the -Cretan of last night is one of several small tenders that wait on the -great ship and do its meaner work—which means that the oversight of the -harbors and of the import trade has mainly fallen into the hands of Malus -and his agents, and that the fear of him is on all small dealers, whom -he could easily crush, especially as he is on the best of terms with the -Roman authorities of the city. The other fact is that a Roman soldier was -at the khan-office last night to inquire whether two men (describing us) -were staying here. The deputy said that he managed not to enlighten the -man much—as it was always safe to assume that what a Roman wanted to know -ought not to be known.” - -“Would it not be well for us,” said the young man, “to make some changes -in our dress so as to embarrass such inquiries?... I am glad to see that -you have brought in your hand something to help us discourage unpleasant -recognitions,” he added with a smile and a glance at the canes. “They -have a tough and serviceable look.” - -“They certainly may be useful on occasion. But every gentleman in -Alexandria is in the habit of carrying a cane; for us to do the same -will help ward off notice as well as assault. Dogs and donkeys abound; -and some of them walk on two legs. A stout stick, with your skill at -fence and thrust, will be almost as good as a sword.... As to making some -changes in dress, I think your suggestion a good one. I also think that -it would be well for you, at least, to dress somewhat more richly to-day, -inasmuch as you must be the one to do our business with the banker. Till -one is known appearance goes far. Meanwhile I will brush up my knowledge -of the city and its people. We will meet here late in the day.” - -Cimon then produced his tablets and drew on them a rough plan of the -city—one central street, two hundred feet broad, running between the lake -and the sea from the gate of the Moon to the gate of the Sun, and called -Emporium Street: this crossed in the middle at right angles by another -street of similar breadth, but of much less length, called the street of -Canopus, ending on the west at the gate of the Necropolis, and on the -east at the gate of Canopus: these two main streets cut at right angles -by all the rest: here, in the south-east, the Jews’ quarter, occupying -two of the five divisions of the city: there, north of this quarter and -extending to the two harbors Eunostus and Kibotus, and including all the -frontage on these harbors called Bruchium, the Greek and Roman quarters. -These latter also include a narrow section of the city lying along the -whole length of Emporium Street on the west. Just west of this section -is Rachotis or the Egyptian quarter, in the southern part of which, on -the highest ground in the city, stands the Serapeum, the famous temple of -Jupiter Serapis. - -“Entering at the gate of the Moon,” continued Cimon, “you are to pass up -Emporium Street till you come to the street of Canopus: here turn to your -right, and, after a short walk, you will find by inquiry the place of the -great banker.” - -Surely, the way was so plain that no guide would be needed. So, after -making some changes in his dress, Aleph took his cane and set forth. - -By this time the whole Alexandrian world, the most industrious and -bustling world known in ancient times, was in full movement. Such tides -of men surging from sea to lake and from lake to sea—such tides of -donkeys and horses and camels going and coming—such a menagerie and -roar of sounds from the tramp of thousands, the shrill calls of traders -hawking their wares, the cries of the animals and their drivers, the -infinite clatter from the tools of artisans of every name pouring out -from the open shops far and near! Slowly on went the young man, with eyes -full of grave interest, along the splendid thoroughfare for two miles, -till he came to the ornate square, half a league in circumference, from -the centre of which one could, without changing his place, see the lake -on the south and the harbors with their dividing mole (Heptastadium) and -its Pharos on the north, as well as the sands of the desert at both ends -of the street of Canopus. Turning down this street to the east under one -of the magnificent colonnades that skirted it on either hand, he noticed -as he advanced not only that the leading places of business were held -by Jews (a fact that he had noticed on the other street), but that the -farther he went the more people he saw with Jewish features. - -Before he had gone very far, two young men with caps and black gowns, -something like the present English university dress, hurried by him; one -saying to the other as they passed: - -“The earlier at the Alabarch’s the better. First come, first served, you -know.” - -Aleph quickened his pace so as to keep near them. They soon came to -what seemed a fortress rather than a private dwelling or place of -business—solid stone, no windows on the first story, length on the street -several times that of an ordinary dwelling. Solidity and strength rather -than show was the impression given—no elaborate carvings, no pillars -of porphyry and cornelian, but plain, massive, mob-defying marble; in -short, an architectural _safe_. This structure was on a corner. Turning -the corner, the young men came by a few steps to a small door. Aleph -followed closely; and when the door opened to the others, he entered with -them and was ushered into a reception-room close by, where many others -were already waiting their turn to be called into the presence of the -financial magnate. - -Soon a servant presented on a silver salver tablets to the new-comers, -on which each should write his name. When the tablets came to Aleph he -noticed that the names of the two young men who had just written were _P. -Cornelius, Serapeum_, and _Q. Metellus, Museum_. What did _he_ write? -After a moment’s hesitation he wrote _Aleph, the Chaldean, khan near the -gate of the Moon_. - -There were several academic uniforms in the room (each with a conspicuous -gold badge in front) that seemed well acquainted with one another, and -not disposed to lose the time of waiting, possibly long, in silence. -Some talked together with great enthusiasm of a boat-race that had come -off the day before on the lake: others discussed the merits of various -recent performances in the palæstra, especially those of a certain noted -athlete and trainer who had just arrived from Rome: two agreed that there -was nothing worth living for but the noble art of fencing, and that the -greatest living master of the art was one Draco of Rhodes, of whom they -were taking lessons. A knot of dudes were comparing breast-pins and -finger-rings and experiences at the last fashionable party; or boasting -of the successful tricks they had played on the lecturers at the Museum, -and of how they managed to evade many of the lectures and delude their -parents and other friends at home with the idea that they were hard at -work digging into all the sciences and philosophies and living like -hermits on crusts and water. Some were ready to burst with merriment over -some practical jokes they had played on some citizen or new-comer at the -Museum; or at the way in which they had baffled the police in a midnight -brawl. - -The two students who came in with Aleph seemed better to deserve the -name. They had just come from a lecture by Philo, a brother of the -Alabarch; and found much to commend in his ingenious attempts to -Hellenize the Hebrew writers or to Hebraize the Greek—they were uncertain -which way to put it. They agreed that he was a very broad man and ready -to do justice to great men of other nationality than his own. They were -also hearing lectures on astronomy and Hipparchus in the observatory -rooms at the Serapeum, as well as on the physics and metaphysics of -Aristotle at the Museum. - -Aleph was not sorry to have this little insight into student life in -Alexandria; and, considering the number of persons in the room on his -arrival, he was expecting to have a still longer time to observe and -listen, when, to his surprise and apparently to that of others around, a -special servant came to conduct him to the banker. - -After passing through a large room occupied by many persons busy at -desks, and crossing a broad passage from which rose a flight of marble -steps, they came to a small room plainly furnished, in which were -seated two men. What was his surprise to recognize in one of them the -Egyptian Seti! The pleasure he felt sprang at once to his face, as he -advanced with a warm but modest greeting which the aged man cordially -reciprocated, and then presented him to the Alabarch as “the young man of -whom we have been speaking.” - -Alexander was a Jew to the slightest inspection. But his features though -national were royally so, and might have belonged to Solomon. Their -whole expression bespoke one accustomed to great thoughts and plans; -while yet a certain watchfulness, like distant pickets about a royal -encampment, looked out from far back in his frank and friendly eyes as -of one who knows that all sorts of characters will come to a banker, and -who knows how to protect himself on occasion. His manners were polished -and courtly—as might have been expected in one who dealt only with the -highest and most cultured classes, and was even a companion of princes. -In watching him one felt sure that the man was larger than his wealth, -however large that might be. He was still in the prime of life, and -without a thread of silver in his dark hair and beard. - -Alexander received the young man graciously, though with wide-open, -all-observing eyes. - -“I happened,” said the Egyptian to Aleph, “to be with my son when your -name was brought in; and, though you gave me no name yesterday, I fancied -that the Chaldean was the friend I have occasion to remember, and that -his first business would naturally be with a banker. I had just finished -explaining how we met when you came in.” - -“That I am as glad as surprised,” returned the young man, “to see you -here and in such a relation, you doubtless have already discovered. -Perhaps I am the more glad because my business with this gentleman is -such as may call for a word of friendly prepossession in my favor from -one who is known here. For the present I am compelled to remain unknown. -I can only appear as Aleph, the Chaldean, in company with his preceptor -and friend, Cimon the Athenian. So I have no papers to present on which -to ask an open account for him and myself, within certain limits, with a -banker. I have only certain jewels to place in his hands, of the value of -which he must judge”—and he drew from the bosom of his tunic a small box -which he opened and handed to Alexander. - -The banker was surprised. In all his wide experience he had never fallen -in with such brilliants—so large, so beautifully and variously hued, with -such soft and mystic fires playing about them and raying out from their -inmost depths. A pearl, a ruby, a sapphire, and a diamond—that was all; -but, as Alexander turned the box this way and that, there flashed out -upon him such lovely lights as he had never seen in the imperial treasury -at Rome, enriched as it was with the regalia of many nations. - -After carefully taking out each gem and examining it on all sides, and -then as carefully replacing it in its luxurious bed, Alexander at length -fetched a long breath and slowly said: - -“If any common stranger had brought me these remarkable jewels I should -have demanded to know his name and station—in short, that he is the -rightful owner of such a treasure. This would only be common prudence. -But I happen to have an uncommon father-in-law, who has a notion that he -has a gift of reading character in faces and bearing, and who thinks so -favorably of yours that he might quarrel with me if I should deal with -you on strictly business principles. I should be sorry to have him do -that. Besides, to tell the truth, I have something of his weakness for -a good face and figure, and whatever else that indescribable something -about you is that demands confidence. So I think I will venture”—and he -threw an arch look and smile at Seti. - -And he drew two sheets of papyrus toward himself. After writing for some -time, he read over to himself carefully what he had written, and then -handed the sheet to Aleph, saying, “Is this satisfactory?” - -The young man read a full description of the box and its contents; an -acknowledgment of the receipt of it as basis for credit to the extent of -200,000 aurei or staters, to be drawn upon at pleasure in large or small -sums; also a promise to restore the jewels on repayment of sums advanced -with a moderate interest. - -Aleph pronounced the paper entirely satisfactory, and far more favorable -than he had any reason to expect—adding, however, that he had no idea -of making any large drafts on the sum pledged; as one of the objects he -had in view in Alexandria would compel him to live in a very quiet and -inexpensive way, even if it were not a matter of choice. - -Alexander then proceeded to copy the document, and to affix his signature -and seal to it and to the copy. He retained one and gave the other to -Aleph, with a parcel of small slips of papyrus each already signed by -himself, but otherwise blank, saying: - -“Whenever you wish current money, fill in one of these with the sum -desired, in your own handwriting and with your name as given to-day, and -present it in the room through which you passed in coming here.... Now I -will put this treasure where it will be somewhat safer than it was when -walking the streets of Alexandria under the protection of a cane”—and -he rose and took the box and his copy of the paper he had just executed -to carry them into an adjoining room whose door, massive with iron, -proclaimed the very citadel of the financial stronghold. - -“Will you add this small parcel of valuable documents to the box?” said -Aleph, as he again produced from the bosom of his tunic an elaborately -tied and sealed parcel. - -Alexander had hardly resumed his seat, after a few moments’ absence, when -a light step was heard descending the stairs in the neighboring passage, -the door softly opened a little, then wider, and after a moment a young -lady advanced into the room. Seti and Aleph were so seated that they -could not well be seen from the door; and the maiden seeing none but -Alexander went hastily up to him, put her hand on his shoulder, kissed -his forehead, and said: - -“Father, word has just been brought me that my poor nurse Miriam, who -has come back to the city sick, is now dying, and wants to see me. May I -take a servant with me and go? In the absence of my mother and brothers, -I thought I had better come directly to you, as I may need to be gone for -some time, and you would be alarmed at my prolonged absence.” - -“Certainly I would have been. Take two servants: then you can send -one of them back for anything that may be needed. Let the woman have -every possible help and comfort. But, Rachel, you do not notice your -grandfather!”—nodding his head toward Seti, who had risen and was coming -toward her. - -Rachel turned suddenly, with a faint exclamation of surprise, and sprang -into the open arms of the Egyptian, exclaiming: - -“When did you come? I thought you were still in Upper Egypt. How glad -I am to see you, my dear grandfather—as glad as one can be whose -foster-mother lies dying!” - -“I will not keep you from her—only to answer your question by saying -that I reached the city safely last evening, thanks to a young friend of -mine. No particulars at present. Perhaps I will step in at Miriam’s on -my way home (I accidentally heard of her whereabouts this morning), and -see if the leech has done his best, and, if not, whether old Egypt can do -better.” - -“Do, grandfather,” she pleaded, “and come soon: for I verily believe -that the priest Seti knows more of the healing art than all the rest of -Alexandria—the daughters of my people not excepted.” - -As she glided toward the door her eye rested for a moment with a startled -look on Aleph. He had till now been unobserved. The tall form of Seti -had been interposed. She hesitated a moment, as if to make sure that the -young man was not some one whom she ought to recognize, and then hastened -away. - -Ah, those great, lovely eyes! It was but a second that their inquiring -look rested on him; but they at once made him forget every other feature. -He had not failed to notice her faultless figure, the queenly carriage -of her head, the easy grace and even majesty of her every movement; and -when she turned to greet Seti he had had full view of an exquisite face, -hesitating between girlhood and womanhood—a face wonderfully luminous -with a certain spiritual and lofty loveliness—but the moment her eyes -shot their fires into his, all previous impressions vanished, and he saw -nothing but _eyes, eyes_. In talking over the events of the day with -Cimon at the khan in the evening, he could not, for the life of him, -remember distinctly whether she was tall or short, dark or brown-haired, -light-complexioned or otherwise—he could only remember the glorious -_eyes_. But the young man was in Alexandria for a purpose, and a great -one: and what had he to do with a maiden’s haunting eyes? Just nothing at -all. So he turned his own eyes to the business in hand: and the effulgent -twin stars that had just risen above his horizon, contrary to the order -of Nature, silently sank back again and disappeared—almost. - -He rose to take leave. But Alexander said, _Wait a little_, and touched -a string. A servant appeared, to whom he gave some directions in a low -voice. When he had dismissed the man, he said that he had just sent to -notify those in waiting that no more business would be done to-day. He -added that he usually closed business earlier on the sixth day of the -week out of regard to the sacred seventh, and that so he had some leisure -for conversation; if the young man would resume his seat. - -“Speaking of our Sabbath,” continued he; “reminds me that I ought to -invite you to our place of worship for to-morrow: for I learn that you -are not a worshipper of Belus?” - -“Hardly,” said Aleph with a smile. - -“Nor a fire-worshipper?” - -“By no means.” - -“Nor a worshipper of the sun, moon and stars?” - -“I was not so taught,” emphatically. - -“But you were taught to worship the One God who made the heavens and the -earth, and who spake by Moses and our other prophets?” - -“Even so: our family religion for generations has been that of the -Hebrews—as being the most credible and satisfactory within our knowledge.” - -“Our common friend here could not tell me quite as much as this,” said -Alexander with a gratified look, “but I am glad to hear it, and hope to -learn at some future time how your family came into possession of our -faith. You observe our sacred day?” - -“I do, as does also my companion. Though a Greek by birth, he is a Hebrew -in religion. We will be pleased to accept your invitation for to-morrow. -Where shall we find your place of worship?” - -“We Jews are 300,000 strong. So there are several synagogues in the -city; but two of these are much larger than the rest, and stand for two -different schools of doctrine among us. The one with which I am connected -is the _Diapleuston_ and is on the street of Canopus, not far from -here. The other is on Emporium Street, and is not so large as ours, but -still has many substantial adherents, of whom Malus, our chief shipping -merchant, is the most prominent. Indeed, I think that he is now the chief -ruler of his synagogue.” - -“May I ask,” inquired Aleph, “what the doctrinal difference between the -two synagogues is?” - -“The chief difference,” answered Alexander, “relates to the degree of -authority to be allowed to our Sacred Books. We of the _Diapleuston_ say -that their authority is final on all matters of which they speak—that -their writers were so guided and guarded by Jehovah in composing them -that they were at first perfectly free from mistake of all sorts: while -the other school maintain that, while properly enough said to be of -divine origin, our Scriptures have always been more or less mistaken in -their teachings and need to be sifted by learned men.” - -“Do these men offer any criterion by which one may separate the reliable -from the unreliable?” - -“They do not _agree_ on any. One says that all important Scripture -statements are reliable; another tells us that all are reliable, save in -the domains of history and science; another excludes as unreliable all -but positively _religious_ statements.” - -“Of course they differ widely as to what _are_ important or strictly -religious matters.” - -“Certainly. Whatever statements are unsatisfactory to a man for any -reason he is apt to think of small consequence.” - -“And I should suppose the other test might be equally elusive. Is there -not room for considerable difference of opinion as to what deserve to be -called moral and religious statements?” - -“So it seems: and, as a matter of fact, Malus and his synagogue agree -only in discrediting those parts of the Scriptures that are in the -narrative form and a large part of the remainder. Especially are they -prepared to admit the possibility of mistake to almost any extent in -Moses and the earlier Scripture writers. Not a few deny that we have any -Moses. What passes under the ancient name is really the invention of -recent times.” - -“This is the result I should expect. One seems to be left at liberty to -take as much or little of the Scriptures as suits him: for if parts of -them are unreliable, and we have no sure way of determining where these -parts are, we will be likely to locate them where our prejudices and -inclinations say. The larger part of the Book may easily be considered -secular or unimportant by one who wishes as much.” - -“Very true,” said Alexander; “and see what the other synagogue have -actually come to! Some reject the doctrine of angels, some that of a -human soul distinct from the body, some that of personal responsibility, -and nearly all that of miracles and all other forms of supernaturalism -in history, as well as that of a future state of settled character and -destiny for men. And so on. Really, between them all, there is very -little of the sacred Book left. The sum of their doubts and denials would -cover almost the whole of it. What is left is the brief revelation that -Malus, the Sadducee, uses. His maxim is to discard what anybody doubts.” - -“This seems to me a sad state of things,” said Aleph, fetching a long -breath that was almost a sigh. “It would be almost unimaginable in the -house of my fathers. Practically these people are without a revelation. -The only revelation to each is that bundle of guesses and notions -which he calls his knowledge or judgments: and there are about as many -different revelations of this sort as there are men; and, to my thinking, -they are all about equally worthless. It is sad that circumcised people -should hold such uncircumcised notions.” - -“A sad state of things, indeed,” consented Alexander, “but we may console -ourselves with the fact that this sad sort of people are a minority and a -small one, and have been quite unknown among our people till quite recent -times. I trust they will soon become unknown again. When the Messiah, -whom we are daily looking for, comes and, accrediting himself by signs -and wonders, declares that not one jot or tittle of the law shall fail, -even Malus will have a revelation that is worth the having.” - -“May He come quickly!” said the young man devoutly. - -Alexander looked intently for a moment on the kindling and abstracted -face before him, and then as devoutly said _Amen_. - -During this conversation Seti maintained an unbroken silence—his arms -folded, his face impassive, but his eyes as watchful as eagles’. He -seemed to be hearing as well as seeing with those ancient eyes of his -that never once left the face of Aleph. - -They both rose at the same time—Seti saying that he would walk along with -the young man and point out the Diapleuston in passing. - -The Alabarch courteously escorted them through the now vacant rooms to -the door; saying to Aleph, as he parted, “Remember—at the third hour -to-morrow. Come half an hour earlier.” - -Turning into the street of Canopus, and going westward under the -colonnade, they soon came to a corner on which stood an imposing -structure of white marble. As Aleph glanced down the side street he saw -that the length of the structure was immense: as he passed to the front -he saw that its breadth was nearly as great. A central part raised on -a lofty pediment, surmounted by a gilded dome, and supported in front -and on either hand by immense monolith columns, was surrounded on all -visible sides at a little distance by low marble cloisters—save where a -broad flight of steps led up from the street to the great doors. From the -wide platform at the top the great columns rose in elaborately wrought -clusters, each supporting an ornate capital, architrave, frieze, and -cornice; while, behind, the whole front was alive with spirited sculpture -in relief of the Feast of Tabernacles. - -I must not forget to add that at one angle the low cloisters swelled into -a graceful and lofty tower that ended in a parapet. - -“From behind that parapet,” said Seti, pointing, “are sounded the seventy -silver trumpets that summon the Jews to their worship; for here is the -Diapleuston to which you have been invited.” - -They passed on to another crossing. - -“Let us turn down this street,” said the Egyptian. “It is less crowded -than the thoroughfare, and equally direct for both of us, as I learn that -you are staying for the present near where we landed yesterday. Besides, -I wish to stop for a few moments with the sick woman. I am afraid of -these Alexandrian leeches. Once in every five or ten years they get a new -fashion of treating diseases and call it science.” - -They turned south and soon came to a humble house, where Seti knocked. -The door was opened by a shiftless looking Greek who, on request, pointed -to a door within which the sick woman could be found. On entering, they -found her on a rude bed, supported almost in a sitting posture by the -daughter of Alexander, who sat behind her. She was a woman of middle age, -very emaciated, eyes closed, lips parted, chest laboriously heaving, -apparently unconscious. - -“Oh, grandfather, I feared you would not come,” exclaimed the maiden in -a subdued voice, “feared you would be too late,—I am afraid you _are_ -too late. The leech says that nothing more can be done”—and the tears -dropped fast from the lovely eyes. - -The rich dress worn at home had been exchanged for one exceedingly plain -and suited to her present sad and humble surroundings. But the change did -not detract from her superb loveliness. On the contrary, the exquisite -graces of feature and figure became all the more apparent in the absence -of the distractions of extrinsic ornament; and a new light born of a -heavenly pity and self-forgetfulness was shining in her face. - -Without replying to her words, Seti advanced to a casement and door, and -threw them widely open on a small open court. - -“But the leech, grandfather, said that the fresh air must be excluded.” - -“Did he bring this?” said the Egyptian, taking up from the bed a partly -unrolled manuscript. He read aloud: “_The Psalms of David translated by -the Seventy_.” - -“That is mine,” said Rachel. “I brought it with me, and have read from -it to Miriam while she could listen. It was her only comfort, besides -prayer.” - -“What have you learned about her case?” - -“You know that she left us two years ago to marry a man whom we could not -approve: and until yesterday we did not know what had become of her. Then -I had a message from her husband, who is a Greek, that she was sick at -this place. I went to her at once and found her very weak and low with -this fever; and gathered from her with great difficulty that she had led -a life of hardship and exposure since leaving us, had sometimes been in -the extreme of want, but was ashamed to make her situation known to us -after having rejected our counsel. So she had gradually been worn down by -want and disappointment until this fever seized on her and found an easy -victim”—and the fair head drooped with a sigh to the hot forehead that -rested against her shoulder. - -“Has she asked for nothing?” inquired Seti. - -“Not of late. When I first came she wanted water, and asked for it almost -constantly. But the leech said she must not have it. It would chill her -and finally make the fever worse. He would only allow her lips to be -moistened occasionally with a sponge.” - -“Her lips are trying to move now. Can you hear anything?” - -“Nothing.” - -Seti stooped and put his ear close to the lips of the dying woman. He -shook his head. - -“Old age,” said he, “has its disadvantages, and dull ears are one of -them. Perhaps my young friend here can help us”—and he beckoned to Aleph, -who had remained at some distance. - -The young man at once came forward, and, kneeling by the bed, laid his -ear close to the twitching lips. For a few moments he seemed not to -breathe at all. As Seti looked down on that noble head with its wealth of -youth and strength in broad contrast with the sharp, worn features of the -sick woman, he said to himself: “It is the head of Horus, the sun-god.” - -At length Aleph rose. “She says _water, water_—that and nothing else.” - - -“Give her water, then,” commanded Seti. - -“But the leech, grandfather!” interposed the maiden anxiously. - -“No matter what the leech says. I too am a leech. Let her drink freely.” - -Aleph took up the water-jar that was standing by the bed, poured into -a large cup that was near till it was almost full, and held it to the -lips of the woman—saying to Rachel as he did so: “It is the way of my -country.” The dry lips closed spasmodically over the rim of the cup, and -did not release it till not a drop was left. She opened her eyes. A faint -sigh of relief reached the younger ears. - -“Give her another cup,” said Seti. - -She drained that also: then whispered _Heaven_—so that they all heard, -and almost a smile hovered upon her wan features. Great drops stood on -her forehead, and she quietly sank into sleep. - -“Now lay her down softly,” said the Egyptian to the maiden, “and let her -sleep. She will do well. What has she eaten?” - -“Nothing since I have been here. The leech said that food would not -nourish her: it would only nourish the fever.” - -“Has she never asked for anything in particular?” - -“The woman who was here when I came tells me that before nurse became so -weak she asked for fried lampreys and onions. But the leech said that she -could not ask for a worse dish. It would kill her outright. And, what was -worse, it would kill him too; for it would ruin his practice to allow -such a thing. It was against all rules.” - -“Never you mind his rules. Tell the woman—but here she is; I will tell -her myself,” and he turned toward a peasant woman, who had just softly -entered and was standing embarrassed at the presence of strangers. -“When this sick person wakes let her drink all the water she wants. -Then ask her if she can think of anything she would like to eat, calling -over to her all the eatables you can think of, and whatever she chooses -get for her, even though it is fried lampreys or fried dragons. Do you -understand?” - -“Yes, my lord; but the leech ...” - -“Will see that these instructions of Seti are obeyed. If not, send word -at once to this lady.... Now, Rachel, you ought to go home at once. -Though you are not unaccustomed to such work as this, I can see that you -are tired and worn. If you were of the fainting sort I should hold out -my arms to catch you from falling—your cheeks are so white and your eyes -so——” - -She would have fallen had she not hastily staggered toward him and caught -his arm. - -“Yes, grandfather, I think I had better go home as soon as possible,” she -said in a low and trembling voice. “The closeness of the room till you -came, together with the anxiety and excitement, has been too much for me. -But the open air will set me right.” - -“Ought not the lady to have a sedan?” inquired Aleph. “I saw a stand at -the last corner as we came.” - -“Certainly,” said Seti: “and where are the two servants, Rachel, who came -with you?” - -“Are they not at the door? I left them there, to be within call.” - -“I did not notice them when we came. Did you?”—turning to Aleph. - -Aleph shook his head. “Allow me to go for a sedan,” said he, “and we will -see the lady safely home.” - -“Thank you—that will do.” - -Aleph hastened away. During his absence, which was short, Rachel -reclined; and on his return with a chair and two stout porters he found -her much revived and quite disposed to dismiss the vehicle as being -unnecessary. But this Seti would not permit. And she speedily found that -he was right; for, on trying to walk to the door, she found it necessary -to accept support from both men. But the open air of the street seemed to -recall her strength at once, and she entered the sedan without help. - -Seti walked before the vehicle to guide. Aleph walked behind—every now -and then quieting the motion of the bearers by a word, and once or twice -venturing to draw aside the curtain and inquire in a grave, sympathetic -way how the lady was enduring the jolting. The answer was satisfactory -and cordial: and when the house of Alexander was reached she professed to -feel as well and strong as ever, and proved it by darting up the steps -without aid. Turning, as the door opened, she threw down thanks and adieu -with the gesture of a goddess and disappeared. - -“There goes the Gem of Alexandria,” murmured Seti to himself. - -Aleph said nothing, but he thought that, whatever the gem, it was a -wonderfully fine casket that contained it. He was sure that he had -never seen a finer. And those _eyes_! As he turned away the twin stars -again ventured to show themselves above his horizon in all their dewy -splendors. But what had he to do with a maiden’s starry eyes? Just -nothing at all. So back they timidly sank to the horizon’s edge; but -refused to go farther. They must wait till they had burned a path through. - -That evening at the khan Cimon and Aleph compared experiences. Cimon had -revived his acquaintance with the city, but had not found any of his -old acquaintances. Thirty years and more had dismissed all of them to -new homes or to the Necropolis. No directory made it possible for him -to be sure but that, somewhere in the great city, some one whom he had -known as a young man was still living with whitening locks; but no doubt -nearly all of his generation were dead. That was the way of things in -Alexandria: as it is everywhere else. Cimon was sad that night. O Time, -thou mighty thief, when will Government apprehend thee and bring thee -to justice! Or, better still, when will it take thy scythe from thee, -and put thee into some Reformatory to learn giving instead of stealing, -addition instead of subtraction, flowing instead of ebbing, the art -of ever setting poor men forward from strength to strength instead of -backward from weakness to weakness! Well, that is what will be done some -day—for some. For whom? - - - - -IV. - -THE SYNAGOGUE. - - Καὶ ἀρίστους δὲ καὶ θεοφιλεστάτους. - - —XENOPHON, _Memorab._ iii. 9. - - _That the best men are most observant of Divine worship._ - - 1. Is it a recognition? - 2. Diapleuston the magnificent. - 3. Has the Messiah come? - 4. Procul este profani. - - - - -IV. - -THE SYNAGOGUE. - - -If the reader is curious to know how the two friends passed the long -Sabbath morning, before it was time to go to the synagogue, I can inform -him. They prayed apart, they prayed together; they produced a copy of the -Septuagint and read what the prophets had written about the Messiah. They -found many mysteries, and much material for conversation, until the dial -in the centre of the court told them that it was time to be moving. - -On their way up Emporium Street they kept to the right side for two -reasons—because the right was first reached, and because on that side the -current of people was in their own direction. And a strong current it -was. Men, women, and children, with Jewish faces and apparently dressed -in their best, in great numbers were leisurely moving northward. Aleph -was tall enough to look over the heads of most of the people before him -and noticed in the distance the living stream turning into a building. It -occurred to him that this building was probably the synagogue of Malus, -of which the Alabarch had spoken. He was confirmed in this idea by the -light behavior of most about him. The principle of reverence was neither -in their feet nor in their faces. And as to their tongues—these seemed -to have the freedom of all the days of the week. They were talking -shop, talking ships, talking fashions, talking gossip—talking everything -but politics and religion. These last topics they prudently left to the -Romans and “whom it might concern.” - -When they came to the synagogue they saw that it was large; though by no -means as large and imposing as the Diapleuston. They lingered a little -among the many standing on the street in order to get a better view. Just -then came up a group of persons more richly dressed than the rest, and -for whom the rest made way with special deference as they mounted the -steps. One of these, whose dress was particularly showy, turned when he -had reached the last platform, and looked down among the people as if -seeking some one. His eye rested on Aleph. Both Cimon and Aleph noticed -an involuntary start. It could hardly have been greater if the man had -received an unexpected blow. - -He was a man of middle stature, somewhat past middle life, and more -than middlingly obese. His face was a curiosity. It was as round as -a full moon, and as pocked: but the great peculiarity of it was its -characterless or wooden expression. It neither laughed nor cried, it -neither promised nor threatened, it was neither happy nor miserable, it -was neither saint nor sinner. Yet one hesitates a little over this last -statement. There was a certain thin, very thin, something about the face -that asked to be considered religious. But to the eyes of our friends -it seemed sanctimoniousness instead of sanctity, a gauze white veil -which, however well worn, is no part of the person and can be put off at -pleasure. Perhaps they were mistaken. Sudden judgments sometimes shoot -wide of the mark. And it was but a moment they had in which to study his -face before he disappeared within the synagogue. - -Cimon turned to a by-stander, and asked: “The ruler of the synagogue?” -The man bowed assent. - -“I wonder,” said Cimon, musingly, as they passed on, “whether Malus -recognized your father in you. You resemble him strongly—as he was, -thirty years ago.” - -As they came up to the Diapleuston there burst from the summit of the -side tower a chorus of trumpets—rich, soft, yet far-sounding. Looking up -they saw seventy men standing behind a circular balustrade and chanting -through silver trumpets toward all points of the compass. - -“How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts,” went sounding broadly -forth over the city. - -They were met just within the doors by Alexander himself—to whom Aleph -presented his “preceptor and friend” Cimon. The Alabarch received them -with great courtesy, and thanked the young man for the service rendered -to his daughter the day before; and when Aleph expressed the hope that -she had quite recovered from her indisposition, he said: - -“Quite so, she tells me; and so I have brought her with me to give thanks -for the good news this morning received that her nurse continues to mend.” - -And he led the way toward a distant canopy not far from the centre, -near which his daughter was sitting. She was simply dressed and closely -veiled; but Aleph had no difficulty in recognizing the exquisite shape -and bearing of the Gem of Alexandria. - -Alexander then said that he had asked them to come somewhat in advance of -the congregation, partly in order that they might have time to look about -them, and to get familiar with the building before the services should -begin. - -“Walk about freely,” he continued, “until the trumpets cease summoning; -then return and occupy the seats yonder (he pointed). They are reserved -for visitors in accord with us. Meanwhile I have to meet the elders.” - -He bowed himself away; and they began to look about them. But few people -had yet come in. It was the largest and finest synagogue in the world. -Just before them, abutting on the east side of the building, was a low -platform surrounded by a delicate silver railing and surmounted in part -by a canopy of cloth of gold. Under this was an ornate seat curiously -wrought in various precious woods. Near the front of the platform stood -an equally elaborate reading desk, with several rolls upon it. By the -side of the platform was a door by which Alexander had disappeared; and -in front of the platform, arranged in several semicircles, were the -famous seventy gilded chairs for the seventy elders of the synagogue. -Back of these were the seats for the families of the elders with a -narrow aisle separating the males from the females. On the first seat -to the left of this passage sat Rachel. Behind these seats, and skirted -by immense columns on either hand, ran a broad aisle from end to end -of the synagogue. The building was so long that the signal for the -responses had to be given by a flag to the more remote worshippers; for -all were expected to join vocally in the prayers as read at the centre, -though addresses to the people were made simultaneously at several -other platforms placed at convenient intervals. The walls were covered -with Scripture verses in both Hebrew and Greek, beautifully done in -mosaic—one wall with prayers, another with praises, a third with the Ten -Commandments, a fourth with the leading Messianic prophecies. One mystery -of the building was the pleasant illumination without any sign of windows -or sources of artificial light. - -While they were lingering over the Messianic inscriptions they suddenly -awoke to the fact that the synagogue was becoming thronged and that -the summoning trumpets were about concluding their sonorous chant. So -they made their way back, as rapidly as the incoming stream of belated -worshippers (not wholly unknown in any age) would allow, to the seats -which had been shown them. - -AMEN, sang the trumpets in long-drawn note from their tower. AMEN, -answered the packed multitudes on their knees. The door at the side of -the platform opened; and the seventy elders, with Alexander and another -younger man, who strongly resembled him, at their head, entered in long -flowing robes elaborately fringed and decorated on the breast with -phylacteries lettered in gold. The leaders ascended the platform: the -others passed on to the gilded chairs. The Alabarch seated himself under -the canopy: his companion advanced to the lecturn, bowed his head upon -it for a moment, then placed the _tulith_ on his head—and at once the -service began. - -Began with a doxology—spontaneous, universal, mighty; flooding the whole -temple with rhythmic billows of uplifting sound. As the last note died -away, the man at the desk began to read from a roll that vivid picture of -the consequences to Israel of both obedience and disobedience contained -in Deut. 28th—read them sonorously and with great distinctness, but not -without something of the artificial and professional in his tone—read -them with here and there a word of comment which did not always content -itself with the literal sense instead of an allegorical and mystical -one. This reading concluded, he waved a small flag; and all the people -broke out again into a doxology—this time the entire psalm, beginning -with, “Praise ye the Lord; praise the Lord, O my soul; while I live will -I praise the Lord,” in a rapid and triumphant march of unified sound. He -then proceeded to read on his knees, the people all kneeling, the prayer -contained in the psalm that begins with “Give ear, O shepherd of Israel, -thou that leadest Joseph like a flock, thou that dwellest between the -cherubims shine forth;” at the conclusion of which he waved the flag -again and a universal AMEN arose. This was followed by readings from the -prophets of selections commonly understood to point to the Messiah. Again -the flag waved, and the people exclaimed as with one voice, but in a -plaintive tone: - -“Though he tarry long he will surely come.” - -The reader then became a preacher. His theme was the Messiah. He spoke of -the certainty of His coming, of the time and other circumstances of it, -of the character and functions that would belong to Him, of the way in -which He would prove Himself, and of the universal current expectation of -Him among their own people. He showed that from the beginning of the race -hints of Him had been given—hints that gradually enlarged and brightened -as the ages rolled on, until, in the later prophets, all veils were -removed and the dimmest eye could see the King that cometh in the name -of the Lord. As to the time—he shared the common belief of the present -and the last generation that the time was near, if not already arrived. -How could the dates of Daniel be reconciled with any other view? To -be sure, some allowance should be made for round numbers: it would not -do to say that this or the next year is the time for the Coming; but -after all it is safe to say in a general way that we are living in the -times of the Christ. It ought not to surprise them if He should come -to-morrow. As to the family from which He is to spring, the place of His -birth, the forerunner Elias He is to have, there is and can be but one -opinion. Exactly how He will prove himself to the people it were hard -to say: perhaps by a supernatural beauty and glory of person, perhaps -by a mysterious inward voice speaking to the whole nation as it spoke -to individual prophets, perhaps only by His wonderful success over all -obstacles in becoming our Redeemer and King. - -The preacher evidently did not deem it wise to be at all specific on this -last point—the conquering and kingly character of the Messiah—in a city -held by the Romans for the Cæsars. He contented himself with glittering -generalities. He spoke ornately and enthusiastically of the prosperity -and felicity of Israel in the golden age that was sure to come. What the -Gentiles call by that name was a poor thing compared with that which was -knocking at the doors of the Chosen People. - -He, however, cautioned his hearers not to allow themselves to be -impatient in their waiting for this good time. Their faith might be -tried. They must be on their guard against pretenders. It would not be -strange if the current expectation should itself produce false Christs. -It would seem indeed as if this had already happened. At this moment, as -most of them knew, there was a man in Judea who was making much noise -with his claims, but whom the principal men of the nation did not feel -able to accept. When the true Messiah comes he doubtless will commend -Himself to the natural leaders of the people. Meanwhile the people should -rest quietly in their various places and occupations. - -When the orator had finished, the Alabarch rose and gave the usual -invitation to approved persons to speak—immediately adding, however, -that he saw that one of their own elders, Simeon the son of Simeon, had -returned from Jerusalem, and that whatever account he could give of -religious matters there would be acceptable. - -A venerable looking man rose from among the Seventy. He brought -salutations from the Sanhedrin at Jerusalem. They had been much disturbed -over the case of Jesus of Nazareth to whom the preacher had just -referred. The multitude were disposed to listen to him; attributing to -him many signs and wonders, and asking whether he is not the Messiah. -It was not clear, however, that he himself had put forward any such -claim. His Messiahship seemed to be merely an inference of the multitude -from his wonderful works at a time when all are on the lookout for the -Shiloh. As to the reality of these wonderful works, the brethren of the -Great Council and the principal men generally do not seem to call it in -question. They concede that Jesus has, with a word or a touch, cured -all sorts of incurable diseases; given sight to the blind, hearing to -the deaf, wholeness to the maimed, reason to the insane, and even life -to the dead. Two of them, Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus, a cousin -of the great teacher Gamaliel, go further than this, and affirm that no -man could do such mighty works unless God were with him. “If such deeds -could not prove a Divine mission, they were at a loss to see how such a -mission could ever be proved. How was Moses authenticated?” But the rest -agree in ascribing the marvels to magic and evil spirits; especially as -there never has been known a time when so many people seemed possessed -with demons. They say that they are compelled to resort to this -explanation, not merely by the fact that Jesus speaks so unfavorably of -the ecclesiastical authorities and of their oral traditions, but still -more by the fact that he does not answer in origin, appearance, or aims -to the Messiah. The Messiah comes from Bethlehem, Jesus from Nazareth: -the Messiah comes from the royal family of David, Jesus from a peasant -family of no property or social standing; the Messiah is a mighty King -and Deliverer, Jesus is plain in his appearance, associates even with -publicans and sinners, and has nothing of the warrior and statesman -about him—in fact, says that his kingdom is not of this world. He has -even been understood to give out that his mission here is to teach and -suffer rather than to conquer and reign. Such a person differs so widely -from what they have been accustomed to expect and from what the Sacred -Books have been supposed to promise, that the leading brethren in Judea, -with the exceptions mentioned, are unanimous in ascribing the miracles -of Jesus to the Evil One, and in trying to break his influence with the -people. Whether they will succeed seems doubtful. But their determination -to do so is very strong and will probably lead to severe measures. He was -sorry not to be able to judge of the man from personal observation; but -Jesus at the time was in Galilee, and could not be reached in the time at -command. Besides, it was evident that a visit of Simeon to Jesus would -be looked upon as a discourtesy by the chief men—so decided have their -views become, and so high runs the tide of feeling. - -Such in a few words was the purport of what Simeon said in more. - -The reading of the psalm beginning, “Give the king thy judgments O God, -and thy righteousness to the king’s son;” the waving of the flag; AMEN -and AMEN by the people, as with one voice, concluded the service. - -The congregation rapidly disappeared through the many doors that suddenly -revealed themselves; for the architect had thought it possible that -occasion might arise for a hasty evacuation of the premises—had also -thought it possible to have the means of egress as unnoticeable by a -stranger as were the means of light. But a few of the elders, among whom -were Alexander and the preacher, gathered about Simeon, whose chair stood -near the daughter of Alexander. Cimon and Aleph had also lingered; it may -be with the idea of making some inquiry of Simeon or the preacher. Seeing -this, the Alabarch beckoned them near, and, simply introducing them as -co-religionists, proceeded to say to Simeon: - -“I am sorry that you were not able to see and hear Jesus for yourself.” - -“My desire was strong to do so: and I did my best to get as near as -possible to personal observation. I sought reliable information from all -quarters. There seemed to be no difference of opinion, even among his -greatest enemies, as to the reality of his miracles.” - -“What do you understand,” inquired another elder, “to be the general -character of his teaching? How does he treat our Sacred Writings?” - -“With the highest honor. It is agreed on all hands that no word has -fallen from him that savors of irreverence toward the Law and the -Prophets: on the contrary, he makes them final authorities on all matters -of which they speak; and when he rebukes the leaders of the people it is -in their name. He does not belong to the synagogue of Malus.” - -“That is a great point in his favor,” said another. “But are his own -manners and morals blameless in the view of the Law?” - -“I must confess that I heard nothing to the contrary—not being able -myself to see wrong in a religious teacher eating and drinking like other -people, or in his being accessible to the lowly and sinful.” - -“Have not I heard you say, brother Philo,” said Alexander to the -preacher, “that the chiefs of the people charge Jesus with blasphemy? -Blasphemy can hardly be considered a point of good behavior.” - -“I spake as I heard,” said Philo. “Perhaps Simeon can tell us whether I -heard correctly.” - -“It seems,” said Simeon, “that Jesus has sometimes spoken of himself as -the Son of God; and, in a mysterious way, of a certain unity between -himself and his heavenly Father; and, probably, it is this lofty way of -speaking of himself which has given occasion for the charge of which you -speak.” - -“Do not the prophets sometimes use language equally strong about the -Christ?” asked Cimon deferentially. - -“For example,” said Aleph: “His name shall be called Wonderful, -counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father.” - -“Such passages, I believe, have always been understood by many among -us as declaring that the Christ will not be a mere man, but will have -something of a Divine quality about him,” said Alexander reflectively. - -“Perhaps, then,” added Cimon, “it is not so much the magnificence of the -claims of Jesus that has led the fathers at Jerusalem to view him as a -blasphemer, but rather the striking contrast between such claims and the -humble appearance and circumstances of him who makes them, and which -have already led them to decide against him. Of course, if he is not the -Christ, such lofty pretensions are blasphemous—not otherwise.” - -“But it appears to me,” said another elder, Ben Abner, whose dress was -specially showy, phylacteries specially many, and air specially haughty, -“that the humble condition of the man is itself decisive against him. Our -wise men, for generations, have understood from the Scriptures that the -Messiah would appear in great splendor as a conqueror and king. For my -part I expect no other Messiah, want no other, will have no other. I hope -they of Jerusalem will away with the impostor.” He spoke with flashing -eyes. - -“So _I_ think,” said half a dozen voices with emphasis and gesture. - -“Possibly the friends of Jesus would say,” returned Simeon coolly, “that -great endings sometimes have small beginnings, and that there is time -enough yet for the outward splendor. Indeed, I happen to know that this -is what some of his friends do say. But others claim, and I must confess -that this is what Jesus himself seems to teach, that the prophets have -been misunderstood; that the kingdom and the glory and the conquests -of which they speak are spiritual and so perfectly consistent with a -lowly and even suffering Messiah. And for evidence they appeal to the -prophecies of Isaiah, and other Scriptures. Perhaps our friend Philo, who -believes so thoroughly in the allegoric and spiritual meanings of our -Sacred Books, will not blame this interpretation as severely as some do.” - -Philo smiled at this, and said that he never intended to spiritualize -_away_ the Scriptures. It would be very hard for him to give up the -brilliant hopes that had so long been entertained as to the times of the -Messiah and what he would do for his Israel. - -“I should not have so much difficulty,” said Alexander, “with the present -humble condition of Jesus, and the spiritual character of his claims, as -with the apparent fact that he was not born in Bethlehem and is not a son -of David—as the Messiah must be.” - -“That has been my great difficulty,” said Simeon. “It is everywhere -claimed in Judea that Jesus is a Galilean, a Nazarene, and of parentage -so humble that he is on that account in disfavor with even the people of -Nazareth.” - -Aleph ventured to inquire whether some branches of David’s line had not, -in the course of centuries, sunk into a humble condition; and whether it -was not possible that Jesus belonged to some such decayed branch—also, -whether he might not have been born in Bethlehem, though brought up -elsewhere? - -“I think,” said Simeon, “that we are hardly entitled to say _No_ to -either of these questions of the young man. I myself was born in -Jerusalem, though brought up in this city. The family of David is now -lost among the common people; and, though it can be recovered in our -genealogies, I never could learn that the enemies of Jesus have taken -the pains to examine them with reference to his claims. Having settled in -their minds that such a Messiah as Jesus is neither what they expected -nor wanted, they easily accepted without examination such rumors in -regard to him as agreed with their wishes and foregone conclusion. So, at -least, it seems to me.” - -“Can you tell us about what the age of Jesus is?” asked Cimon. - -“He appears, I am told, somewhat less than forty; perhaps he is not much -more than thirty years. I took special pains to inquire about this; -partly because of an experience of my father’s some thirty years ago, -and partly because of wide-spread rumors at that time of a remarkable -birth which had just taken place in connection with celestial phenomena. -However, the matter was kept as close as possible from fear of Herod. My -father at that time was living in Jerusalem—a very old man and as saintly -as old. For a long while he had expressed to his family an assurance that -he should live to see the Christ. One day he came home from the temple -with a radiant face, saying that he was now ready to depart, for he had -just seen and held in his arms an infant which an inward Divine voice -told him was the Messiah. He then lay down, calmly closed his eyes, and -departed in a peaceful sleep. This I had from my sister, for I was in -Alexandria at the time. All this was widely known at the time, but was -spoken of by the people under their breath on account of the jealousy and -cruelty of the rulers. Now at that time Jesus must have been an infant.” - -“And we happen to know,” said Aleph, looking at Cimon, “that the name -of the infant concerning whom such remarkable things were told was -Jesus—though we may not at present tell how we came by the knowledge.” - -As Aleph said these words he could not well help noticing three -things—the cordial look that Simeon gave him, the look of exasperation -on the face of Ben Abner, and the start made by Rachel, whose attitude -of earnest attention throughout the conversation would have been evident -enough even if her veil had not been gradually drawn somewhat aside as -she watched the speakers. Alexander also noticed the start. Perhaps he -feared a return of yesterday’s faintness. He bent over her, and spoke in -a low tone. She shook her head. - -“However, we will go home,” said he, “as soon as I have put off these -vestments.” - -He retired to the vestry, followed by the other elders. - -Aleph approached the maiden and said that he had been glad to hear from -her father that her nurse continued to mend, and expressed the hope that -she herself was none the worse for her indisposition of yesterday. - -“Not at all,” said she promptly; “but I was absorbingly interested in the -subject of the conversation, and was, I confess, startled by what you -said of your knowledge of the infant Jesus. You were not then born.” - -“No, lady; my knowledge is altogether second-hand, but is none the less -certain for that. My friend here has some original knowledge in the case; -but both of us have, in addition to this, sources of information that are -beyond all question.” - -“I very much fear,” said she with a sigh, “when I hear Ben Abner and -others, that our people will be found treating a new prophet as they have -ever treated prophets. What do you think?” - -“I also have my fears.” - -“But you also have knowledge; and if at any time it becomes consistent -for you to share your knowledge with others none will welcome it more -gladly than I. Till then I believe in it and—in you”—and her eyes, which -till then had been unconsciously and half-wonderingly perusing his face -as she spoke, sank before his, and the lovely color deepened on the -loveliest features that the Chaldean, or even the more experienced Greek, -had ever seen. - -What was that? A confused sound as of struggle and disputing voices came -from the direction of the great door on the street of Canopus. This was -soon followed by the noisy tramp on the marble pavement of what seemed in -the distance a body of soldiers. As they came nearer they were seen to be -indeed some twelve Roman soldiers in full armor, carrying at their head -a standard—the legionary standard, consisting of a pike surmounted by a -silver eagle, on whose spread wings stood an effigy of the emperor, with -this superscription in large capitals—DEUS TIBERIUS CÆSAR. - -The soldiers were followed at a short distance by a weeping, groaning, -threatening crowd of Jews who had tried, it would seem, to prevent -the entrance of the party with their desecrating symbol, and were now -following them with lamentations and execrations. - -As the band came near, Aleph easily recognized in the leader of it the -drunken officer whom he had disarmed on the Nile. Almost as soon the two -friends were recognized by the Roman; and, with an oath, he at once led -the way to where they stood (they had planted themselves in front of -Rachel), although at that moment Alexander and his elders were hastily -coming forward from the vestry. - -“I have found you at last,” the man cried, as he disposed his soldiers in -a semicircle, “and you will not easily escape me.” - -Alexander had now come up. - -“As the head of the community worshipping here, I demand to know for what -purpose you have come into their sanctuary with standard and arms?” - -“To give you and your friends,” the officer replied with mock solemnity, -“an opportunity, which no doubt you will gratefully accept, to pay an act -of religious worship to the great god Tiberius Cæsar—after this manner,” -and he kneeled before the standard, and, with both hands lifted, cried, -_Great God, I worship thee_. - -Rising, he exclaimed, “Now I have set you an example—copy it, every one -of you!” - -The crowd behind groaned and hissed. - -The officer shook his fist at them and shouted, “Be still, you snakes -and swine; your turn will come shortly. Let your betters lead off. It is -their privilege. Come, begin, Pontifex Maximus!”—turning to Alexander. - -“I demand of you by what authority you make this demand on us,” demanded -the Alabarch. - -The Roman pointed to the image of the emperor. - -“Do you mean to say that an order has come from Rome for violating the -sanctuaries of the Jews, and revoking the edicts which from the founding -of the city have guaranteed to us our own religious views and usages?” - -“The Roman senate has decreed Divine honors to the emperor; and his image -has been received and worshipped in every place of worship in the city, -saving the synagogues of the Jews. Now you shall have your turn.” - -“That is no answer to my question. The Jews have always had special -privileges in this city, and one of them is to refuse worship to every -god but their own. Again I ask, has this privilege been recalled by the -emperor since yesterday: for yesterday I received a personal letter from -him in which he promised to abate nothing from our privileges.” - -The Roman made no answer, but conferred with one of his men in a low -voice. After a moment’s delay, Alexander continued: - -“It is plain that you have no authority from the emperor for this -outrage. Have you for it the authority of the governor, or of the prefect -of the city? I await your careful reply.” - -“We are carrying out the wishes of the representatives of Rome in -Alexandria,” said the fellow sullenly. - -“And _that_ is no answer to my question. Are we to understand -that Avilleus Flaccus, or Urbanus Civicus, undertakes on his own -responsibility to set aside the decrees of kings and emperors for four -hundred years, those of the reigning emperor included, and has expressly -sent you here to-day for this purpose?” - -“We did not come here,” said the officer with a face that was fast -becoming purple, “to be catechised.” - -“You came here,” said Alexander sternly, “to commit an outrage—came as a -private venture of yourself and a few mischievous companions, and without -authority from your superiors. You deserve heavy punishment, and I hope -will get it. Now _begone_ from the sanctuary which you have profaned.” - -“_Begone!_” echoed the elders. “BEGONE!” shouted and screamed the mob -from behind. - -“Whatever privileges you cursed Jews may have, they certainly do not -belong to these men”—pointing at Cimon and Aleph. “These are no more Jews -than I am. And for aught I know the same is true of this woman. We will -see”—and he stepped toward Rachel to lift her veil. - -“Stand back,” said Aleph sternly, as he placed his hand on the breast of -the man and sent him staggering back on his men. - -Before the man could recover himself, Alexander interfered: “This lady -is my daughter; and as for these men, they are of our faith, and as -co-religionists are entitled to our immunities.” - -“And if it were not so,” said Aleph, “it may be well for this man to -know that under no conceivable circumstances would we pay religious -worship to the emperor, though quite ready to pay the magistrates all due -observance.” - -“We will see,” cried the Roman in a transport of fury, as he rushed on -the young man with his drawn sword. “Down on your knees to the standard -this instant, you renegade, or by Jupiter, I will put you on your knees -for the rest of your life,” and he struck at his knees. - -Aleph caught the blow with his cane. Whereupon the officer lost all -self-restraint and made a rapid succession of strokes and thrusts that -sought life. But Aleph had evidently learned the art of fence: his cane -was as good as a shield and met the sword at every point. At last, after -a desperate lunge, the sword went flying aloft; and both Cimon and Aleph -had seized its master. - -“EXPEL THEM!” shouted Alexander to the crowd of Jews that was now -surging and roaring like a maddened sea, “Expel them with your canes and -your hands! They have forced an entrance into our sanctuary, they have -profaned it with an idol, and now they have sought to stain it with the -blood of unarmed men. EXPEL THEM, I say!” - -The mob needed no spur. They threw themselves on the soldiers, already -cowed by what had passed, and in a moment were dragging them, disarmed -and unresisting, behind Cimon and Aleph with their prisoner. Had it not -been for the example of coolness and forbearance set by our friends and -an occasional moderating word from them, the people might have torn their -prisoners limb from limb. As it was, the soldiers had no gentle handling. -They had little armor left on them when they reached the great doors. -They had gotten many an accidental elbowing and tripping. Somehow people -had stumbled heavily and found it hard to recover themselves. There -were few parts of those Roman bodies which had not become intimately -acquainted with both the point and broadside of a cane. Their captain -suffered least—in fact, suffered nothing beyond the shame and uneasiness -of being held fast in iron hands. - -When those hands were taken off, just outside the great door, he suddenly -drew a knife from a fold in his sash and made a pass at Aleph. But both -friends were vigilant; and Cimon, while beating off the knife with one -hand, with the other dealt the rascal such a blow on the head that his -helmet flew off and went clattering down the steps into the street. He -followed staggering. The people behind, seeing only the cuff and the -result, cheered, and very cheerfully followed the example supposed to be -set them. Each soldier received such a hearty cuff and push as he went -down the steps as made his descent little less than a fall. - -Once down, they were not allowed to linger. The blood of the people was -up; and they followed the soldiers in their precipitate flight a long -distance with menacing cries and gestures, and with such missiles as they -happened to find in the street. - -Meanwhile the friends had been called within the synagogue by Alexander, -and the great doors fastened. What consultations took place it is not -necessary to record. There _were_ consultations; and that too of a -very political and secular sort. The situation of the Jews was always -delicate. There was much reason to fear that the morning’s disturbance -would seriously embroil them with the authorities at both Alexandria and -Rome. What should be done? If any one has light let him speak out at -once—_though it be Sabbath_. - -But none had scruples. The ideas of the Alexandrian Jews of the first -century were not exactly like those of some of their ancestors in the -time of the Maccabees who refused to defend themselves against their -enemies on the Sabbath because self-defense was work, and that too of -the severest sort. The children had become wiser if not better. They had -come to believe that self-preservation is a work of necessity, not to say -of mercy; and were ready to fight the idolaters seven days in the week -if necessary for even a less matter than self-preservation—as we have -seen. They would not consent to be martyrs till they had tried hard to be -victors. They would not be idolaters, and they did not want to be rebels. -They wanted to preserve their religion, and also wanted to preserve -themselves. Was it possible? _Let us see_, said the Seventy, as they -resumed their gilded chairs. So the men who did not hesitate to fight -a battle on the Sabbath did not scruple to consult on that day how to -prevent the battle from souring into a defeat. Were they wrong in this? - -Cimon and Aleph answered in the negative. I am not sure but that I -agree with them. Doubtless a council of war _may_ be as holy as a -prayer-meeting. I once knew of one that was holier, but that began with a -prayer. - -But a narrative is like a star—it perishes if it stops moving. So let us -proceed. - - - - -V. - -THE UNIVERSITY. - - Ο δὲ παῖς, πάντων θηριων, ὲστὶ δυσμεταχειριστότατον. - - —PLATO, _Leg._ vii. 14. - - _Of all wild beasts, a boy is the hardest to manage._ - - 1. Breakers ahead. - 2. Behold, the Serapeum! - 3. Another school quite as good. - 4. A Messianic partnership. - - - - -V. - -THE UNIVERSITY. - - -Early the next morning Cimon and Aleph transferred themselves and their -effects to a small khan in the Egyptian quarter of the city. This was -done for the following reasons. - -The events of the Sabbath seemed to make it prudent to withdraw from -public notice as much as possible. Of course, the son of Flaccus was a -source of danger: and then the seeming look of recognition on the face of -Malus, which both of them had noticed, was not a pleasant feature of the -situation. It was the silent lightning on the horizon. They felt it even -more important, just then, to keep out of the sight of the Jew than it -was to keep out of the sight of the Roman. Especially after an incident -that occurred on their way back from the synagogue. - -As they came down the steps of the Diapleuston, they noticed a Jew across -the street, watching them. Before they had gone far, Aleph, happening -to look behind, saw the man following, and spoke of it to Cimon. They -walked slower—at length very slowly. The man slackened his pace to suit. -They walked faster—at length very fast. The man quickened his pace -correspondingly. It was annoying. - -“Let us go to meet him,” said Cimon, “and see if he will retreat.” - -Accordingly they turned and, for a moment, it seemed as if their shadow -would turn too. But he thought better of it; and only stood still, in -some confusion, till they came up. - -“Can we do anything for you?” inquired the Greek. “If so we are at your -service.” - -“I certainly owe you an apology,” stammered the Jew. “The fact is, I -was in the synagogue at the time of the disturbance, and was so struck -with the very great likeness of this young man to one whom I saw many -years ago that I determined to wait for his coming out and to follow -him—in hope of finding where he was staying, or at least of getting a -better view. And I have gotten it,” he added laughingly, “in a way I did -not expect, but certainly deserved. However, I will not complain; as I -now have an opportunity to thank you both for standing up so boldly and -effectually for us to-day.” - -“Well,” said Cimon, good-humoredly, “since we have now gratified your -curiosity, perhaps you will not refuse to gratify ours by telling us who -you are, and whom you suppose this young man to resemble.” - -“That is but fair,” returned the Jew. “I keep a khan at the east end of -this street, near the gate of Canopus, as did my father before me. When -I was a youth, there came to our place from Judea a caravan of eastern -people, evidently of great distinction, on their way homeward by the -Red Sea route. It was in this company that I saw a man whose appearance -made such an impression on me that if I were a painter I could put him -on canvas to-day: and this young man is his double—perhaps somewhat -brightened by youth.” - -“I have to confess,” said Aleph with a smile, “that I am a Chaldean; and -also that all Chaldeans have a certain likeness to one another. But you -must not forget that the imagination is a powerful faculty, especially -among us orientals, and has sometimes been known to see things that did -not exist. But you can see for yourself, without any help from your -imagination, that the peculiar way in which this conference has come -about has attracted the notice of the street, and that the curious are -beginning to thicken about us. So now let us separate: but, as soon as -our affairs permit, we will seek you out and hear further about the -pilgrims of whom you speak.” - -So they parted. But the incident, especially after reflection and -conference early the next morning, determined the friends to withdraw as -fully as possible from the Jewish and Roman quarters of the city, and to -hasten certain inquiries as to Malus. - -There are two kinds of prophecy—the natural and the supernatural. The -latter is a spark from the Divine foreknowledge, granted occasionally to -certain privileged persons. That our friends had anything of this I am -not prepared to say; but they were reasonably well furnished with such -foresight as reason and experience can give; and what they foresaw was -very considerable annoyance and even danger if they should remain at -their present quarters. So they determined to remove. This was not valor, -certainly. As certainly it was not cowardice. But it was that good thing -which we call prudence, and which sensible people think to be almost or -quite as good as heroism itself. It was a wise precaution—the tacking of -the ship when breakers are seen ahead, the putting on of armor when the -arrows begin to fly, the striking tent and removing to higher ground when -the morning sky is red and lowering, and there is a sound of abundance of -rain. - -Have I said that the strangers were in the habit of asking each morning -for Divine guidance during the day? If not, I ought to have said it. -And the habit was no empty form. When they had risen from their knees -they seemed free from anxiety as to what might happen, though not free -from forethought and a disposition to be very active in pursuit of their -objects. Queer people, were they not? Some would say they were very -absurd as well as queer. However this may be, it is certain that Aleph -and his friend did not stir a step that morning even in the matter of -planning, till they had sought leading from a wisdom above their own. And -what they did that morning they may be counted on to do every morning -while we follow their fortunes. Will it be of any service to them? -Perhaps they have found in their Septuagint several passages like this, -“Commit thy way unto the Lord and he shall direct thy paths.” - -Perhaps Cimon found more difficulty than his young companion in -keeping free from anxiety on account of what had occurred. He felt a -responsibility for both. - -“It seems unfortunate,” said he, after their devotions, “not only that we -should have been brought again into collision with the Romans, who can -do so much to hinder at least one of our objects, but that it has come -about in such a way as to attract to us the notice of the whole Jewish -community. For, of course, yesterday’s events will be public talk to-day, -and everybody will be inquiring and surmising about the strangers. And -I am very much afraid that Malus has already caught a spark that in -such a gale will set all his suspicions and craft on fire. But as these -seemingly untoward things could not well have been avoided by us, I -cannot but hope that the untowardness is only in seeming. I have lived -long enough to know that a Divine leading can brighten seeming perils -and disasters into blessings. But it seems a reasonable condition of -Divine guidance that we try to act as prudently as we can, from the human -stand-point. And prudence seems to require that we at once remove to the -Egyptian quarter; that you matriculate in the University, and thus secure -its immunities for yourself, as well as meet the wishes of your father -that you hear for yourself the scholars of the west; and that I proceed -without delay to make the inquiries we need to make in regard to Malus. -These inquiries will have to be made as quietly and rapidly as possible; -for if he should take the alarm his craft and influence are evidently -such that he might seriously embarrass our movements—if not baffle them.” - -And so it came to pass that the early morning found them established in a -quiet khan almost under the shadow of the Serapeum. - -This does not localize them very definitely; for the Serapeum cast a -very great shadow. The temple, or rather collection of temples, was, by -all odds, the most imposing structure in Alexandria. It was built on an -elevation, partly artificial, the ascent to which on three sides was by -broad flights of steps and successive platforms; while on the north side -the ascent began at the harbor and advanced by a grade easy for vehicles -to the great Propylon. This was purely Egyptian. To the right and left of -it rose walls of red syenite, high and massive enough to be the walls -of a city, decorated with many towers, and inclosing the whole levelled -summit of the hill with their somewhat irregular lines. Within these, at -a little distance, and built of the same, though much finer and carefully -wrought, stone, rose the complicate structures of the temple proper. It -was a little city by itself. And, towering above all other structures, it -seemed to protect Alexandria and defy the seas beyond. - -Like most Egyptian structures it was most successful in giving to -beholders the ideas of massiveness and vastness. Yet the airiness of the -situation, combined with a mingling of the various Hellenic architectures -with the Egyptian, seemed to relieve the ponderous pile of any air of -heaviness. For Pharaohs and Ptolemies, Mother Isis and her vagrant -daughters Doris and Ione and Cora, were all represented in the confused -mass of templed structures designed to welcome all the classical creeds. - -The most striking features of the temple, to one looking up to it from -the street, were, perhaps, an enormous canopy that seemed to overhang -the whole pile of buildings and a tower by its side that rose still -higher. This tower was the famous observatory where Eratosthenes and -Hipparchus had made their observations; and in the spacious halls at its -base was deposited the greater part of the then existing Alexandrian -library—consisting of some 200,000 works collected by the Ptolemies, -together with 300,000 parchments brought from Pergamos by Mark Antony for -Cleopatra. - -The Serapeum was under Egyptian control, but was greatly revered by -devout Greeks and Romans as well as by Egyptians. Each nation regarded -the god to whom the temple was dedicated and whose statue of mingled -marble and silver and gold was there enshrined, as being the chief of -all its gods—the Egyptians calling it Osiris, the Greeks Zeus, and the -Romans Jupiter. For some reason, of late years, this statue had been kept -in a dark room, and was seldom, if ever, shown to the people at large. -They worshipped without the presence of any visible symbol of deity. -The priests were numerous and of the highest rank. The chief of all was -primate of all Egypt. - -To its religious character the Serapeum added that of an institution -of learning. Its priests had among their own people the reputation for -wisdom which belonged to the ancient Egyptian priesthood among all -nations—and not without reason. Their priestly duties being light, they -spent much time in studying the sciences and philosophies as then known, -and in training young priests to the same. In addition, the more eminent -among them taught on certain topics in the Alexandrian School. They were -recognized by the Ptolemies, and afterward by the emperors, as in all -respects peers of the teachers located at the Museum. - -Indeed, among people religiously inclined their standing was altogether -superior to that of the secular professors. They were far more sober and -practical in their teachings. They more boldly recognized religion and -taught on lines parallel with it. They had stricter notions of what could -properly be called science and philosophy. A few facts blown up into -prettily colored bubbles, and then tossed into the air on exhibition, -and then collapsing, and then succeeded by another output of pretty -emptinesses, and this by another, and so on—such were the substance and -history of the better part of the ever-changing teaching of the Museum. -The worse part had no foundation in facts at all. In fact, facts were -scorned. They were vulgar. The lofty name of wisdom should be given only -to great general intuitions and the logical deductions from them. And as -the teachers were by no means careful in either their premises or their -processes, their conclusions were apt to be worthless when they were not -pernicious. In short, the Museum was the child of Athens and the mother -of Germany. - -Accordingly, many of the noblest families in the neighboring countries -turned their faces toward the Serapeum. They were disgusted at the -laborious trifling. They were alarmed at the decay of faith. If their -sons could not have something that deserved to be called knowledge, and -knowledge without impiety and all the terrors, they did not want them -to have it at all. But if they could have it thoroughly leavened with -religious ideas—why, they would welcome it, be very glad of it, pour out -for it their shekels or sestertii or staters freely. Such people found -what they wanted in the priest-teachers of the Serapeum; and said to -themselves that if religion is the supreme wisdom then are the ministers -of religion the supreme professors. - -All this Cimon recalled and spoke of when he found himself in the -neighborhood of the temple. And he proposed that Aleph should matriculate -there instead of at the Museum—as being the nearer and more conservative -branch of the University, as well as more remote from the Roman -headquarters. - -“I do not think,” said he, “that you will need to confine yourself very -closely to the routine of lectures. Many of the more advanced students -do not. You are already familiar through me with the main subjects -discussed in both the Athenian and Alexandrian Schools: and I do not -imagine that you will hear much that is new; only you will hear the old -said in a new way, with new illustrations and personal modifications, -which is not without its advantage to a young man. And you will have -what, perhaps, is a still greater advantage, that of mingling with -and studying the leading young men of the West. As to the present -preliminaries for admission to the School, you had better apply to Seti -for information.” - -“And why not ask his advice, also,” said Aleph, “as to how you had better -proceed in the affair of Malus? It would be a safe thing to do. The -priest is not in love with the trader.” - -“Perhaps,” returned the Greek, “this is the best thing to be done. Still -I feel reluctant to do it—at least till I have proved it necessary. It is -a good rule not to call on others to help you till you have tried to help -yourself. We must spare our friends as much as possible. And I do not see -that any harm can be done by my going directly to the custom house and -inquiring on what terms abstracts from the records can be made, or by -my going to leading dealers and asking how the prices of certain goods -have ruled in Alexandria for a term of years. Let me cautiously feel my -way about to-day by myself: by the evening I shall be better able to see -whether we need to call in help from outside.” - -As soon as Cimon had gone, Aleph inquired of the landlord at what part -of the temple he should present himself. Climbing successive flights of -steps that began almost at the khan, he came to the broad carriage-way -of which we have spoken. As yet very few people could be seen upon -it—none who seemed moving to the temple. This led him to think that very -likely he was yet too early for the temple habits, and had better linger -a little before seeking admittance. So he sat down on one of the stone -seats, placed at intervals by the wayside for the convenience of the -weary and the idle, and proceeded to study at his leisure the stately -façade of the temple. While thus engaged he heard voices just back of the -wall against which he was leaning. - -A voice laughed heartily. - -“Have you been at your cups so early” said another voice testily. “I -should have thought that these leeks and onions would set you to crying. -That is what they do to me.” - -“I couldn’t cry if I were up to my eyes in the onions of Nauticratis,” -said the other. “Oh, it was such a capital thing! Why, the very gods -themselves must be shaking with laughter—at least our Egyptian gods.” - -“Who ever heard of an Egyptian god laughing? Our deities never did that -in the best days of the country. They who were as grim as fate when -Thebes was in its glory are not likely to smile now when Thebes is dead, -and a Roman garrison is in Alexandria, and a Roman Governor in the palace -of Seti.” - -“That is just it—now you are coming to the point!” cried the other; “it -is just _because_ there is a Roman garrison in Alexandria and a Roman -Proprætor in the ancestral palace of Seti that our gods, calm and grave -as they generally are, must have had a merry time of it yesterday.” - -“There, take that, you provoking Sphinx!” (and Aleph heard something -strike against the wall). “If you do not expound your riddle right away -it will be, not two onions that your empty head will get, but a whole -basket of them.” - -“Do you pretend to say that you have not heard what took place yesterday -at the Diapleuston? Why, the whole city is ringing with it—at least the -Jewish Quarter. The Roman Quarter will be silent enough, I warrant.” - -“Have heard nothing. Was in Canopus yesterday—came back before people -were stirring this morning. What is it? Out with it, man!” - -“An you be a true son of Egypt, now open your ears and mouth! Yesterday -the Governor took a hundred soldiers and tried to make the Jews at the -Diapleuston worship an image of the emperor. A magnificent young man -in shining armor suddenly appeared on the scene, disarmed Flaccus, and -encouraged the Jews to give the whole party a good drubbing. Which they -did. The Romans were pommelled within an inch of their lives, then -tumbled headlong into the street, and then chased on a full run quite -to Bruchium. Gods! what a treat to see Flaccus run! I would have given -ten years of my life to see it. And now it is said that Alexander, -the favorite banker of the emperor, and heavier with him than all the -pyramids put together, has just written to the governor demanding an -apology for his behavior; and threatening to report him to the emperor.” - -“Give us your fist, old fellow! Here goes my cap—to the moon, for aught -I care. This _is_ good news, capital news, news fit for the gods, -news—almost too good to be true! But it _ought_ to be true, and so true -it must be. Let the gods laugh till the skies crack. To see the Romans -soundly thrashed and running away with their tails between their legs -must have been a treat for heaven and earth. I could give that young man -a chaplet—who is he?” - -“Just what everybody is asking.” - -“And just what, in my opinion, nobody will ever find out; for he must -have been at once rapturously spirited off by the celestials to their own -country for the good service done us. Perhaps he was a celestial to begin -with.” - -“That reminds me that I did hear some Jews debating whether he might not -be the Wonderful Deliverer whom they are expecting.” - -Was there any danger that Aleph would be unduly exalted in his own -estimation by such a very complimentary account of himself? Perhaps -he was saved from this peril by the several large exaggerations of -the story. What more natural than for him to say, “And I, too, am an -exaggeration!” - -At any rate, he wasted no time in arguing the matter; for he now noticed -that the postern at the side of the great gate was being opened to a -comer. So he rose, advanced leisurely to the postern, and plied the -knocker which hung from a small window above. The door opened. He told -the porter that he wished to see the priest Seti. - -“I suppose you mean the _high_-priest Seti!” said the man with dignity. - -“Very possibly,” said Aleph. “Is there here more than one priest of that -name?” - -“I know of no other.” - -“Then I wish to see the _high_-priest Seti. Please have him informed that -Aleph the Chaldean wishes to see him.” - -The porter glanced outside, as if to see whether there was any fine -equipage, with servants, before the great gateway: then said: - -“You probably will not be able to see him this morning. I doubt if he -would see the prefect of the city.” - -“But I am _not_ the prefect—as you have just seen. I am a visitor more -likely to be acceptable to the high-priest: for I come by his express -invitation. So I will enter and stay in the hall till an answer comes to -my message”—and he advanced on the man with so decisive and commanding an -air that he gave way and admitted him. - -“Now if you will send my message at once, you will do no more than your -duty,” said Aleph coolly. - -So a servant was sent off; who after a few moments returned and, with an -air of great respect, said, “The high-priest will see you. I will conduct -you to him.” But he was spared the trouble, for just then Seti himself -appeared, received his visitor in a way that astonished the servants, and -conducted him to his own private rooms. - -“You see,” said the young man with that modesty and deference of manner -that are so graceful and winning in the young toward age and station, -“that I have very soon availed myself of your permission to call upon -you. It is the wish of my father that I should, while in Alexandria, -hear for myself the scholars of the west; though the Greek preceptor, -who has conducted my education and whom you have seen, has already made -me acquainted in a general way with the western literature and learning -as it was taught in his youth, both here and at Athens. And, as I am -told that the Serapeum stands for a branch of the Alexandrian School, I -wish to join it here; and have come to you to learn in what way I may do -so, and become entitled to such privileges and immunities as membership -confers.” - -“I am glad that you propose doing this,” returned the high-priest; -“especially because I have heard from Alexander of the events of -yesterday. No doubt there is danger abroad; but if any class among us is -specially exempt from espial and interference by the civil and military -authorities it is that of the students. So we will have you booked -without delay. Where are you now lodged?” - -On hearing of the transfer to his own neighborhood, Seti added: - -“That is just what I was about to propose. The Romans have less to do -with this part of the city than with any other. Neither my son nor myself -anticipate any trouble from the authorities on account of what occurred -yesterday. They probably will disavow all connection with it, on account -of my son’s influence at Rome. At the same time they, no doubt, are in -full sympathy with the rascals and will let them off without punishment, -if not with secret commendation. This everybody is sure of—I mean -everybody who knows that the leader in the affair was the son of Flaccus. -Your chief danger will be from that reprobate. After the lessons he has -had he is not likely to attack you in front; but you will need to be on -your guard against all mean and dishonorable ways of attack. He is the -greatest scoundrel in Alexandria—after his father and Malus, who have all -his vices and hypocrisy in addition. But come, let us lose no time in -matriculating.” - -Seti then led the way to a large hall with a platform and seats. - -“This,” said he, “is our chief lecture-room; and here some of the -professors who live and lecture at the Museum come at stated times to -repeat their lectures. This door opens into the tower from the top of -which our astronomers observe the stars; and sometimes other things -nearer home, as, for example, the flight and pursuit yesterday along -the street of Canopus. The doors on the other three sides open into the -library with its 500,000 different works on papyrus and parchment. Let us -pass into it.” - -Aleph now found himself in a room, or rather a suite of rooms, lighted -wholly from above, whose sides were shining with the copper cylinders -which contained the literary treasures of many lands and centuries. -What would our modern bibliopoles not give for the same privilege? At -central tables and in recesses were scholars poring over open rolls—also -professional scribes copying manuscripts with careful exactness and a -beauty of result wonderful to see. Seti led his companion freely within -the bronze railing that fenced the collection from the general public; -taking down and exhibiting some notably rare or beautiful rolls—among -others the entire works of Berosus and Manetho and Sanconiathon, of -which, unfortunately, we now have only a few fragments. - -At length they stopped before a small open office, within which sat a -uniformed official. He rose respectfully. Seti asked for the University -register. - -“Write your name, as you wish it to be known, here,” he said, pointing to -a page, “and then pay to this man as initiation fee one gold _stater_. -Then when I have written my name as sponsor over against yours on the -opposite page, you will be a member of the University and entitled to -wear its badge conspicuously on your tunic—also, whenever you please, -the University toga. But this latter is usually reserved for special -occasions, and can be procured at your leisure.” - -Aleph followed directions and received a large gold badge, which he -was told was only one _stater_ additional. Seti himself fastened it -conspicuously on the tunic of the new student. He also received from -the registrar a syllabus of the lectures for many weeks at both the -Serapeum and Museum. Glancing it over he noticed that Seti was one of the -lecturers and Philo another—the one on history and ethical philosophy, -the other on Plato and comparative religions. - -“Now,” said Seti, as they were returning through the lecture room, “I -have hurried you through these formalities for two reasons—one of which -is that I wish you to have as soon as possible the benefit of being a -recognized member of our University. The other reason is that I wish -to get you to do me a favor. Just before you came I had a message from -Rachel, my granddaughter, that the Greek leech, who is employed for her -nurse, has gone back to his old treatment and that the woman is again -rapidly sinking. It seems that the husband not merely supports the leech -in his course, but absolutely requires it of him. I suspect that the -brute wants to get rid of her. Now, I have an important engagement this -morning, which will prevent my going personally to look after the case at -the time she mentions—I see by this clepsydra that the time is near—and -as the matter is urgent I could wish to have you go in my stead and deal -with both the husband and the leech as you may find occasion in order -to save the woman’s life. Can you do me this favor? I think there is no -lecture to-day.” - -“Certainly,” said Aleph, “I will do what I can, for your treatment is -that of my own country; though, I confess, I do not at present see how I -am to enforce your wishes in case the leech and the husband should both -prove obstinate.” - -“That is a difficulty,” returned the Egyptian; “but I must leave you to -solve it as you best can. This will be no disadvantage to your education. -The young man who has learned how to deal with difficult men in difficult -circumstances has graduated at a higher university than teaches in the -Serapeum and Museum. So take a lesson in the university of human nature; -and, perhaps, when I join you, which will be as soon as my business will -allow, you can reproduce the lesson for me.” - -Aleph could not well help noticing the change that had come over the -manners of the porter as Seti and himself approached the postern in close -conversation. The man had exchanged impudence for obsequiousness. He was -all deference and humbleness. His bow was so low, as he set the postern -wide open, that one might reasonably have feared that the hinge in his -back had entirely given way in favor of a prostration. Has it not been -noticed in all ages that impudence and servility are near of kin to each -other and are never far apart? - -In due time Aleph presented himself at the house of the sick woman. The -same forbidding looking man who had acted as porter before now answered -to his knock, but only opened the door a hand breadth. - -After waiting a moment for an invitation to enter, which he did not get, -the young man said, “Will you not permit me to enter?” - -“What is your business?” demanded the fellow in a surly tone, making the -opening of the door still less. - -“A friendly one,” said Aleph. “I will explain it more fully when I have -entered and delivered to you—that is, if you are the husband of the sick -woman—some money which I have for you.” - -The word money seemed to throw a shade of uncertainty into the man’s -face. At length he said: “I am her husband. Why cannot you deliver the -money to me here?” - -“Of course I can,” said Aleph. “The only difficulty lies in my -disposition. The gold is in my pouch, my arm is long enough to reach -it, and your hand is near enough to take it: but you see, man, it does -not suit my humor to give gold to a man who is rude enough to shut his -door in my face. I hardly think you yourself would be liberal under like -circumstances—would you?” - -“My wife is very sick—it may be dying. Your coming in will disturb her.” - -“Dying people are not apt to be disturbed by a step and voice as light -as mine will be. Besides, if the woman is dying you will need the gold -all the more. Death and burial in Alexandria must be expensive. I suppose -there are some people here who cannot afford to die.” - -“Well,” said the man, slowly and after a pause, “you can come in; but I -cannot let you remain but a few moments.” - -Aleph promptly stepped in as the door opened; and, while the man was -closing and fastening it, made his way to the room he had before visited. -As before, the air was close and almost stifling. As before, the woman -lay on the bed, in about the same death-like state. And, as before, -Rachel sat behind her, supporting her head and caressing it with her -hand—her own face a picture of lovely distress. A man at a table was, -apparently, preparing some medicines. He was not a bad looking man, -save as a certain pretentious and stubborn look is a bad one on a face -somewhat stony and unsympathetic. One would say that his sympathy with -his patients would not be likely to interfere with his health or his -meals. His whole bearing seemed to say, “I am a leech, and I understand -my business;” and yet his dress was too poor to suggest the idea of a -prosperous business. All this the observant eye of the young man took in -at a glance. - -Rachel looked up. A look of glad recognition sprang into every feature, -but especially into her welcoming eyes. They smiled on him through tears. -He bowed profoundly in acknowledgment of the silent greeting; and, -advancing to her, said in a low voice, “From your grandfather.” Facing -about on the husband, who had closely followed him, he put a piece of -gold in his hand, saying as he did so, “For the sick woman.” - -Then turning to the leech, he said in a courteous tone: - -“I think I am speaking to the physician in charge of this patient. If -so, will he allow me a few words, with him in private? Perhaps we can -step out into this little court for a few moments”—and he at once quietly -moved to the door leading to the back court, opened it, and passed out -without looking behind him—passed to the farther side of the inclosure, -as if sure of being followed. He _was_ followed, though with some -backwardness. - -“I wish,” said Aleph, as he turned and confronted the leech, “to confer -with you about this poor woman. I come from some of her friends. Perhaps -you know who these friends are?” - -“Is not her husband a friend?” - -“He certainly ought to be. As to whether he is, I have my doubts. At all -events he is not one of the friends of whom I speak and from whom I come. -Do you know who that young lady yonder is?” - -“The daughter of Alexander, the great Jewish Banker.” - -“Do you know who Seti is?” - -“He is the Egyptian high-priest and primate.” - -“Well, these are the friends in whose behalf I have come and for whom I -speak. They wish to save this woman, and believe it can be done by the -treatment which was so successful for the short time it was tried. Will -you tell me why it was discontinued?” - -“Because it was contrary to all the medical rules; but mainly because the -man who employs me insisted on a return to the old treatment.” - -“You mean the husband of the sick woman?” - -“Yes.” - -“Are you sure that your employer is able and disposed to pay you for your -services?” - -“He evidently is poor; but he says that he has rich friends who can be -depended on for all expenses. This seems to be true; for the house has -been lavishly supplied for the last few days with every possible comfort -by some friends.” - -“Whom do you suppose these friends to be?” - -“The family of Alexander the Alabarch.” - -“Certainly these are friends worth having,” said Aleph with emphasis; -“and no doubt they can be depended on to meet all expenses—if they will -promise as much. And this they are ready to do, and more, provided you -will meet their wishes in certain respects.” - -“What do they wish?” said the leech after quite a pause. - -“That you will take them for employer instead of this vagabond; accept -such compensation for your professional services as they are accustomed -to pay; and then, in the interest of science, suspend for a little your -way of treating this case in favor of the one you have just abandoned. We -will assume all responsibilities. If the experiment does not work well, -you can return to the old treatment. You had better have the patronage -of the Alabarch and the Egyptian primate than that of this scoundrel—for -such he is, unless his looks greatly belie him.” - -“I have no very high opinion of him, I confess,” said the leech. “I have -seen more tender husbands than he; and the woman’s talk about him in her -delirium is far from complimentary. But if we change the treatment he -will be troublesome. He was very violent when he discovered the first -change.” - -“Did he tell you by whose authority it was made?” - -“He only said that a strange man had been meddling with what did not -concern him.” - -“Then he did not tell you that this meddler was Seti?” - -“Certainly not.” - -“Nor did the nurse?” - -“No—but she is mortally afraid of the man, and that may have kept her -silent.” - -“Nor did the young lady?” - -“No: but she had some difficulty in getting admission to the house, as -I think you had; and it is possible that the man would not admit her -till she had promised not to interfere, and had sent away her servants. -Indeed, I thought I overheard as much.” - -“No doubt the fellow will be troublesome. The only thing to be done is to -keep such a force here as will be able to control him. As long as we are -here we can do this; but when we leave we must leave behind others who -will make our places good. I think I can arrange for this.... Now that we -have come to an understanding, let us go in; but do you take the lead, as -is fitting, in making the changes.” - -When they re-entered the room they found the man standing where they had -left him—with anything but amiability in his face. - -“We have agreed,” said the leech to him, “in order to satisfy important -friends, to try for a while a change in the treatment. Sometimes the -failing powers will rally wonderfully under a complete change of -conditions. At any rate we will try it.” - -He at once set wide open door and casement. Then going to the water-jug, -he poured out a large cup full of water and brought it to Aleph, who -had kneeled at the bedside and was listening again at the parched and -twitching lips of the unconscious woman. He let a few drops fall upon -them. He gently tried to part the locked teeth, and dropped more. At last -he put the cup to her mouth. - -“STOP!” shouted the husband, as he rushed up—his face white with passion -and a demon looking out of his eyes—and with his clenched hand struck the -cup aside, spilling a large part of the water on the woman’s face—“STOP! -I say: this woman is under my protection.” - -In a moment, Aleph was erect and confronting him: - -“And _such_ a protection!” he scornfully said. “Such a protection as -the thunder cloud gives to the tree it strikes—such a protection as you -have been giving her, ever since you enticed her away from her friends -under the pretense that you were a man and not a brute. To my eyes the -very shadow that you cast, and a very black shadow it is, is that of -a wild beast of the meaner kind. I have not listened at these white -lips in vain. I know something of your story, and expect to know more -shortly—know enough now to say that this woman wishes no such protector. -Death would be a better one. After having made her life miserable you -shall not go on to put her to death—as you seem to wish. Now, do you -understand that we shall proceed to treat this woman as the leech has -said, and if you interfere, or make any disturbance whatever unsuitable -to a sick-room, we will find such ways of quieting you as may be -necessary—for quiet we will have, even if we have to turn you over to the -police as a dangerous character.” - -Aleph said this, not loudly, but in so determined and commanding a -manner, and with such rebuking and threatening eyes fastened on the -hateful face before him, that for a moment that face took on a shade of -fear and shame among its other shades—of which it had not a few. But it -was only for a moment. He reinforced himself, as such fellows are apt -to do, by a mighty oath and seemed about to spring on the young man; -but noting again his watchful eye, the cane in his hand, and his whole -attitude so full of lithe and conscious power, he thought better of it, -and fell back on the fighting resources of his tongue. - -“This is my wife, and this is my house, at least for the time being; -and I will do with them as I please. Because you are an aristocrat, and -belong to the university, and wear better clothes than I, you think you -can treat me like a dog. But a dog can bite, especially one of my breed; -and if I had as many heads as Cerberus they should all have a bite at -you. So help me all the infernals!” - -He flung out of the room. They heard him fiercely unfastening the street -door and then fiercely slamming it behind him as he rushed into the -street. - -Aleph at once followed him and secured the door. Returning, he resumed -his work at the bed as if nothing had happened—no more color in his -cheek, no more excitement in his eye, no less steadiness in his hand -as he again held a cup of water to the woman’s lips. Her eyes were now -open and fastened on him. Perhaps the water with which her face had -been flooded had freshened her back to consciousness. Perhaps, too, the -stormy scene that had just passed did something toward summoning back -her retreating vitality. While she drank, cup after cup, as if it were -the nectar of the immortals, she never took her eyes, eyes that seemed -full of wonder, from the calm, compassionate, restful young face that -bent over her. She afterward said that it seemed to her the face of some -benevolent and protecting divinity. - -Her skin grew moist. Great beads of sweat came out on her forehead. By -degrees her eyelids drew together and she slept—slept as sleeps the -infant, or as sleeps some still landscape after the drenching shower has -passed. - -“What food did she ask for yesterday?” said the leech to the nurse, who -had just come in from another room. “Make ready the same for her against -she awakes.” - -“And the lady Rachel,” said Aleph, “will excuse me for suggesting that -she ought now to relieve herself from her burden. The woman will do quite -as well if laid quietly down.” - -So Rachel softly disengaged herself, and gently placed the thin, worn, -but now placid cheek on the pillow. She then went to the casement and -stood there a moment reflectively. Then, turning to Aleph, she said: - -“I think I will step out into the open air, and perhaps you will be kind -enough to follow me.” - -Of course he followed her. Such a vision of loveliness and grace as -glided past him into the court is not apt to summon even a philosopher in -vain. I am not sure but that he would have followed her to Britain had -she asked him, instead of to that rude bench in the farther part of the -court where she seated herself and invited him to do the same. - -She said that he must not wonder that she wanted to thank him for -standing between her and insult yesterday at the synagogue—also must -not wonder that she had a woman’s curiosity to know by what means he -had managed to gain admittance to the house, and then to carry his -point so fully with the leech. Would he explain? So he gave a modest -account of his dealings with both the husband and the leech; and then -smilingly demanded reciprocation. The lady must not wonder that he too -had some curiosity to know something of her experience with the same -rough customers. He found that, as the leech had surmised, she could not -get admittance to the house till she had sent back her servants and had -promised not to interfere personally with the treatment. She was very -reluctant to do both things; but she felt that she could not desert her -nurse at such a time. Besides, she was expecting Seti, and encouraged -herself with the hope of his speedy arrival. However, she was almost -afraid to come within doors—the man was so rude and surly. And she did -not fail to tell what a weight was lifted from her mind as soon as Aleph -made his appearance. - -But what did he propose? Would not Miriam’s husband come back and break -up all that had been done? And such a desperado! What threats! She -trembled to think what he might do. Must not Aleph be on his guard? How -sorry she was that his unselfish efforts for others should bring him into -such perils! Her lips quivered, and she looked at him with moist, anxious -eyes. - -Aleph acknowledged that he thought the fellow capable of the worst. He -_would_ be on his guard. At the same time he did not think that they -need fear his return. If he should come back he must find men in the -house able to control him. So the leech and himself would remain till the -coming of Seti; who perhaps would accompany her home and return with two -strong and resolute men to take their places. So by alternation they must -secure the patient till she could be taken elsewhere—which he thought -would be very soon. What did the lady think of the plan? - -She thought favorably of it; and had no doubt but that her father would -do the same. But what trouble and danger Aleph was taking on himself in -all this! - -“Do I look as if troubled by it?” said the young man cheerfully. “You -see, I am here partly for educational purposes; and I consider the -opportunities which may daily come to me for dealing wisely and helpfully -with men as so many valuable teachers; and, as to personal danger, I am -quite willing to pay that price for my tuition. But pardon me, lady, when -I say that you who leave your palace for such a place as this, and submit -to bad air, and rude treatment, and risk of health for the sake of a very -humble person who can never repay you, ought not to be surprised at my -conduct. I am comparatively selfish in my conduct. In purity of motive, -I fear that you have greatly the advantage of me. Still I hope that you -will not on that account refuse my interested help in your disinterested -work. By and by, when my education is finished, I hope my motives will be -as unselfish as your own.” He smiled as he added, “But I should be sorry -to have you think that I am, even now, quite without pity for suffering, -and indignation at injustice and wrong.” - -After a moment’s pause, during which his face resumed the serene gravity -of expression which was habitual to it, he went on: - -“But, lady, besides wanting to complete my education, I have another want -in regard to which you may perhaps help me, and so amply compensate me on -commercial principles for all I have done or may do for your friend. I am -very much interested to get accurate information from Judea about Jesus. -Any news that may reach you about that remarkable person will be to me -like waters to a desert. Your father’s position is such that information -will naturally come to him and to you.” - -“I am not sure of that,” returned Rachel. “We get, it is true, a plenty -of rumors and opinions about Jesus; but they come to us, I fear, shaped -and colored by the strong prejudices and seeming interests of the chief -people of our nation, who are mostly hostile to him. These are about -the only ones with whom my father is in communication. But now and then -we meet with a man, like Simeon, who heartily wishes to know the truth, -whatever that may be.” - -“Such was the impression he made on me,” said Aleph. - -“Speaking of him,” said the maiden, “reminds me of a piece of news which -he brought us this morning, and which my anxiety about Miriam had almost -driven from my mind. He said that he had just heard from a friend whom he -had engaged to make certain inquiries for him that in the birth-registers -of Bethlehem is recorded the birth, some thirty years ago, of one Jesus, -the son of Joseph and Mary, both of whom are said to be descended from -David. He also said that the same friend reported some additional -particulars in regard to the reformer John, who made so great a stir a -short time before Jesus became generally known, and whom many for a time -took to be the Christ.” - -“Pray tell me of him,” said the young man, with a kindling face, “for -I have heard absolutely nothing. And yet the Sacred Books say that the -Messiah must have a forerunner like Elijah in character, if not in name. -I have had a difficulty here.” - -“Perhaps, then, what I have to tell may help you as it has helped me. -Simeon learns that this man, who for a time filled the eye of the whole -people and was then put to death by that Ahab whom we call Herod, was -exceedingly like Elijah in austerity of life and fearless denunciation -of sin, and that he distinctly forbade the people to count him more than -the forerunner of the Christ, and even introduced Jesus to the people as -being the Christ they were expecting. And this agrees with the reports -that reached Alexandria at the time.” - -“Many thanks for this information; it adds another link to the chain of -evidence I am seeking.” - -“So it has been with me,” said the maiden, while a shade of deeper -thoughtfulness, if not of sadness, came over the bewildering beauty of -her face as she added, “and I begin to fear that our chain when followed -to the end will conduct us to some new and very unpopular interpretations -of the prophets.” - -“I have for some time been prepared for that,” said the young man, calmly -and even cheerfully. “The great thing is to get at the truth: and I whom -you have suffered to read your face as we have talked together need no -further assurance that we think alike in this matter. We are both young; -and youth can accommodate itself more easily than age to new views if -they must come. May Aleph, the Chaldean stranger, venture so largely as -to hope that in his search for the Messiah he may still have the aid of -one whom he knows to be the first lady in the land in position, and whom -her grandfather, who ought to know, and whom I am far from being disposed -to contradict, pronounces the Gem of Alexandria?” - -“You do well to smile,” said the maiden, blushing. “My grandfather is -very poor authority on such matters. I happen to know that Alexandrian -gems are of very poor quality and mostly fictitious. But, seriously, -whatever a Jewish maiden can properly do to help in your matter she will -gladly do, both for her own sake, and for his sake who has been in this -city, perhaps three days, and has as many times befriended me and mine.” - -Here a loud knock was heard at the street-door. They at once returned -to the sick-room—and Aleph went on to answer the knock, hoping to find -Seti. And Seti it proved to be. Before conducting him to the others, -Aleph briefly and in a low voice explained the situation and received the -full approval of the Egyptian. On entering the sick-room they found the -patient awake with intelligence in her eye, and her arm about the neck -of Rachel, who had kneeled at the bedside. The nurse was standing at a -little distance with a bowl of food. - -“I am afraid of Antis,” they heard murmured as they came near. - -“You mean your husband?” inquired Rachel. - -“Yes,” feebly articulated the woman; “he is a fearful man—a murderer. Do -not leave me with him”—and her arms clung still more closely about the -fair neck as if for protection. - -“He shall not trouble you more,” said Seti emphatically, as he showed -himself. “But now take some food,”—and he beckoned the nurse forward. - -Supported by Rachel from behind, Miriam supped from a spoon at intervals -with apparent relish, till at length her eyelids again crept slowly -together and she was gently laid back to her unfinished slumbers. - -“She will do well, but must not relapse again,” said Seti: and turning to -the leech, “Keep on as you have begun—we will take the responsibility. -I confirm all that this young man has promised. He will, I understand, -remain with you till I can accompany the lady home, and come back with -some men to relieve him and you. Of course, after what the sick woman has -said of her husband, we are justified in excluding him from the house. -Do not allow him to enter under any pretense. If he insists, threaten him -with the police.” - -As Aleph put up the bars of the street-door behind Rachel and her escort, -he felt as if he were barring out a sunbeam. There is nothing like a -human face of the diviner type to light up a poor and dark house. Aleph -did not realize how poor and dark that sick house was in itself till -Rachel had left it and he had again placed himself at the bedside. Here -he sat for quite a time lost in thought till, suddenly, he became aware -that Miriam was awake and with wide eyes of placid wonder was gazing at -him. At a sign from him the nurse came forward with more food and drink, -supported her while he gently put to her lips at intervals a little of -both, and then gently laid her down, her drooping eyes still seeking his -face, to renewed slumber. This occurred again before Seti appeared with -three strong and resolute looking men—who being old servants of Alexander -and well known to Miriam in former days, were thought most likely to give -her a sense of security by their presence. - -Seti and Aleph returned to Rachotis together. - -They had scarcely turned away from the house before Antis came out from -a recess across the street and stole after them—at a distance, but so as -to keep them in sight. And they were not without particular notice from -others. Two such commanding figures as to stature and bearing were not a -common sight in Alexandria; and so the men whom they met would sometimes -turn and gaze after them. One of these did more than stop and gaze. He -followed—followed on one side of the street as Antis was following on the -other. - -I wonder what he meant! Was he a friend or an enemy? Or was it merely -idleness and curiosity that prompted the following? - -These latter make a motor of considerable power; sometimes even of fully -as much power as any of our celebrated modern motors, or those mysterious -ones used in the construction of the pyramids. And it certainly was -in daily use in Egypt among all classes at the time of our narrative, -and long before. Before the Ptolemies, before the Pharaohs, before the -Dispersion, before Tubal Cain—in fact there is some reason to think that -this motor was invented by the first man (some say by the first woman; -but this is a base slander), and was from him handed down to all ages and -countries. How else can we account for its omnipresence! - -So it is by no means incredible that the following of Aleph just spoken -of was not due to hostility. I hope it was not. I hope it did not mean -mischief. Still I confess to some fears. Somehow I begin to feel an -interest in that young man; and if any harm should come to him it would -trouble me not a little. - - - - -VI. - -THE CUSTOM HOUSE. - - Οὺκ οῖα βούλεται τις, αλλ’ οῖα δύναται. - - PLATO, _Nipp. Mag._ 26. - - _Not what one wishes, but what he can._ - - 1. News by the way. - 2. A commercial catechism. - 3. Python wide awake. - 4. No time to be lost. - - - - -VI. - -THE CUSTOM HOUSE. - - -Aleph found Cimon already at the khan; and, after giving an account of -his own experiences, received the following from his friend. - -Cimon went first to the khan they had just left for an article that had -been forgotten, and to learn what he might of the ways of the neighboring -custom house. - -He found that he was yet considerably too early for the business hours of -the chief official; and so lingered, making inquiries of the inn-keeper -about the chief traders of the city, especially in the line of eastern -goods. Who are they? Where are their places of business? How long have -they been established? What reputations do they bear? These questions -were freely answered—with some vagueness and reserve, however, as to -the last of them; as was to be expected from a man who speaks about his -neighbors to a stranger. Cimon found that Malus was by far the largest -and most successful dealer in the city. - -“How did that happen?” - -“Well, you see, he has the most capital: so he has the best goods, -the cheapest, and the greatest variety; and then his positions as -harbor-master and farmer-general of all imports from the south give -him special advantages for turning trade in his own direction. As -harbor-master he is the first one to meet the owners of goods on their -arrival, and can hasten or delay the passing through the custom house: -as farmer of the duties he has less duty to pay than his rivals, even -if he makes none of the illegal exactions with which some charge him. -However this may be, it is certain that he has very great opportunities -of befriending those who deal with him, and _can_ make it for their -interest to patronize him rather than others. People lay much stress on -this. So he has crushed out many small dealers. Still, not a few manage -to maintain themselves against him, though they make small profits where -he makes large ones. There are yet many people who for various reasons -prefer to go elsewhere than to Nos. 110, 111, 112 Emporium Street. We are -among them”—and the man shrugged his shoulders. - -Cimon took out his tablets and made some entries. - -While he was doing this, who should come in but the Jew who had so -curiously followed him from the synagogue! The man was surprised, and -apparently delighted, to see Cimon. It appeared that he was a brother of -the absent landlord, and had come to bring news of him to his family. He -had left him in Judea a few days before, and expected that he would soon -be able to return. He then turned to Cimon and inquired about his young -companion of yesterday. - -“That young man haunts me,” he said. “His face meets me everywhere; if I -read, his features come between me and the papyrus; if some one enters -my house I look up to see if it is not he; if I am walking in the street -I forget my errand and look for him instead. For example, while on my -way here I forgot what I was coming for, and found myself opposite the -Diapleuston waiting for him to appear, and, had he appeared, no doubt I -should have acted as ridiculously as I did yesterday.” - -Cimon explained that they had seen occasion to remove to another part of -the city; but were still proposing to seek him out and hear about the -eastern pilgrims of whom he had spoken. Perhaps he would not object to -give some particulars now—reserving to some future time, when his young -friend could be with him, a fuller account. Could they not pass into the -court and seat themselves where they would not be exposed to interruption? - -The Jew readily consented: and this was the substance of his narrative. - -When he was scarcely more than a boy there came to the khan on the east -of the city, then kept by his father, a large caravan of eastern people, -on their way home from Judea. It was led by three men—all remarkable -for dignity of manner, richness of apparel, and other signs of great -distinction, if not of princely rank. Two of them were old men; but old -after the manner of Moses. Their eyes were as bright, their forms as -erect, their steps as firm and elastic as one ever sees in the young. But -the third was comparatively young: and a finer specimen of humanity in -all respects the khan had never seen, though it had seen, first and last, -a wide variety of people from all nations. - -Ah, that young man knew how to walk—how to ride too! When he came and -went, whether on foot or on his Arabian, the servants would run to every -convenient outlook to wonder at the easy grace and majesty of his -movements. - -On the arrival of the caravan the khan happened to be quite without -guests. The pilgrims at once took all the vacant rooms, and remained -several days in the city—examining it fully in every direction; its -temples, palaces, harbors, markets, warehouses, manufactures, libraries, -schools. They evidently were very devout persons; not as the idolaters -are, but after the Hebrew manner. Every morning and evening they gathered -all their servants, and read from copies of the Law and Prophets, -and prayed most reverently to the Invisible; and on the Sabbath they -went separately to the synagogues; and when they left the city they -carried away with them many copies of the Greek Scriptures—also, it was -said, a Greek young man, well taught in all the western learning and -accomplishments, but who had lost his parents and other near relatives, -and so had few ties to detain him here. This was what was _said_: the Jew -could not vouch for it, as he had never seen the young Greek. - -But these were not the most important facts about the pilgrims. Some in -the caravan spoke the Greek language and the people of the inn used to -listen with wonder to the story that gradually came to them. - -For generations it had been widely understood in parts of the East that a -great king would some day appear in Judea in whom all the families of the -earth would be blessed. But lately it was revealed to each of the three -chiefs that the birth of this king was about to take place, and that when -it had taken place the fact would be signified to them by the appearance -of a new star-like body in the western sky, and that on seeing it they -should journey westward to carry the homage and presents of the East -to the new-born monarch. So they conferred together, made ready their -caravans, and watched the heavens nightly for the promised sign. - -At last it came. The day had faded away into the night, when lo, a -glorious beam shot to the watchers, and they saw a great star hanging low -in the west—a star wholly unlike the evening star, or any other star ever -seen in that quarter of the sky. The signal was promptly and joyfully -obeyed. Meeting at a place before agreed upon, the chiefs joined caravans -and proceeded toward Judea—the star appearing and going before them -whenever their journey needed special guidance. So at last they came to -Bethlehem, where the meteor sank low and blazed over the house where a -young child was. Then they knew that they had found the King; though it -was in no palace, but in a very humble home bare of all but the barest -necessaries. - -Was it a beautiful child? Even as Moses, exceeding fair. Was he afraid of -the bearded men as they kneeled before him and presented their gold and -frankincense and myrrh? Not at all. There were the dawnings of a kingly -repose and welcome in his eyes as he fearlessly stretched out his little -hand and laid it on the thin white hairs and on the dense brown locks -that were successively bowed low before him. - -And then they heard of things even stranger than those they had -themselves experienced. For the mother told them of angels who came to -predict the Messiah and his forerunner: and many people of Bethlehem, -attracted by the star and the stately caravan, came hastening up and told -how their shepherds had seen and heard on the night of the Birth a glory -of angels that shone and sang above them like a descending heaven, and -sent them to a manger to find their long expected King. - -The youngest of the three chiefs was so much impressed by the story -of the shepherds that he put it into a song which some in the caravan -learned and often chanted. - -“Did you hear it?” interrupted Cimon. - -“Yes: and our father would have us commit it to memory. I think that even -now I can recite it word for word.” - -“Please do so.” - -The Jew, after a few moments of recollection, proceeded to recite as -follows: - - “No tongue can tell the sacred pomp, - That swept from Heaven one day, - And trailed its glory past the spheres, - To where the Infant lay— - Lift up your eyes in vast surprise, - Ye shepherds, on the scene, - And see the flaming forms that hang, - The heavens and earth between! - - Upon their heads are golden crowns, - Their robes are white as snow, - Soft lightnings from their faces flash - Upon the vale below; - Before the glory of the Lord - The stars turn pale and flee— - Oh, what a sight that gracious night - For shepherd swains to see! - - Through all the still and scented air - There comes a deeper calm, - As if from fear lest it should hear - Naught of the coming psalm: - And now the air grows sweeter still; - Slow beat the balmy wings; - Clear o’er the mute and raptured earth - The choir of angels sings. - - Sings praises in the highest song - That highest Heaven can raise; - Sings praises to the highest king - That hears the voice of praise; - To Him who to the earth descends - In pity and in love, - And o’er its warring tribes extends - The white wings of the dove. - - And far across Judean hills, - Swell out the storms of praise— - I would that tempests such as this - Might gladden all my days! - For lo, ’tis Paradise to hear - The glory of that sound, - That swells so grandly to the skies, - So humbly seeks the ground. - - Full many an age will vanish, - Full many songs be given, - But ne’er again such wondrous strain - Will shake the arch of Heaven; - And yet each year our hearts will see - A glory on the wing, - And still each year our hearts will hear - That winged glory sing. - - And ever as we give our gifts, - And deck our homes with green, - Our souls will kindle in the blaze - Of that strange midnight scene, - And sing His praise in joyful lays, - By whom the Child was given, - Whose advent here sent mighty cheer - Through all the choirs of Heaven.” - -There were tremblings on the tongue of the Jew as he closed his low -chant, and tears in the eyes of the Greek; but the latter said nothing -for a few moments, and then merely asked that the narrative might -proceed. So the Jew resumed. - -The chiefs would willingly have lingered long in Bethlehem; but the same -Divine Word that had brought them almost immediately sent them away. The -next night the message came, “Let them return—and return by another way.” -So they returned by way of Egypt and the Red Sea. - -Shortly after the pilgrims had left Alexandria, news came that Herod, -in a fit of jealousy, had massacred all the male children in Bethlehem -under two years of age. It was like him. Everybody believed the story. -But could it be that the Messiah of whose triumphs and reign so many -prophets, in so many ways, had spoken, had perished in his infancy? Could -the promises of God be broken by the cruelty of man? Was Herod strong -enough to defeat the Almighty? - -The khan had hardly begun to ask these questions before there appeared -at its gate a man leading an ass, on which was seated a young woman who -carried in her arms a little boy. The mother was interesting—the boy was -wonderful. Never had the landlord seen such a child. It was not merely -that he was comely in the highest degree—it was the mystery of expression -in his face. As one looked on it nothing seemed too good or great to be -believed of him. His body seemed a thin veil through which flashes of -inexhaustible treasures of wisdom and goodness and power were continually -struggling. You who have seen a light shining through thin alabaster—you -who have seen a gem in whose heart rainbows seemed imprisoned—you who -have seen a soft, white cloud around whose edges have crept suggestions -of an intolerable glory within and behind, can have some idea of how that -wonderful Child impressed the people of the khan. By degrees they learned -that the family had come from Bethlehem, that fear of Herod was the cause -of their leaving, that the eastern princes had been under their roof—at -last, when confidence was full-grown and all reserve thrown away, that -they had among them the very Star-Child to which the journeying East had -brought its loyal homage and tribute. - -It was strange to see the mixture of tenderness and awe with which the -mother dealt with her son—strange to see the mixture of weakness and -power, of humbleness and superiority, of dependence and independence -with which the son dealt with his mother. At one moment it seemed as if -she was acting the part of a Providence to him; at another as if he was -acting the part of a Providence to her. - -The house was a different house from the time that Jesus (for such was -his name) entered it. A new element had come into its air; a new light -seemed to rest on every object; never had its inmates found it so easy -to pray and lead a good life. It was as if a new life had silently come -under their own; and, like a broad wave, was lifting it heavenward. The -eyes of Jesus, from their fathomless depths, seemed to invite to all that -was holy and to forbid all that was sinful. - -But even Alexandria was too near Herod. So, after the sacred family had -well rested from their journey, they went still farther south. It was a -sad day for the khan when they went away. The host would take nothing -in the way of compensation—save a smile from the young mother and a -touch from the child for each child of his. How that touch thrilled them -through and through as with some mysterious healing! They think they can -feel it to-day. - -The khan kept its secret. After a while news came that the Holy Family -went as far as Mantaréëh, and remained there till the death of Herod, -when they returned to their own country. After that, ears were kept -wide-open toward Judea; for it could not be thought that such a beginning -would end in nothing—that man and circumstance would be allowed to defeat -God. - -But the waiting was long. Ten years passed, twenty years, almost thirty, -and yet no further news came of Jesus. The khan was sorely puzzled. It -knew not what to think. Yet it still clung to faith and hope. At last -it began to hear vaguely of strange excitements and movements in Judea. -The eyes and ears of the whole family turned in that direction as never -before. And soon they learned that a great reformer had burst suddenly -on the people from the wilderness—austere, fearless, mighty of speech, -smiting the sins of high and low with the sword of his mouth, baptizing, -followed by immense crowds, who inquired, Is not this the Christ? - -And this, too, was the question that was asked at the gate of Canopus. -But they reflected that, according to the prophets, Christ must have a -forerunner of just this Elijah-like character; and so they were prepared -to hear, as they soon did, that the reformer’s name was John the son -of Zacharias, and that he distinctly told the people that he was not -the Christ, only his forerunner. Then came rumors of Another; at first -low-voiced and vague, then more distinct and emphatic—that John had -introduced him to the people as the Greater One for whom he had been -preparing the way; then that John himself had been slain by Herod; then -that the new prophet whose name was Jesus was drawing the multitudes -after him by a sublime teaching and a course of miracles such as had not -been seen since the days of Moses, if ever. Of course the Alexandrian -friends then felt sure that they had recovered the long lost Child. The -king of whom they had heard from the Chaldean sages, whose star had -conducted that most memorable of all pilgrimages, and whose sublime -childhood they had been permitted to look in upon, as by a window into -heaven, was now being manifested to the nation at large. And though he -had not come in the way the nation at large was expecting—was appearing -as a king of wisdom and mercies, instead of as a king of battles and -conquests—they felt sure that at last the Messiah had come to his own; -and that, beyond all doubt, Jesus was he. In the joy of this great -conviction the father died. - -Such, in substance, though not in words, was the narrative of the Jew. -As he proceeded in it he gradually came to speak with profound emotion. -He ended with a voice that trembled and eyes that wept. Cimon was hardly -less moved. They sat for a few moments in silence. Then Cimon said: - -“This has been the fairest of mornings to me. Though a Greek by birth, -I am a Hebrew in faith and expectations; and never did David so long -for the waters of Bethlehem as I have longed for news of that Son of -David and of Bethlehem, your Messiah. I say _your_ Messiah; but I have -reason to think that he is mine also; even to think that he belongs to -all nations. Sometimes, perhaps, when my young friend is with me I will -explain further. But I may now say that, from what you have just told -me, and from what I knew before, I am satisfied that the Christ has at -last come and that Jesus is he. God be praised! Some difficulties still -remain, and perhaps will always remain. Hard questions, questions that I -cannot answer, stare at me out of the night. And yet, God be praised! The -King has at last come.” - -The Jew grasped the hand of the Greek and murmured _Brother_. - -“Let me tell you another thing,” the Jew added, after a moment. “I have -_seen_ him. Yes, I have seen Jesus and recognized in the full-grown man -the unutterable something that spoke so powerfully to us in the child.” - -“When and where?” demanded the other. - -“Not in dreams, though I scarcely dream of anything else, but with these -bodily eyes. You see that, as news of the wonderful doings in Judea -thickened upon us, I became too restless to remain quietly here while -the world was being shaken only a few days’ journey away. My brother, -who long before the death of our father had taken this khan, felt very -much as I did; and so we agreed to go together and see for ourselves, -instead of having the facts filtered to us through the imaginations and -prejudices, it may be, of other people. Accordingly we went; and not -only recognized him, as I have said, but were at once recognized by him -and called by our names. None of our acquaintances were about him, we -knew not a soul in Capernaum, and yet, as soon as he saw us, he said -‘Shaphan and Nathan, sons of Reuben, welcome.’.... We were with him -several days and heard him teach the people as surely people were never -before taught. _We_ said, as did his other hearers, _Never man spake -like this man_. And then the things that he did! Oh, it was good and yet -awful to be there! How mightily and easily he did things which God alone -can do! We saw lepers white as snow turned into sound men at his simple -word: also one man who had lost a hand had it instantaneously restored in -our presence. In passing through the country we met many who testified -that they had been cured by him of the worst forms of disease in their -last stages—cured in a moment, and without the use of any natural means -whatever. Indeed, the land is full of such cases, so that not even the -worst enemies of Jesus pretend to doubt his miraculous powers.” - -“Tell me of the man whose hand was restored,” said Cimon. - -“A company of us were passing through a street when some blind men met -us and cried to Jesus for help. We halted just before a butcher’s stall -where a man was dividing some meat with a cleaver. Another man and myself -were pressed by the crowd close to the block where the work was being -done. In his anxiety to see Jesus deal with the blind men, my neighbor -laid his hand on the block suddenly, for the purpose of raising himself -somewhat to get a better view, when the cleaver descended and struck off -his entire hand. The blood spouted. A great outcry was made, and Jesus -came up. He calmly said to the maimed man as he held up the bleeding -stump, _Be whole_: and at once I saw a new hand occupying the place of -the old. The whole crowd, as well as myself, carefully inspected the -substitute and compared it with the original hand that still lay on the -block.” - -“Missing limbs are not suddenly reproduced by human art,” said Cimon. - -“I am tempted to mention another matter more personal to myself,” -continued Shaphan. “I have already said that Jesus called us by our -names. We found the next day that he knew more about us than our names. -As my brother and myself were sitting by the wayside, Jesus came to us -and said: - -“‘You are troubled. When you reach home look again for the missing -document and you will find it.’ - -“And truly we were in trouble. When we were children our father was in -partnership with a young man. But this young man gradually drew off into -other business, and at length sold his interest in the khan to my father, -who paid him for it in full and took from him a paper acknowledging the -fact. In process of time this paper was lost. Of late this loss has -somehow come to the knowledge of the man, and he now claims that he has -never received payment, and demands both the principal and the interest -on it for more than thirty years. To pay this sum would ruin us. We had -been again and again to our oppressor to ask for mercy. But in vain. So -we _were_ in deep waters when Jesus put out his hand and drew us out. For -since my return I have found the missing paper.” - -“Who is this oppressor?” - -“Malus.” - -“Has he already begun a suit against you?” - -“No: but he threatens to do so within a short time, unless payment is -made.” - -“Can it be that he is honest, and has merely forgotten?” - -“He does not say that he does not _remember_ having received the money. -He absolutely denies having received it—could make oath to that effect; -has a perfect recollection of all the circumstances, and has only been -prevented from pressing his claim during all these years by tenderness of -heart.” - -“Have you yet told him of the discovery?” - -“Not yet.” - -“Would you be willing to withhold the news from him for a while?” - -“If you wish.” - -“I wish you would: and perhaps we may be of service in helping you bring -this crafty and powerful rogue to justice. But it will be a hard matter. -My fear is that the officials of the city are themselves in league with -him in some of his practices, and so will be disposed to shelter him in -all.... But this speaking of Malus reminds me of a matter that I must now -attend to.” - -Cimon rose. It was time to proceed to the custom house. So, promising -Shaphan to see him again as soon as possible: also informing him more -particularly where they now lodged, in case he should have occasion to -seek them (“and,” said he, “I hope that your brother will soon make -occasion by bringing further particulars about Jesus”), he took leave -cordially. - -The lake frontage was, and had long been, all alive with business. The -cry of all nations was in the air. In the lake itself vessels of all -sorts were coming and going; on the wharves boxes, bales, sacks were -being handled with the same dispatch and carelessness that men now show -in handling the goods of other people. Also, the custom house itself (a -long, low building extending almost from the Gate of the Moon to the -canal which joined the lake to the northern harbors) was in full swirl -and roar, and had been for hours. But the chief official, like people -of his sort in more modern times, did not make as early hours as his -subordinates; had loitered over the morning meal and news, though not -newspaper; and so had only just made himself comfortable in his office -when Cimon presented himself—the first visitor. - -The Roman looked up from his tablets on which he had been writing; and, -seeing before him a very well dressed and dignified person, laid down his -stylus and took an attitude of attention. - -Cimon stated that he had waited on the chief of the customs in behalf -of an eminent trader, to make certain inquiries which could not be so -satisfactorily put to lower officials. Would it suit his convenience to -hear them? - -“What are they?” said the chief politely. - -“If my principal were to send here a lot of eastern good (silks, shawls, -rugs, jewels), what duties would he have to pay?” - -The Roman took down from a shelf a framed schedule and read from it -certain figures. He looked up. The Greek was making a memorandum. - -When he had finished, Cimon asked, “Can these rates be relied on for some -time to come?” - -“Doubtless: they have not been changed since the times of the Ptolemies.” - -Cimon made another entry on his tablets. - -“Can you give me some idea what the course of trade has been in these -eastern goods—what its annual amount, whether subject to fluctuations, -whether on the whole increasing or decreasing?” - -“I cannot,” said the official. “To do this would require much time and -labor in examining the registers.” - -“Then you register all lots of goods that come to you, and preserve the -registers?” - -“Certainly. We preserve them till they become too many for preservation.” - -“May I ask how long that is?” - -“About fifteen years. At all events, we have the registry books for the -last fifteen years.” - -Cimon made another entry, and then asked whether one willing to expend -the time and labor would be allowed to examine the books, and if so on -what terms. - -After some hesitation the official replied that the theory was that the -books should be open to the inspection of suitable persons, but that -there were practical difficulties in the way. - -“For example,” said he, “the books of this year are in constant use for -record and consultation by the officers of the custom house; the books -of previous years are often needed by them for reference; and then, of -course, an examination of the books by outside parties would have to be -made in the presence of an official, and all the officials we now have -are fully occupied with other duties from which they cannot well be -spared; and one specially appointed would be expensive, if permissible.” - -Cimon said that he was ready to charge himself with all expenses. - -The Roman hastened to say that even in that case an express permit from -the prefect of the city, possibly from the Governor, might be necessary. -He would make inquiry, and, perhaps, would be able to inform him within a -day or two. - -The Greek bowed. Meanwhile would the chief look over the memoranda he had -made and see whether they were correct? He passed over the tablets. - -The Roman looked them over carefully and pronounced them all right. - -“Would the chief oblige him by writing as much on the tablets over his -own signature?” - -Yes—the chief would do that; and did it. - -Cimon bowed again and withdrew. - -On his way out he saw Malus entering. The two men seemed to recognize -each other at the same moment. Instantly there flashed into the look of -each something that told the other that the encounter was not pleasant. -On the part of the Greek the flash was one that gave new erectness to -his form and new gravity to his features: on the part of the Jew it was -a flash of suspicion and alarm that for an instant expanded his eyes and -perceptibly checked his movement. For an instant only. Then came a new -woodenness into his face, and he seemed to retreat still further behind -those small, half-closed eyes which yet lost nothing of their watchful -expression. So on they came toward each other—the Greek unconsciously -increasing the dignity and firmness of his tread, and keeping his eyes -fixed on the approaching face as if bent on improving to the utmost an -unwelcome opportunity for reading on that hard page whatever might be -read. So they met and passed. Cimon never looked behind him. Had he done -so he would have seen Malus standing at the door of the office just left -and looking after him. - -But the Greek did not need to see this. That steady look into the face -of Malus, though brief, was enough to assure him that the suspicions of -the man were all ablaze, and that he would not rest till he had found out -whatever the custom-house chief could tell him. And probably he would be -successful in suppressing any further light from that quarter. Cimon was -thankful, however, that he had secured as much as he had. He trusted that -it would be sufficient—perhaps it could be used to compel more. - -He was now more than ever impressed with the necessity of hastening -whatever further inquiries he had to make. It was still high day—why not -proceed at once to the dealers in eastern goods whose addresses he had -jotted down at the khan, and try to find out what had been the selling -prices of eastern goods for as many years as possible? Why not even -improve the opportunity of Malus’ absence from his warehouse to go there -and see what would be said by the subordinates when not overlooked by the -master? As soon as the idea suggested itself, he accepted it. He would go -to Nos. 110, 111, 112 Emporium Street first of all. - -Accordingly, as soon as he had passed through the Gate of the Moon, -turning leftward into the Greek quarter to lessen the chances of -recognition, he proceeded northward till he thought he might be opposite -to the warehouse of Malus, and then struck eastward into Emporium Street -again. His venture was successful. Before him stood the establishment he -was seeking. As soon as he presented himself at the door he was politely -saluted by a young man and invited to enter. What could he do for my lord? - -My lord wished to be conducted to the chief man in charge of the -department of eastern goods. - -“Certainly, it would be done with the greatest pleasure. Would my lord be -pleased to follow?” - -This following took Cimon through a large part of the establishment. He -could well believe it to be the largest warehouse in Alexandria. It was -really an immense bazaar. One could find there almost anything that was -bought and sold in the Roman world—from the toys of infants up to the -furnishings of a royal palace, and even of a royal person. Messengers -were hurrying about, crowds were coming and going, salesmen were crying -out and displaying their goods from hundreds of stalls. It was a tempest -of assault on the pouches of visitors. And many were evidently being -captured. - -The department to which Cimon at last came was specially attractive. -Here, in an air through which stole the sweetness of the Indian nard -and other costly aromatics, were piled or suspended miracles of the -loom and needle, on some of which had been expended the labors of a -life-time—veils like sea-foams, embroideries to which the glowing -oriental fancy and patient fingers had transferred landscape and legend -and history and the starry heavens; gold and silver brocade from beyond -the Ganges; silks, tapestries, housings, rugs, shawls from Persia and -Cashmere: the whole brightened and multiplied wonderfully by polished -steel mirrors judiciously placed. At the centre of the department was the -collection of precious stones. In a compartment whose walls were formed -by suspended tapestries richly hued and pictured, in a case whose beauty -and strength seemed to certify to the great value of its contents, lay -pearls from the Persian Gulf, emeralds from the Caucasus, diamonds from -the Oxus, turquoises from Medea, rubies from Bokhara, and many other -gems—all skillfully arranged into a stony rainbow. - -As Cimon passed close to the sparkling collection, and lingered over -it for a moment as he passed, it struck him that the sparkle of some -of the brilliants was not exactly that of genuine stones. But he might -be mistaken. Something more than a passing glance is needed to enable -even an expert to identify paste in its better specimens. But one thing -he was quite sure of by this time, and that was that the light in the -establishment was such as to make an accurate judgment of most of the -goods very difficult to an average customer, while such as to set them -off to the best advantage. - -But he was now standing before the desk of the man whom he came to see. - -“You have this department in charge, I believe,” said the Greek, as he -courteously saluted a Jew who was no longer young. - -Receiving an affirmative bow, Cimon proceeded: - -“I am here in behalf of a friend who is not living in this city, to -inquire the prices at which certain goods of the very best quality can be -obtained. If you will furnish me with a large blank bill I will specify -the articled in writing.” - -A large blank bill was readily handed to him, on which he wrote a list of -considerable length. - -“Now will you oblige me,” said he, after having carefully read over what -he had written, “by setting down opposite these several items the prices -at which you could furnish them to-day?” - -The man’s eyes snapped as he looked over the long list and saw how many -expensive articles it included. When he had set down prices as requested, -and had handed back the paper to Cimon, he said: - -“The figures may seem to you somewhat large; but they are for first-class -goods. In fact, I have made the prices smaller than they would be for -small lots, considering the length of your list.” - -Cimon examined the paper carefully. - -“The prices are unexpectedly large, I confess,” he said gravely. “Have -these goods risen in value lately?” - -“By no means. The figures I have given you are the lowest we have made in -many years.” - -“Then you have been in charge of this department for a considerable time?” - -“For twenty years.” - -“Are these the bottom prices for so long a time as that?” - -“Just so.” - -“You surprise me. Are you quite sure that there is no mistake in -this—that your memory serves you faithfully in regard to so many years?” - -“Perfectly sure,” with emphasis. “You see, all the business of this -department, so far as sales are concerned, has been in my hands for the -number of years I have mentioned; and I remember perfectly that never -during all that time have we offered or sold such goods as these at such -low figures as I have written.” - -“I think, then,” said Cimon, “it would be well for you to add as much -to this paper. Would you object to write at the bottom, ‘These are the -lowest figures at which the above goods have been sold for the last -twenty years?’” - -“Not at all,” said the man—and wrote accordingly. - -Cimon took the paper and courteously withdrew. - -In very much the same manner and with like success he dealt with several -other establishments in the same neighborhood—obtaining from each a -written statement of present prices and of how these compared, with the -prices of the years immediately preceding. The last place he visited -was that of Simeon Ben Simeon. Here, for the first time, he saw himself -recognized—Simeon himself being present—and was received in a very -cordial way. - -“We certainly are under great obligations to you and that magnificent -young friend of yours for your spirited help yesterday in the synagogue. -I have been quite desirous to meet you again: especially as I saw that -both of you were much interested in my report of matters in Judea, and, -as I ventured to think, took very much the same view of them as I did. -Also, I have something new to tell you.” - -Simeon then gave the account with which we are already familiar, as given -to Aleph by Rachel. And, in return, the Greek related what Shaphan had -told him—keeping back, however, the part that related to Malus. And they -rejoiced together. - -“Tell me,” said Simeon suddenly, “about that young man—you know whom -I mean. Somehow he has a way of walking into one’s confidence and -affections after a very wonderful fashion. Who is he?” - -Cimon smiled at this downrightness and furious driving at the mark. - -“For the present,” said he, “he is only the friend and pupil of Cimon -the son of Cimon. I may, however, add that he is one who is quite -worthy of the impression he makes. The gold is solid. I have now known -him for twenty years—that is to say, ever since he was born—and I have -nothing but good and great things to say of him. Is he my son? Of course -not—as one can easily see—but though not my son he is a remarkably good -substitute for one. I could hardly have a better. And,” he added archly, -“I think seriously of adopting him.” - -The Jew laughed at the cleverness of the Greek, and forebore to press; -only adding, “_I_ could adopt him _without_ thinking seriously of it.” - -As he rose to leave, Cimon said, “I am really sorry that I cannot at -present give you the information you wish about my young friend. But I am -under bonds. His father only can release me, and that father is far away. -So I must confine myself to saying that, unlike most plants which begin -to wither as soon as they are parted from the parent root, this plant -daily freshens into a larger life. I am the more sorry that I cannot go -beyond this, both because you have already given me information of the -highest value, and because I came here for the very purpose of getting -still further information from you—provided you can consistently grant -it. I wish to get from the leading dealers in eastern goods in this city -the present selling prices of a number of articles—also how these prices -compare with those of as many past years as possible. I have already -obtained written statements from all, save yourself, on whom I proposed -to call. Do you see any objection to giving me yours?” - -“None in the world. Let me see your list.” - -So in a few moments Cimon added another to his papers. As Simeon handed -it to him, he said: - -“I think you can hardly have called on Malus to-day, and yet he has the -largest establishment of your sort in the city. He would hardly care to -give you such a paper as this. He is much too deep for that.” - -Without a word, the Greek singled out one from his parcel of papers and -passed it to the Jew—who as soon as he had glanced it over, exclaimed: - -“Where was Malus when this was given?” - -“Absent.” - -“Of course. _Of course_ he was absent—as his deputy will probably be when -the master learns of his indiscretion.” - -As Cimon had noticed no sign of recognition in street or shop, save at -Simeon’s, he had begun to feel that perhaps his precautions had been -unnecessary; so, when he had taken leave of Simeon and saw how large a -part of the day still remained, instead of crossing directly into the -Greek quarter again and so proceeding homeward, he turned northward on -Emporium Street till he came to the great square at the intersection -with the street of Canopus. Here, seeing a crowd that seemed greatly -interested with something in their midst, he crossed over to them, and -finally managed, by a patient use of the impatience of others, to secure -a place where he could see what was going on. - -And this was what was going on. A number of street boys, altogether -Jewish, were busy practicing a new game. They had drawn on the pavement -with a charred stick the ground plan of a large building which Cimon at -once recognized as the Diapleuston. Just before him was an unmarked place -for the principal door: half way down on the left was a pile of boxes to -stand for the main _bema_ with its canopy and lecturn: in front of this -stood a group of boys pretending to be in earnest conversation among -themselves. After this show had continued for a while, all but two of -the boys walked off and squatted silently behind the boxes. The two boys -left continued the pantomime of conversation for a few minutes, when a -noise was heard and lo, another group of boys who had been hid behind the -fountain came marching in at the door, two by two, with papyrus helmits -on their heads and long, sharpened sticks for spears, trying to keep pace -together in soldierly fashion, and carrying in their midst, transfixed on -an extra long stick, a very ragged, dirty, and hideous doll. At the head -of this company swaggered, perhaps the best dressed, but certainly the -ugliest little rascal of the whole lot. He had taken some pains to add -to his natural accomplishments such smutches of loveliness as a liberal -use of mud and charcoal could give, and would have frightened his own -father and mother. About his waist was a rope for a sash: to this was -attached a bit of papyrus cut into the shape of a scabbard; in his hand -he flourished as sword a short strip of lath that had just come from the -shambles and was red enough to be the sword of Mars. - -This high and mighty captain at once led his company straight to the two -boys, surrounded them, and fell to abusing them with his tongue as only a -practiced street Arab could do. On this, the other boys behind the boxes -hurried to the scene of action, and threw in a liberal accompaniment of -voice and gesture to swell the interest of the occasion. Soon Captain -Mars worked himself into a tempest, flew at one of the two boys, with his -bloody weapon uplifted. The other boys so crowded about the encounter -with outstretched and swaying arms as to confuse the view of the -spectators; but in a few moments they saw the mimic sword flying high -in air, and then its owner in close custody in process of being marched -helplessly toward the door, followed by his tatterdemalions hanging their -heads and staggering about as they were pushed and pulled and cuffed by -the screaming and enthusiastic escort that hemmed them closely in. At the -door the leader was dismissed with a rousing box on the ear which sent -him off on a stagger, which finally ended in a runaway toward the Roman -quarter. His followers each received a like compliment with a like result. - -The spectators seemed to enjoy this conclusion hugely. They cheered and -gesticulated with great enthusiasm; and when the hot chase took place -they all hurried off to keep it in view. The last to follow was a man who -had been standing just before Cimon. This man, glancing right and left as -if to make sure that the ground was clear, directed his course across the -square so as to take on his way the two boys who had personated Cimon and -Aleph, and dealt each of them in passing a thwack on the head that was -none of the mildest. At all events, it was not a mild wailing that the -little fellows set up. Luckily, however, Cimon had noticed the movements -of the man, and half divining his purpose, had followed him so closely -that he was near enough when the blows were given to follow them with -prompt punishment. The two hearty cuffs he gave the fellow were quite -equal in value to those he had administered, and seemed very surprising. -In the startled and inflamed face that was suddenly turned toward him, -Cimon recognized, as he thought, Roman features, though considerably -disguised. Could it be that he had again encountered the son of the -Governor? But the man gave him no opportunity for a closer examination. -He went rapidly off with a Latin oath and a fist-shaking that belonged to -all languages. - -Cimon consoled the children with a friendly pat on the head and a piece -of money for each—such as he had never before possessed. But they hardly -needed this consolation—they were so delighted with the summary judgment -on their oppressor. Smiles were already rippling over their tearful faces -like sunshine over a wet landscape. And when the friendly look and touch -and money were added, their sorrows were all forgotten in a caper of -delight. But Cimon was really sorry that the urchins had not chosen some -other theme for their sport. - -“Ten to one,” said he to himself, “this affair, with liberal -embellishments, will be carried straight to Bruchium, and will still -further stir up ill blood between the sections. There will be trouble -here before long. These Jews are too reckless and provoking to be left -alone. It may be that their expectation of a conquering Messiah at the -door has something to do with their audacity.” - -With such thoughts as these running through his mind, he made his way -homeward through the Greek and Egyptian quarters. His thoughts ran, but -his feet walked—walked very leisurely; for so at this hour of the day -did most of the people; and he did not care to draw attention to himself -by doing differently from others. Besides, he wished to study the people, -as far as he could—without being observed. And it is wonderful how much -some people can see without the appearance of seeing. They could hardly -see more if their heads were set with a coronet of eyes. Do they divine -the situation? Do they absorb the facts lying about them at every pore -as they do heat and moisture? So it would seem. Cimon belonged to this -class of men. He did not stare, he did not look this way and that, and -sometimes turn about, with curiosity flooding every feature and saying, -“I am a new-comer,” but he pursued his way with quiet and equal steps and -with “eyes that looked right on, and eyelids that looked straight before -him”—and yet nothing escaped him; not even that shadow of a portly man -just disappearing within a shop on his left and that ragged little urchin -that almost immediately darted out of the same and followed him at a -little distance. - -What should he do? A thought came to him as he came to a baker’s shop. He -turned in and called for a loaf and some cakes—keeping an eye on the open -door while his parcel was being made up. Presently the little ragamuffin -appeared cautiously peeping within. Cimon held out toward him a large, -tempting cake, and beckoned. The boy came in slowly, as if resisting an -irresistible magnet. - -“Hungry, my lad?” - -The hungry eyes and pinched features of the little fellow answered the -question before his bobbing head could say _Yes_, as it was not slow to -do. - -“Had anything to eat to-day, my poor boy? Really, I do not believe you -have,” he added pityingly, as he looked more carefully into the thin, -dirty face. - -The face began to cry. - -“And you had no money to buy food with—had you?” inquired Cimon, as he -softly patted the curly head. - -“He said he would give me some money when I came back,” said the boy. - -“_Who_ said it?” asked Cimon. - -“The man who sent me to see where you were going.” - -“He did not think I was going into a baker’s shop to get you something to -eat—did he? Come, sit right down here on this bench and eat this loaf and -these cakes. Any more hungry ones at home?” - -The boy at this began to sob, and at last broke into a perfect canter of -sobs. He muttered something which Cimon had to bend low to make out. - -“What, poor mother and little sister! Alas, alas—how sorry I am! But do -you sit here and eat this; and when you have finished, the baker shall -give you twice as much to carry home to your hungry mother and sister, -for here is the money. If I could help, they should never be hungry -again.” - -I do not know what the baker thought of this way of treating the little -beggar. But I know what the little beggar thought. He highly approved. -He soon dried his tears in the presence of kind looks, kind words, -and kinder food. What a glorious appetite that was! And while it was -being satisfied, or at least gratified, our friend quietly went his -way—unshadowed. - - - - -VII. - -THE MATRICULATION - - Δεῖ δὲ αὺτὰς τας μηρέρας τὰ τέκνα τρέφειν. - - —PLUTARCH, _De Lib. Educ._ c. 5. - - _Mothers must cherish their children._ - - 1. An ethical lecture. - 2. How students examine. - 3. Is Jesus a magician? - 4. Let Miriam testify. - - - - -VII. - -THE MATRICULATION. - - -Aleph was greatly interested in Cimon’s account of his adventures—most of -all in the story of Shaphan. He determined to communicate it as soon as -possible to the daughter of Alexander. But when would it be possible? On -referring to his syllabus he found that Seti would lecture early the next -morning. He would attend that lecture, and afterward would go to look -after the sick woman Miriam. Perhaps he would find Rachel with her: if -not he might learn when she was likely to come, and so manage to meet her. - -Before the third hour the next morning, both Cimon and Aleph found -themselves in the great lecture hall of the Serapeum. The students came -in scatteringly; but at length the room was well filled, for Seti was -popular with the young men. This was owing partly to the splendor of -his lineage and office, which always weighs much with even the most -democratic young men; partly to his repute as the heir of the mysterious -wisdom of Old Egypt; and partly to the wonderful contrast between -his years and the unabated vigor of both his bodily and intellectual -faculties. And then this son of the Pharaohs and supreme Egyptian pontiff -was fond of young men, reasonably tolerant of their ways, and knew how -to unite familiarity with dignity in his intercourse with them. But he -was specially in favor with the dominant aristocratic element. Some of -the other teachers were new men. Nobody knew who their fathers were. The -patrician young men from Rome and elsewhere declared that they _had_ -no fathers. What had the Fabii and Claudii and Scipios to do with such -people? - -Cimon and Aleph had taken seats well in the rear of the hall. So they had -opportunity to notice the bearing of the young men as they came in. On -the whole they were pleased with it. While a few had the air of triflers -and coxcombs, and here and there one had the jaded look that suggested -late hours and early dissipation, the most had in various degrees that -regulated and purposeful air which teachers like to see. Among the more -thoughtful and earnest looking Aleph noticed one of the two Romans whom -he had met at the banker’s. He also noticed that the ages of the students -seemed to average about the same as his own. - -Almost every one who entered seemed to notice the new-comers; and soon -there was considerable whispering and passing to and fro among the -young men—which continued till Seti appeared. He stopped for a moment -to exchange salutations with our friends, and then conducted them to a -seat on the right of the bema. This was the customary seat for newly -matriculated persons: and was greatly for the convenience of older -collegians who thus not only became promptly aware of a new arrival, but -could quietly study him up without the fatigue and incivility of turning -about in their seats for the purpose. Of course it was at the expense of -the lecture. But never mind—there are some things more important than -lectures to young people; and one of them is the discipline of guessing -out characters from faces and bearing. - -From the seat they now had the friends could see well what they had not -before noticed, viz., a small latticed gallery just opposite to them -from which came occasionally some hints and glints of white draperies. -Though none of the schools of the time distinctly contemplated the -co-education of the sexes, there was nothing in public opinion, -especially at Alexandria, to hinder the daughters of the professors and -other approved ladies from hearing the lectures given to the young men; -though it was thought best to place the beauties where they could not be -seen. The professors generally favored this invisible presence as being -conducive to good order and gentlemanly conduct among the students. The -chivalrous instinct was not a medieval invention, nor even an invention -of Christianity. The students at the Serapeum in the First Century knew -that bright eyes were watching them and behaved accordingly. - -The lecture of Seti was on the ethics of truthfulness. It was delivered -with a grave and quiet dignity and authority well befitting his years and -station, and yet with a subtle fire and force of thought and expression -that suited wonderfully youthful tastes. He had no manuscript before him, -nor did he seem to have one within him from which he was reading; but he -seemed to find his thoughts in the faces and eyes of his hearers as his -keen glances went to and fro among them. And the young men felt that they -were being perused. - -On the way home, the day before, Seti had informed Aleph of a custom -among the students. He had matriculated with the _Faculty_ of the -University: the students would ask him to matriculate also with -themselves. Each new-comer was not considered by them as invested with -full membership till they had examined him for themselves and settled his -grade among them as a collegian. It was possible to avoid the ordeal, if -he saw fit; but a cheerful acceptance of it would conduce to popularity, -and, if the trial should be well sustained, would give him a commanding -influence. What would Aleph prefer? Seti had asked with a shade of -anxiety in his face. - -“By all means,” Aleph had said with a smile, “let not this custom be -waived on my account. I rather fancy the double matriculation.” - -So he was not surprised when at the conclusion of the lecture all the -students retained their seats. He was, however, somewhat surprised to -see that Seti retained his also. But he had no time to speculate on -the matter: for a fine looking young man at once came forward and, -courteously calling attention to the badge the stranger wore, inquired -whether he wished such further membership and privileges among them as an -examination by the students would confer. - -Aleph rose and as courteously replied that such was his wish; and that he -would not on any account have any of the usual formalities omitted. - -“This being so,” continued the young man, “your full consent to our -ancient custom having thus been graciously conceded, I call on our -committee for testing candidates to come forward in proper order and -discharge their duty. I will only premise for your information that the -examination will ask two questions—first, _What do you know?_ and second, -_What can you do?_” - -Whereupon two young men presented themselves, and one of them said, “I -have the honor to put the first question—_What do you know?_” - -Aleph smiled. - -“Excuse my smiling,” said he, “at the exceeding largeness of your -question, if I attempt to answer it, I must begin with confessing that -my knowledge is very limited. Compared with what there is to be known, -it is practically nothing; compared with what I wish to know it is very -trifling indeed; perhaps further examination may show that it is also -very trifling in comparison with what some of my fellow-students know,” -and he bowed to the young men. A ripple of laughter went through the room. - -“If you find my associate’s question,” said the other member of the -committee, “a little too large to be manageable, perhaps you will tell us -what you already know of the various branches of knowledge preliminary -to those studied here. Doubtless you have informed yourself as to our -curriculum; it not being considered in general a wise thing to leap into -the dark.” - -“This question,” returned Aleph, “is not indeed as broad as the other; -but still it would be hard to give you a satisfactory answer (I mean -one satisfactory to yourself, for this I could wish to do) unless you -will tell me what branches of knowledge _you_ consider preparatory to -this Institution. I fancy there might be a difference of opinion as to -that matter—after setting aside a few elementary things. I can read and -write and speak the Greek and Latin languages after a fashion: have -such acquaintance with the literature in these tongues as, I should -hope, would enable me to understand such references to them as may -occur in your lectures; have also had some little practice in moral and -mathematical reasoning, sufficient, I should hope, for understanding -a good argument when presented. Is there any further preparation -needed? I have indeed heard (what I suppose to be true) that a little -knowledge of religion—some just and clear ideas of Deity and duty and -responsibility—is a good thing in the way of preparation for university -life. In regard to that sort of knowledge, I can only say that if I do -not possess it the fault does not lie with my parents or other teachers” -(he slightly inclined his head toward Cimon). “They have done their duty. -But perhaps my questioner does not lay any stress on this last sort of -knowledge as a valuable preliminary to the speculations and associations -of college life. It is even possible that he considers it a decided -disadvantage. I know that such views are sometimes found among students.” - -Aleph had drawn his bow at a venture. But the broad wave of laughter that -now swept through the hall assured him that somebody had been hit. Was it -not the questioner himself, whose color had sensibly deepened? - -His mate took up the broken thread. “Certainly we did not all come here -with as good a preparation as that: but perhaps you have done more than -the preparatory, and already know considerably of the branches of study -which engage us here. Such advanced students often come to us for various -reasons.” - -“I cannot say,” returned Aleph, “that I am altogether ignorant of -the subjects discussed here. It has been my good fortune to have as -teacher one who in his youth passed much time in both the Athenian and -Alexandrian schools. And he has attempted, not as successfully perhaps -as he could wish, to put his own knowledge into his pupil. What I know I -owe to him and my parents: what I do not know I owe to myself. Certainly -I do not come here because I know so much, but because I know so little. -I hope to enlarge my knowledge, such as it is. In thirty years not a few -changes must have taken place here—new teachers have come to the front, -new ways of presenting and illustrating old truths are used, and it is -barely possible that some things then considered branches of knowledge -are now known to be branches of ignorance. So I hope to profit. Is this -satisfactory? or would the committee like to have me explain a syllogism, -epitomize Plato or Aristotle or Zeno, or expound the astronomy of -Pythagoras?” just the glimmer of an amused expression stealing from his -eye. - -“Not either of these,” answered the committee. “Doubtless you are well -prepared on what you voluntarily offer. Allow us to ask you for something -which, as it is wholly unprecedented on such occasions as this, you can -hardly have made special preparation for. We will ask you for an epitome -of the lecture to which we have just listened. This is a compliment we -owe to our venerable teacher who, I think, has never before honored us -with his presence on a similar occasion.” - -Turning to Seti, Aleph expressed a hope that he would excuse any -injustice that might be done to his lecture under such a stress of -circumstances, and then proceeded as follows: - -“The lecture was on the ethics of truthfulness. It held up to abhorrence -the general character of a liar and hypocrite; and said that men must -tell what seems truth to them whenever they profess to tell it. In war, -hostile forces do not profess to tell the truth to each other, but the -contrary: the very fact of war certifies to all that feints, stratagems, -deceptions of all sorts will be used, and they are just as proper as war -itself. Under certain circumstances one can properly _withhold_ truth -from his neighbor without notice given. No man is bound to tell all he -knows to all sorts of persons without regard to how they will use the -information. A glass house would not be a good one to live in—especially -where stones and sinners are plenty. Silence is often both the privilege -and duty of a man, as well as his wisdom. Deity himself keeps back -much truth permanently from us, and chooses his own times and ways for -revealing other truth. In the interest of justice we can properly make -inquiries which, if their object were known, would not be answered: we -can be silent on what criminals have no right to know. In government, in -business, in social intercourse a measure of reticence is indispensable -to the wisest living, and even to righteousness. Without notice given, -one may never affirm what he thinks to be false: he may without notice -sometimes keep back what he knows to be true. These positions were -defended by considerations drawn from natural conscience, the general -voice of mankind, the testimonies of illustrious teachers, and the grave -difficulties that would arise were the world to accept and act upon other -principles.” - -Aleph folded his arms and looked inquiringly at the committee. The -committee looked inquiringly at Seti. - -“May we ask the venerable Seti whether this is a satisfactory account of -his lecture?” - -He bowed assent: and a general cheer went up from the benches. - -“I perceive,” said the master of ceremonies, “that it is the mind of -our community that I pronounce the first part of the examination well -sustained. Accordingly I so pronounce.” - -Another round of applause. - -The young man continued, addressing Aleph, “As you have doubtless -perceived, our object has been not so much to find out how much you -know as your powers of knowing. I think we have gotten sufficient light -on that point. May we get as much on the point that still remains to -be inquired into, viz., your powers of _doing_. Our community lay -considerable stress on physical accomplishments, and, we think, with good -reason. An efficient mind does its best in an efficient body. We but -follow the traditions of more classical times when we ask whether you -can run and ride and row, can leap and lift and shoot and wrestle and -fence—in short, protect your mother and sisters and such maiden as the -gods may give you.” - -“I have had some teaching in all these matters,” replied Aleph: “whether -I have duly profited by the teaching it does not become me to say.” - -“Are you willing to appear in our palæstra for a testing; and if so, do -you choose to compete with the good or the better or the best in each -department?” - -“I am willing to appear: and defeat would be less mortifying to me at the -hands of the best,” said Aleph with infinite composure. - -“But one thing remains to be attended to here,” continued Publius -Cornelius (for this was the name of the young Roman who acted as master -of ceremonies). “According to our rules, when a young man has elected -the best competitors—which indeed rarely happens—it is necessary that -he stand face to face with them in our presence, that he may fully -understand what he undertakes, and have an opportunity to recede from his -choice if he thinks best: also that we may judge whether his choice is -a reasonable one. Our best will now please present themselves with the -candidate in front of the bema.” - -A number of young men rose in different parts of the hall, and made their -way to the open space before Seti. Aleph also advanced and stood near, -facing them. - -There was a profound silence for a few moments as the confronting parties -surveyed each other, and were closely surveyed and compared by the rest -(many standing on their seats for the purpose). Then burst out an almost -deafening cheer. - -The fact was that as long as Aleph stood by himself his extraordinary -physical advantages had not fully displayed themselves. But when he came -to stand with others everybody at once saw that in that group there was -no face so noble and winning, no figure so majestic and exquisitely -proportioned, no bearing so lofty and poised and full of suggestion of -power and leadership as Aleph’s. So evident was all this to the “best” -themselves that they could not prevent the consciousness of it from -appearing in their uneasy faces and attitudes—especially after that -spontaneous cheer which they well understood. - -“Well?” inquired Cornelius, looking at Aleph. - -Aleph again passed his eyes naturally and serenely through the group -before him, resting them for an instant on one taller and brawnier than -the rest, and then said quietly, “I adhere to my choice.” - -A young man started up. “Our president has stated that we are to judge -of the reasonableness of this choice. It seems to me a very unreasonable -one. The advantages are too much on one side. Unless the gods interfere -(and somehow they are not apt to do so in these days) there can be -but one result to such an unequal competition. It is foreordained. I -therefore propose, in the interest of our Best, that the candidate be -at once passed to his matriculation with all the honors and with no -conditions whatever. This course, it is true, is unprecedented; but then -the circumstances are unprecedented. Those of us who know a good thing -when we see it, are, I think, quite prepared for this action.” - -_Action_, _Action_ was exclaimed from all parts of the hall. - -Cornelius stepped on a bench, and looking about the assembly called out, -“Is there any objection on the part of any to the course which Quintius -Fabius proposes?” - -After waiting a moment for responses that did not come, the president -proceeded, “Let every one who regards the examination as already -sufficient, and would at once admit the candidate to full membership in -our body, stretch forth his hand.” - -And _such_ a showing of hands! They flew out and up as if from a -catapult. Some voted with two hands. Some, not content with a simple -uplifting, made their hands shake and triumph in the air. Even the Best -voted with the rest. - -“Your mind is clear,” cried the president. “By your vote, and without -dissent, this gentleman is now a member in full of this university. In -your name” (as he advanced toward Aleph with outstretched hand) “I, -Publius Cornelius, offer greetings and fellowship to”—and he hesitated. - -“Aleph the Chaldean,” said Aleph, as he gracefully took the proffered -hand. - -Seti remained sitting for a while longer, keenly watching, as many -of the young men gathered about Aleph and were introduced to him by -Cornelius. Among these were the Best; who were at first somewhat backward -and awkward, but whom Aleph so welcomed with frank and unpretending -cordiality that they were soon quite at ease. Seti watched and admired. -He saw that the young man had quite won those who might easily have -become his enemies—in short had fairly conquered the position he had -coveted for him. - -Aleph lingered till the other students had left that he might inquire of -Seti whether he had heard from Miriam that morning. He had not; but was -not sure but that he might hear something by going to his rooms. Would -not Aleph and his friend accompany him? - -As they approached the apartments of the high-priest they saw before -them in the distance what seemed the fluttering of female robes: and, as -soon as Seti had opened his door, he found himself in the arms of his -granddaughter. - -“Mother-father” (this was her favorite style of address), she exclaimed, -looking up fondly into his face, “are you not very tired after such a -long session? But what a good lecture that was, and then....” - -“Ah, child,” he hastily interrupted as he patted her cheek, “what a -flatterer you are! Why not begin to practice on my lecture by telling -me the truth? Tired! Antiquity is never tired. The tired ones are your -moderns—such young men as you may see behind me.” - -Cimon was surprised at the magnificent beauty that now disengaged herself -from the arms of Seti and stood blushing before them. Aleph had indeed -spoken of her as beautiful, but with no particularity and effusion: and -so he was not prepared for the lovely vision. It seemed to him for a -moment as if he had before him one of the Hellenic goddesses—a sort of -compound of Aphrodite and Athene and Artemis. As to Aleph—such a look of -glad recognition sprang to his face at the unexpected meeting that she -could not but notice it. It gave her courage to advance and give her hand -to Cimon, saying, “The daughter of Alexander gratefully remembers our -friend of the Diapleuston”—to then turn to Aleph with a welcoming look -and a new flush on her cheek as she said, “You see one has to make much -of her grandfather, especially when she has but one. Perhaps you, too, -have a mother-father and know how good it is to have him.” - -“The lady has guessed rightly,” returned the young man. “The last thing -I did when leaving my country was to bow my tearful face on the shoulder -of a white-haired man whose form was not bent, nor eye dim, nor natural -force abated, though he had long passed his century; and who laid his -hand on my head and sent me away with the blessing of a grand sire. God -willing, I shall see him again. The mother-fathers of Chaldea live long.” - -“May the God of Chaldean Abraham grant it,” said the maiden devoutly. - -“And grant also that I may carry back to him the news he has so long -waited for—that the Desire of all nations has at last come!” - -“Amen,” said Rachel; “and, according to my promise, I have something new -to tell you touching that matter. So come with me, all of you—I mean -_you_, mother-father,” and she threw a graceful gesture at Seti as she -led the way to seats near a window. - -While the young people had been talking, Seti, with folded arms, had kept -his eyes fastened on them as if by some irresistible attraction. Rousing -himself at the call of Rachel, he said to Cimon with a smile, “In these -days the Egyptian is in bondage to Israel,” and added as he closed the -door and followed, “and is not very discontented—certainly not enough to -make an exodus.” - -When they were seated, Rachel said to Aleph, “I promised that if I -obtained any new facts about Jesus I would communicate them to you. And -this is what I have heard this morning.” - -She then proceeded to say that on her way to the Serapeum she had seen -Miriam, found that her husband had not appeared, found that she had -improved so much that she was able to tell her sad story since her -marriage. She had first gone with her husband to Tyre, where he professed -to have property. After a few days he removed her to a small house near -the city. This was the first of a succession of removals east and south. -They never stopped long in a place—never lived in any but the poorest -and obscurest part of a place. She never knew her husband do any work, -or seek for any. She often wondered at first how he obtained such scanty -and irregular supplies as they had. Once when she asked him about the -matter, he said that he was living on his property; and accompanied -the information with such a storm of abuse that she never after dared -to refer to the subject. She did not need to do so. He was abroad much -at night; and she noticed that when abroad during the day he shunned -thoroughfares, and sometimes disguised himself. Moreover, the men whom -he brought to the house were of the lowest sort, and she could not well -avoid overhearing enough of their talk to assure her that they agreed in -thinking that property was robbery and might be taken wherever it could -be found. After the first few weeks he cast off all semblance of regard -for her. He would often leave her for weeks without any means of support; -and had it not been for the compassion of the poor people about her she -would have starved. As it was, her suffering from exposure, privation, -and remorse reduced her almost to a skeleton. Ah, what days those were! -She shuddered when she spoke of them. Such wretched living as they had -was gotten by robbery, and sometimes by murder. He no longer pretended -the contrary. She came to know that their frequent changes of place were -made necessary by his crimes. As soon as he found himself an object of -suspicion, he went to a new place and there repeated his thefts and -burglaries until his safety required him to move on. In this way they -slowly drifted from the Phenician coast to the Sea of Galilee. - -She now thinks that she could not have lived through that awful -pilgrimage had it not been for one thing. Wherever she went she met with -poor people who had been cured of some incurable ail by the new prophet -Jesus—cured by a touch or a word. Sometimes it was a palsy, sometimes -consumption, sometimes leprosy, sometimes blindness or deafness or a lost -limb, sometimes devils or death. And he asked nothing in return for such -wonderful deliverances. Of course all mouths were full of his praises. -They told of his gentle and compassionate ways; how he did not disdain -publicans and sinners, saying that he came to seek and save the lost: how -he took little children in his arms and caressed and blessed them; how -patiently and wisely and wonderfully he taught the humblest as well as -the highest—told of such things till her heart burned and ached to see -him, to be near him, to pour out her oppressed soul into his pitiful ears. - -At last her wish was accomplished. One day, while they were living -at Chorasin, after some new tempest of abuse and wickedness from her -husband, she slipped away into the fields to give vent to her grief and -despair. There she saw in the distance a number of people on an eminence: -and, on mounting a rock, she saw that others were moving toward the -eminence from all directions. It flashed upon her that perhaps Jesus -had come, and that now was her opportunity. She at once made for the -hill—determined that if indeed Jesus was there she would get as near -to him as possible. She felt as if some mighty loadstone was drawing -upon her. Being unencumbered, she sped along quickly, passed many who -were carrying sick people or were sick themselves, and was not long in -assuring herself that it was indeed Jesus toward whom all the streams of -infirmity and suffering were setting. - -She quickened her steps into a desperate haste. She flew rather than -ran—flew to the side of the hill where the people were fewest, pressed -through them as if on an errand of life and death, saw one who was -plainly the central figure, fell down before him panting, disheveled, -eyes streaming, and tried to look up through her tears into his face. And -she dimly saw there such gentleness, such pity, such insight, such power, -that a great wave of rest swept in on her soul as she murmured, _Lord, -thou knowest_. And he answered, in a voice strangely sweet, that somehow -seemed to penetrate every fibre of her being. - -“Yes, I know, thou daughter of many sorrows. Wait patiently for the hour -of deliverance which will come in thy own country by the hands of those -whom I will send. Meanwhile go in peace—thy sins be forgiven thee.” - -She rose—all the harshness and bitterness of her soul gone, a calmness -and strength and peace within that were indescribable. She did not -withdraw from the scene; only fell back among the crowd. And there she -saw with her own eyes the wonderful things done of which she had been -hearing ever since she landed in Tyre. It seemed as if the whole country -about had searched out its desperate cases and brought them together to -test his power and pity. And she saw that no case was beyond him. Not -an ail in all the throng but had instant relief as he touched or spoke. -The number and variety of the miracles almost took her breath away. When -the last sufferer had been helped she could no longer contain herself, -but, as if filled and pressed irresistibly by a heavenly breath, burst -forth with song, “O give thanks unto the Lord, for he has done marvellous -things:” and all the people joined their voices to hers till the country -side rang. - -She went back to her husband, but not to her misery. The memory of that -look, and that voice, and that promise was like a strong man under her -cross. Her husband was no better; they still drifted from place to place, -but always with a compulsion by circumstances toward the south and west. -Her strength grew less as they approached the seacoast, and quite broke -down at Joppa as she saw her husband, as he was hurrying her aboard a -vessel for Alexandria in the night, rob and kill a man; yet even then the -memory of that divine hour in Galilee was a mighty peace in her heart, -and she felt that she was on her way to deliverance. - -Said Seti to Rachel, after the few moments of profound silence that -followed her narrative, “Did you ever notice in Miriam in former days any -tendency to—exaggeration?” - -“Never,” she replied. “On the contrary, Miriam was noted for great care -not to overstate facts. You may depend upon it, grandfather, she is fully -up to the standard of your lecture.” - -Seti seemed not to notice this sally, and the accompanying shadow of a -smile that flitted across the shining face, but said, “To say nothing of -his marvellous deeds, the attention which Jesus pays to the lowly and -uninfluential, rather than to the great and powerful, is very unlike what -one would expect in a scheming impostor.” - -“That he is not that,” said Aleph, “is still further confirmed by what my -preceptor and friend here heard yesterday. I am sure you will agree with -me if he will tell the substance of what Shaphan of the gate of Canopus -related.” - -All wished to hear. So Cimon proceeded to relate the story of -Shaphan—omitting, however, the circumstances bearing on Malus, and one or -two other particulars. - -When he had finished, Rachel exclaimed, “How wonderful all this is! -Surely there is but one thing to be said, unless we are prepared to -discredit all human testimony! I have heard my father speak of Shaphan as -a very good man: I must see him and ask him many questions.” - -“Would it not be better,” said Seti, “to first question some expert -magician as to what he can do by his art? It is not incredible that -there should be beings between the Supreme and ourselves who can do very -wonderful things.” - -“No, my dear grandfather; but if these superior beings are good they will -not lend themselves to a great religious imposture; and if they are bad -they would fight against themselves by endorsing such teaching and doing -such works as those of Jesus. Would Satan cast out Satan?” - -“Hardly. Still, have not magicians sometimes been good men? Perhaps our -friends here can throw some light on that matter. Time has been when -Chaldea was famous for its magicians”—and Seti looked toward Aleph. - -“In my country, as in Egypt,” said Aleph, “the name magicians has always -been used to cover all students of extensive knowledge, especially all -students of the powers and processes of Nature. As to such persons as -profess by certain arts to enlist the powers of mightier spirits in their -service there is, at least at present, but one opinion among us, and -that a very unfavorable one. It is that of the Hebrew Scriptures which -denounce and forbid all magical arts under heavy penalties. However it -may be with others, those who profess to accept these Scriptures and at -the same time use magical arts, it seems to me, cannot be good men, or -other than very bad. This is the case of Jesus. As I understand it, he -professes to hold faithfully by Moses and the prophets. This being so, if -he is a magician he is one of the worst of men—especially as he solemnly -declares that he works his wonders not by magic, but by God.” - -“And consequently,” added Cimon, “all evidence we have that he is one of -the best of men is evidence that he is not a magician.” - -“And what evidence of this sort have we?” asked Seti. - -“At least we can say,” returned the Greek, “that no evidence _against_ -Jesus has yet reached us, while we have heard much for him. We have -heard that his miracles are wholly beneficent and his teachings wholly -righteous; and that the worst thing his enemies can say of him is that he -does the very thing the prophets said the Christ would do, viz., stoop -to the humblest while claiming with the highest. For myself, I would -also lay considerable stress on the impression which the mere personal -presence of Jesus makes on such a man as Shaphan. It is plain to me that -this man would profoundly believe in the worth of Jesus, even if he had -not seen a single miracle of his, nor heard from him a single word. Is -this unreasonable? Two or three times in the course of my life, I have -been similarly impressed—I have had merely to look into the eye and -watch for a few moments the play of the features to get an immovable -confidence in the character that lay behind them. Ordinary goodness, -I confess, does not manifest itself in this royal way; nor does -extraordinary, except under certain physical organizations; but there -_are_ organizations through which it is self-revealing—through which it -looks forth as through pure crystal and shines by its own light, as does -any mathematical axiom—through which it is able to put forth a heavenly -atmosphere into which at least a sympathetic soul cannot enter without -feeling its heavenly character.” - -“So it seems to me,” said Seti. “I, too, have met a case or two of that -sort.” - -“The venerable Seti,” said Aleph; “has doubtless met with many so-called -magicians in this land of the strange and mysterious. May I ask whether -he has ever met one who has _claimed_ to do his prodigies through the -Supreme God, or to do them in such vast variety and magnificence as are -conceded to Jesus?” - -“Certainly not,” answered the Egyptian; “and I am quite sure that if we -could get together all the professors of the magical art that are or have -been, they could not, all together, make out such a list of wonders as is -conceded to Jesus.” - -“I would also ask of the venerable Seti,” continued Aleph, “if he will -not express his views more fully as to the suggestion of the lady Rachel, -viz., that it is incredible that bad spirits of vast intelligence would -lend their powers to give currency and authority to a system of teaching -whose whole stress they must see to be to defeat and destroy their -influence.” - -“It _is_ incredible. She only needs to show that the teaching of Jesus is -plainly and thoroughly against the feelings and objects of evil spirits.” - -“Why, my dear grandfather, all the accounts agree that Jesus teaches -altogether in the line of our Scriptures, though with new fullness and -illustrations—and no one knows better than you how holy the teachings of -our Sacred Books are—exposing the devices of Satan, denouncing him and -all his works, calling to watchfulness and prayer against him, rebuking -and casting out his demons, assailing the very foundation of his kingdom -in disloyalty to God, binding our consciences to a perpetual war on sin -in both life and heart, threatening it with the terrors of an avenging -heaven.” - -Seti inclined his head gravely toward the maiden, whose earnestness was -now glowing in her face and adding to it new charms, but was silent. - -“The lady has expressed my thought,” said Cimon. “It used to be a part -of the Roman law, and I presume is so still, that when a man is accused -of doing what would neither suit his passions nor his interests, the -accusation may be dismissed at once. It is incredible. Neither men nor -devils act against all motive.” - -“Now, great teacher,” cried Rachel, “it is time to sum up, as you do -sometimes in your lectures; and (she brightly shook her finger at Seti) -be careful to sum up on the right side.” - -“Which of course means _your_ side,” said the Egyptian, with a slight -lifting of his eyebrows.... Well, how will this please you? - -“Jesus, it is universally conceded, has done many things far beyond mere -human power: he claims for them a divine origin: they are worthy of such -an origin in the grandeur and beneficence of their character: such an -origin agrees with certain ancient predictions apparently relating to -these times: unless they have such an origin, neither had the miracles of -Moses and the other prophets; and indeed it seems impossible for God to -furnish reliable credentials to any messenger; for, so far as we can see, -his credentials must be miracles and could not well be greater miracles -than Jesus has wrought: unless they have a divine origin they are -demoniacal—which is wholly inconsistent with the apparent (say certain) -character of Jesus and also with his teachings, which are such as no -evil spirit could reasonably be supposed willing to promote.... Is this -satisfactory?”—turning to Rachel. - -“I think you could do better; but that will do—will do very well for the -present,” she returned smiling; “especially as you have gratuitously -supplied some missing links to the chain. Go on, O illustrious house of -Seti and heir of all the Pharaohs, I have great hopes of you yet.” - -“You see, gentlemen,” said Seti, “what comes of teaching our daughters to -know and argue like other people. As soon as we furnish them with arms -they turn them against us. And this they call gratitude!” - -“But,” he added gravely, seeing Cimon rising to take leave, “if your -affairs now call you away I wish to make an inquiry of you—if you will -step this way.” - -Cimon followed him to a distant part of the room. - -After a little hesitation, Aleph said to Rachel, “Your grandfather has -surprised me very much in this conversation. From the position he holds I -should have thought such views on his part impossible.” - -“There is a mystery about the matter, I confess,” replied the maiden; -“but then this is not the only righteous mystery in Alexandria -to-day”—and her eyes laughed into his in a very wonderful way. - -“Let us hope,” said he with an answering gleam from eyes quite as -wonderful though mysteriously different, “that they both will clear up -satisfactorily in due time, as the mystery of Jesus seems to be doing. I -am grateful to you for what I have heard to-day. But I would be glad to -speak with Miriam myself. Do you think she will be strong enough to bear -another talk to-day?” - -“Perhaps so. I return to her as soon as my sedan comes; and if you will -accompany me we will see what she is equal to. If you do not object, I -wish to be present when you question her.” - -“That would be delightful to me (and a new light sprang to his eyes as he -said it)—especially since I have come to know that you have mind as well -as beauty, and can inquire and reason with the best.” - -He said this as if half soliloquizing, and with such an air of glad -heartiness that she at once felt that the words had in them nothing of -the emptiness of mere compliment. - -She hastened to say timidly, “If we find that she is not able to talk -with us to-day, we can arrange to see her to-morrow when she is fresh. -Perhaps, too, she will then be able to bear removal to our house -and—could I count on your aid in transferring her, for my brothers are -away and my father has gone to Rome?” - -“How gladly I agree to this the lady Rachel, I trust, already knows. At -the same time, I must confess, I have some doubt as to what the morrow -may bring to me; and so I would fain do as much as I can to-day.” - -“You do not mean—I trust you do not mean _danger_?” and she looked -anxiously at him. - -Before he could answer a knock was heard at the door and a servant -entered to say that the sedan of the lady was waiting at the gate. Rachel -hastily prepared for the street. Going to Seti, who now stood by the -door, she kissed him and—stood embarrassed. - -“Well, what is it, my Gem of Alexandria?” said Seti. “What can we do for -you? Do you want the old man to send you off with a formal blessing? The -blessing of a heathen is not worth very much.” - -“You are no heathen,” rejoined the maiden; “and I have already a great -store of your blessings carefully laid up at home among my treasures. -Give your blessing to-day to these friends of ours who, I fear, are -in danger, and who have deserved well at our hands. You are wise and -powerful—protect them, or you and I will have to part company. I hate -ingratitude”—and she shook her finger at him. - -“By the way,” she added, “do you think that so valuable a jewel as the -Gem of Alexandria ought to pass along the street without an escort?” - -“I was about to offer the lady my escort on her way as far as Miriam, -whom I wished to question: but it seems that I am a person who himself -needs protection,” said Aleph with a smile. - -“Judging from what we have seen, Aleph the Chaldean is remarkably well -qualified to protect himself, to say nothing of others,” said Seti with -great composure. - -“Yes, against a fair enemy,” protested the maiden; “but against others -one needs all the help he can get from both earth and heaven. What I want -of you, grandfather, is to see that earth does its part. If you do not, -I promise you that you shall see how a woman can bestir herself.” - -“Just as if Seti needed all this eloquence, child!” he said reproachfully. - -“Mother-father, I am ashamed of myself. I know that you mean nobly. -But then you men are so manly that you are not so quick as a woman -at divining the presence of danger, though far better at meeting it -when discovered. At least, so I am told; and I shall not deny it till -necessary. So forgive me, and—do as I say.” - -“I am not sure,” said the Egyptian thoughtfully, “but that both of you -are right. If Rachel must return by way of Miriam an escort may be a -protection to her, as Antis is capable of the worst; and to be seen in -the streets with the daughter of Alexander may in the end be a protection -to Aleph the Chaldean, for it will show whom it may concern that he is -not without friends. So go, you two—but I will ask our friend Cimon to -remain a while longer.” - - - - -VIII. - -THE ESCORT. - - Ουδ’ αλλο δυσφύλακτον ούδὲν ώς γυνή. - - —_Anon._ - - _Nothing is so hard to guard as a woman._ - - 1. Twin serpents from Tenedos. - 2. News from Galilee. - 3. An escort dealing with escorts. - 4. Home at last. - - - - -VIII. - -THE ESCORT. - - -In going to the Serapeum, our friends had noticed near the gate of the -khan the Cretan who, as agent for Malus, had dealt with the Phenician -dealer in dyes. They recognized him readily, though he turned hastily -away as they approached him. The _catspaw of Malus!_ they both thought; -and would perhaps have thought no more of it had not—— - -But, on going a little farther, whom should they see but Malus himself -coming toward them! They could not be mistaken—the same obese figure, -the same waddling gait, the same wooden face and gimlet eyes. He stopped -almost immediately at a fruiterer’s stall, and seemed busy in selecting -some fruit as they passed. After they had passed he turned and watched -them. They did not turn to notice the fact, but they knew it all the -same—knew that Malus had tracked them to their quarters and made sure of -a close connection between them. - -When Aleph came out with Rachel to her sedan, he very naturally looked -about to see if he was still under surveillance. But he saw only the -porters of the rich conveyance that waited for the daughter of Alexander. -Nor did he, on the way to Miriam’s, as he walked by the side of the chair -and occasionally exchanged a word with its inmate, observe anything but -that courteous general observation which a very distinguished looking man -in honorable attendance on a great lady might be expected to draw. - -There was one interruption on the way—a pleasant one. Rachel, through -her curtains, happening to descry Shaphan at a distance, stopped her -bearers and begged Aleph to beckon the Jew to them. He promptly crossed -the street. The lady gave him her hand and said that she had been hearing -with great interest the story of his visit to Judea, but wished to hear -it again at first hand. Could he not go with them a short distance to -where her nurse lived and there gratify her? He could: in fact, his -brother, who had just returned from Judea, and himself were even now -returning from the Egyptian khan near the Serapeum, whither they had gone -for the purpose of seeing the young Chaldean (he bowed to Aleph) and his -friend, and communicating some new information about the Messiah. - -Aleph expressed his gratification at the meeting, and warmly seconded the -lady’s request. So Shaphan beckoned to his brother, and the two followed -the chair to the house of Miriam. - -They found the door guarded by a stout servant of Alexander, and by bars -still stouter. It appeared that Antis had lately been there, demanded -admittance, and, on being refused, had become violent, tried to break -open the door, and finally had gone away threatening to return shortly -with authority and force that could not be resisted. - -Aleph suggested that the sedan be brought within the house. Should -violence be used it might be well to add the porters to the resisting -force. - -They found that Miriam had been so agitated by the attempt of her husband -that she was unfit for the further conversation that Aleph desired. But -with so many friends now about her she was in a restful state; and when -Rachel proposed that, if it would not tire her too much, Shaphan and his -brother should give an account of their visit to Palestine and Jesus, she -declared that she could well endure it. Indeed, it would strengthen her. -To hear of Jesus again would be as cool water to a thirsty soul. - -So Shaphan told again the story with which we are already familiar—told -it, however, with omission of the part relating to Malus; for Aleph had -suggested that all the servants, excepting the door-keeper, should be -present at the recital. “This was a matter that concerned everybody.” - -When Shaphan had finished, his brother Nathan added substantially the -following account: - -After the departure of his brother, he had remained a few days longer -with Jesus, listening to his teaching and seeing further examples of his -wonderful power. Two of these examples were specially impressive. - -One day, as the night drew on, Jesus, who had been teaching the people -from a boat belonging to his disciples, was overheard saying to them, -_Let us go over to the other side_. Whereupon they put out into the lake -and headed for Gadara. Some of his hearers, of whom Nathan was one, -hating to part company with him for even a short time, immediately sprang -into another boat and followed. Soon the night shut down—one of the -blackest nights ever known. Jesus’ boat could no longer be seen. Suddenly -the wind rose into a gale. It wrestled with the sea like a giant; and -the sea rose in its wrath and wrestled back again with a mighty outcry. -For a moment they would lie breathless in each other’s arms; and then, -reviving, fling themselves madly at each other in mortal duel. It was -an awful scene. It seemed as if all the demons were abroad. The waters -which, when they embarked, were almost without discernible wrinkle, were -now furrowed into mighty chasms by the plow of the storm king. Up went -the little boat to heaven on the thundering billow; down it went into -a hell of waters as thunderous. The watery monsters shook their white -manes and lashed their black sides and leaped at and over their prey with -open jaws. They laughed to scorn oar and rudder and seamanship. They -shouted, and howled and shrieked, and seemed to swear by the Eternal to -the helpless crew, “We have you now; nothing can save you; to-morrow your -corpses will be drifting silently about; no, nothing can save you, not -even the mighty Christ.” Such blaspheming, frantic, frightful madhouse -of the elements—who ever saw the like! Not Nathan and his companions. -It seemed to them as if hell had emptied itself on the sea of Galilee; -and that all the fiends, astride of whirlwinds and crested billows, were -fiercely battling together for the privilege of drowning every living -thing. They struggled. They prayed. They were in despair. Drenched, -rudderless, oarless, they clung to the sides of the fast filling boat -in a paroxysm of horror and helplessness. In a few moments all would be -over. They commended their souls to God. - -What noise was that? Off at their right, hidden in the darkness, -evidently was another crew of affrighted and sinking men, crying out in -their extremity. Can they be Jesus and his disciples? Are they too in -the very jaws of death? Cannot he who has done such great things manage -to save his own, to save himself? Or are these raging, howling elements a -field to which his power does not extend? Such thoughts flashed through -the mind of Nathan even as he seemed on the point of being swallowed up. -But just then he distinctly heard (for the boats had neared each other) -a distressful voice which he recognized as that of one of the disciples, -exclaiming, _Lord, save us, we perish!_ - -“Can he do it? If so, why has he not interfered before? Why permit -such a horrible fright to his friends? No, he cannot do it. Jesus has -at last found his master. There seems the exultation of conscious -omnipotence and universal mastery in the leapings and thunderings of this -hurricane-tossed sea!” - -Such thoughts rushed upon Nathan as fiercely as the tempest itself—as if -Satan himself were riding the storm and dashing them into his face with -the spray and foam. - -Still he was all ear for what might follow that cry for help. Clinging to -the side of the boat with both hands, he kept his face set toward where -the other boat seemed to be, and almost stilled his heart-beat as he -listened. It seemed as if his soul had gone to his ears, and was leaning -forth, as men sometimes do from a casement, to catch the faintest word -that might come from the Master in answer to the despairing cry of his -followers. And there came—a faint ripple of speech, a shadow or ghost of -articulate sound almost lost amid the deafening and majestic outcries -of the storm? No. A wailing prayer for help to One above the clouds? -No. A quavering, hesitating voice as of one doubtful of himself and of -the issue? No. The voice that came was so clear, so penetrating, so -dominant among the wild noises of the storm, so full of calm decision -and unquestionable authority and sovereign forces, that one felt sure in -advance of what the result would be. - -PEACE—BE STILL! - -No sooner had these words gone forth on the wrestling, roaring winds than -they fell dead in full career. No sooner had these words gone forth on -the wrestling, roaring billows that went charging against the sky with -their crested battalions than they sank in their places as sinks the ox -when smitten on the forehead by the axe of some mighty man. And there -was a great calm. Hardly a ripple was left in sea or air. What a sudden -silence! In an instant the demons of the storm had not only taken flight, -but were already beyond hearing and sight. And, looking up, Nathan and -his companions saw that even the clouds had wholly fled, and left the -stars looking down on them as peacefully as if nothing had happened, -or ever would happen again. And off, a little way, the starlight was -softly shimmering on a summer sea, on gently plashing oars, on a boat and -boatmen, and in the stern on the eminent form of Him who had now shown -himself King of Nature as well as King of men. - -Nathan and his companions reached the shore very soon after Jesus. They -had scarcely landed and joined him when, from one of the cave-tombs -that skirt the shore, there rushed toward them a figure that seemed -scarcely human. He came as if driven by the tempest that had just -maddened the lake. He was himself a tempest of the most frightful kind—as -appeared when he drew near. He was quite naked. His face and body were -covered with scars and filth and fresh blood. In his hands he carried -sharp stones, with which he beat and cut himself as he shrieked and -ran. His long hair streamed in the wind and seemed like a cluster of -flying serpents biting at his brain. And when he came near—ah, what an -expression in those fiery eyes and tormented features! It was as if hell -itself, with all its fiendishness and misery, had been condensed into -that awful face. Nathan had seen not a few demoniacs before, but never -such a specimen as this. The very recollection made him shudder. The -possibility of such suffering and such wickedness as were pictured in -that face had never before entered his mind. - -The man came directly toward Jesus with frantic leaps and cries, as if -to destroy him—as he seemed well able to do; such were the wonderful -activity and strength he displayed. But Jesus, standing a little in -advance of his disciples, calmly awaited the coming. His face was another -wonder to see. It was sublime—it was divine. Such unutterable calm, such -boundless pity, such inexhaustible resources of force and authority and -sovereignty spoke in every feature that Nathan could not but say to -himself, LO, GOD IS HERE. - -The monster sank on his knees under the spell of that divine -gaze—uttering a fearful cry as of many voices crushed into one. - -“What is thy name?” said Jesus. - -And through the parted but unmoving lips of the madman, and as if from -deep within, came a mystery of speech that said: - -“My name is Legion, for we are many. What have we to do with thee, thou -Son of God most High? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time? -If thou cast us out, suffer us to go into yonder herd of swine.” - -Jesus said, _Go!_ - -Promptly at the word, the crowd of evil spirits that had captured that -body, bound its inhabitant, and seized the reins of power, fled headlong. -Nathan knew it from the mighty change that at once flashed over the -demoniac. The monster became a man. The face just now terrible with the -lightnings of hellish passions, more terrible than the storm on the Sea -of Galilee or any other sea, suddenly became a new face—transformed -almost beyond recognition into repose, sanity, sweetness, joy. Nathan -was astonished at the transfiguration. He could not help crying out, -_Glory to God!_ and his heart cried louder than his lips. He had seen -dispossessions before; and they were delightful things to see. But he had -never before seen a man delivered from an entire synagogue of devils, -from the Nemesis of a whole army of evil spirits. That was a deliverance -past speech. That was an exodus to bring out the sun in the face of a man. - -The man was saved, but the swine were lost. For the whole herd of about -two thousand, just now stolidly feeding along the steep bank, pricked up -their ears, stood snuffing the air, and then, as if possessed by as many -whirlwinds, rushed headlong down the steep into the lake and perished. -The disciples understood the judgment as well as the mercy. Those swine, -kept contrary to the law, and serving as a standing defiance of the law -through all that region, were felt to have been justly confiscated. -But the owners were naturally sore at the loss of their property, and -others were afraid of like losses; and so they persuaded the people of -the district to go in a body to Jesus and beg him to leave. The people -did it—though they saw the man who had been the terror of the whole -country-side sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. -Strange infatuation! The people themselves were possessed. The evil -spirits that had forsaken the man, and forsaken the swine, had entered -into _them_—as a legion of fools. Jesus did not refuse their suicidal -request. So the two boats immediately returned to Capernaum. - -This ended Nathan’s visit to Jesus. He left the same day for Egypt—left -with stronger faith than ever in Jesus as the Messiah. The absence of all -the usual magical preparations for his wonders, the exceeding magnitude -and variety of them, the magnificent ease with which they were performed, -the fearless manner in which they were exposed to the blaze of public -observation, the universal consent to their reality on the part of even -his worst enemies, the plain antagonism of his whole teaching to the idea -that they were of Satanic origin, together with the sovereign and divine -expression that reigned in his mien while doing them, seemed conclusive. -It seemed impossible for any fair-minded man to look into that face and -watch its expressions without getting the impression of unutterable -genuineness and goodness. He could doubt neither the reality nor the -divine origin of the miracles of Jesus. - -But, somehow, the people at large were not impressed as he was. They -were getting used to the wonderful works. And the leaders of the people -were industriously encouraging the idea of a Satanic agency in them—and -with growing success. About the Sea of Galilee, where most of his mighty -works are done, Jesus has very few who believe in him. He does not -conform to the current notion of what the Messiah should be. He gives -no encouragement to political unrest; he makes no attempt to form a -political party, collects no military stores, gathers no army, assumes -no state. He seems to aim at no worldly grandeur for himself or nation. -He has even been understood to say that rejection and suffering and even -death await him—that, in short, his kingdom is not of this world. This is -very unsatisfactory to the people at large. If he would only proclaim a -temporal kingdom, set up the standard of revolt against Rome, and summon -the people to rally about it, no doubt they would rush to him at once. -But as it is, they will go from him. So it seemed to Nathan as he watched -the people; and so it seemed to him it would be as he read the prophets. -The more he studied them the more inclined was he to think that they had -been misunderstood. - -“I think very much as you do,” said Aleph, “and shall not be at all -surprised if Jesus the Messiah should prove a Sacrifice as well as a -king. King he certainly is—king of devils, king of diseases, king of the -elements, king of teachers——” - -Here he was interrupted by the door-keeper, who came to say that through -the eyelet of the door he could see Antis approaching with what seemed a -police force. - -“Oh, do not let him enter,” exclaimed Miriam in great distress; “if he -enters I shall die. You do not know all I know.” And she raised herself -in the bed and wrung her hands in an agony of apprehension. - -“Do not disturb yourself,” said Aleph calmly. “Though we do not know all, -we know enough. But Jesus knew it all, and you have his promise. Trust -it and reserve such strength as you have till it is needed. We will not -desert you.” - -A violent blow on the street-door was now heard. - -“I will go to the door,” said Aleph, “and if I need any help you will -discover it, as I will leave the passage open so that you can hear what -is passing.” - -Taking his cane, he proceeded to the door; and, bidding the door-keeper -undo the fastenings, he suddenly set the door widely open and stood in -its place. - -This was unexpected. Antis was just in the act of repeating his blow on -the door, but suddenly finding himself confronted by a formidable looking -man instead of a door, he stepped hastily backward. - -“What do you seek,” demanded Aleph, fixing on the man a stern eye, “that -you knock in so unbecoming a manner?” - -“I seek the possession of my own house,” said the fellow sullenly. - -“Are you the owner of this house? I think you will hardly venture to -claim that.” - -“I claim that I have purchased the right of an owner, so far as occupying -this house is concerned, for one month, and that it is the will of the -owner that I have possession at once.” - -“Show me that such is the will of the owner.” - -Antis produced a paper and handed it to Aleph. - -After reading it, Aleph said, “It seems that this house belongs to -Malus, and that he wishes it transferred to you, and that he has sent -this police force which I see behind you to enforce his wishes, if -necessary.—Are you the captain of this force?” he added, looking at a man -who stood a few steps behind Antis. - -“I am,” he said. - -“In ordinary cases,” said Aleph slowly, as he surveyed the man—“in -ordinary cases we should be warranted in putting you in immediate -possession; but this case is extraordinary—so extraordinary that we -have a right to presume that neither Malus nor the chief of the police -understood the circumstances when they gave the order just shown me.” - -“We have no discretion,” said the captain. “We are sent here to put this -man in possession, not to judge of the righteousness of it.” - -“Do you mean to say that if you should see reason to believe that your -force of some six men is quite insufficient to accomplish your object, -you would not be at liberty to return to your superiors for further -instructions? Are you not expected to use discretion in judging whether -such is the case?” - -“Certainly: but such does not appear to be the present case,” said the -officer with a chuckle. - -Without noticing the manner of the man, Aleph went on, “Do you mean to -say that if you should see grave reason to fear that this man in whose -behalf you are interfering would use the house to waylay and murder Malus -and your chief, you would not be warranted in at least returning for -further instructions?” - -“Well—in such a case as you suppose, I should of course return: but this -is not such a case, nor anything like it,” said the man doggedly. - -“Very considerably like it: for I shall show you grave reason to fear -that this man” (he pointed his finger at Antis) “is capable of doing all -that and worse—that he is a desperado of the worst sort, and——” - -Here Antis broke in, screaming out, “IT IS FALSE! IT IS FALSE!” - -Aleph fixed on him eyes that blazed calmly into his for a moment, and -then said sternly, “You know it is _true_, you ruffian. It is written in -your face for everybody to see. And everybody sees it. If you want to be -taken for anything less than a desperado, wear a mask over your tell-tale -face. So do not interrupt me again;” and he gave him another look so full -of insight and authority and menace, and at the same time of a certain -pitying wonder (as the man who walks easily finds it hard to realize that -anybody else is lame, so the good man finds it hard to understand how -anybody can be a villain), that he dropped his eyes, grew pale and red by -turns, and made no further attempt to speak. - -Aleph resumed, turning again to the captain: “I was saying that I would -show you grave reason for thinking this man a desperado of the worst -kind; that he is a robber and murderer by profession; that if put in -possession of this house he will make it a den of thieves and murderers. -He is strongly suspected of designs on the life of his sick wife, who for -some days has been in a critical condition, and whom he has long abused. -It is for such reasons that her friends have excluded him from the house. -Do you suppose that your principals, if responsibly informed of these -facts, would persist in wishing you to hand over these premises and the -sick woman to such a man?” - -“I admit,” answered the officer, “that if you can show that he is such a -dangerous character, and that putting him in possession will endanger the -public as well as the sick woman, or even can show that this is so in the -opinion of responsible parties, I ought to return and report the fact to -my superiors. Who are the persons who make these charges?” - -“His wife, supported by Seti, the Egyptian high-priest, the lady Rachel, -daughter of the Alabarch, and myself, a member of the University.” - -The captain had for some time appeared uneasy. He now folded his arms, -shifted repeatedly from one foot to another, fumbled aimlessly with the -short sword at his side. Aleph watched him narrowly; and at length said -with a grave irony of tone: - -“Perhaps you do not consider Seti and the Alabarch as responsible -parties!” - -But immediately changing his tone and raising his voice, he added, “I -call to witness both those before me in the street and those behind me -in the house” (half turning as he spoke, he became aware that he had -already been followed into the passage by all his friends), “that I -have repeatedly informed this officer that this house has been occupied -by parties whose responsibility it were absurd to question, for the -sole purpose of preventing its becoming a danger to life and a public -nuisance, and that if he puts it into the possession of this man he -will, in their opinion, imperil the lives and property of the people of -Alexandria. I wish you all to distinctly notice this. Take notice, also, -that we do not propose to resist the law—only to retain possession till -the law can be properly informed of facts that were unknown to it at the -time its order was given. And so our very moderate request is that this -officer return to headquarters, report what he has heard, and ask for new -instructions. If the officials then repeat their order, it will be with -full knowledge of the responsibility they are incurring, and they can -properly be held to account for all the consequences: and this must be -a very serious account unless the laws and public opinion of Alexandria -differ very considerably from those of Heaven.” - -“It is he of the Diapleuston!” cried a voice from the street. “Give him a -cheer!” - -And a great cheer there was; for though the street was a retired one, -quite a body of spectators had gathered one by one behind the police -and were watching the conference with lively interest. They now showed -audibly on which side their partialities had settled. That cry, _It is -he of the Diapleuston_, opened their mouths, and opened them widely. -But, long before they had chosen their side, Antis made a very sorry -appearance over against Aleph; and as the citizens watched the lofty -composure of the young man and his princely bearing, and caught a glimpse -of Shaphan and Nathan and the womanly star in the background, they -thought the house was well occupied as it was. And they proceeded to say -so. They became very free in expressing their minds. - -One cried out scornfully, “Turning out _such_ to put in _such_!” - -“Go away!” cried a second, as he shook his fist energetically at the -police. - -“Off with you!” shouted a third, with both hands in the air, and with the -air of one driving away a flock of geese. - -“Go!” screamed a fourth, “and you may confidentially tell those who sent -you that you were not mean enough, as well as not strong enough, to do -the work set you!” - -And so the cries went on in a very amusing (to the citizens) and -significant variety—went on growing in strength and urgency. - -The captain plainly saw that but one course was open to him. He must make -a virtue of necessity, and withdraw for the present with as good grace as -he could. So he said that perhaps it would be well for him to report at -headquarters what had been told him, and see what his principals thought -of it. Of course, they did not intend to establish a den of thieves and -murderers. So off he marched with his detachment—Antis closely following -with a face in which fear and mortification and rage were contending for -the mastery, and greeted as he passed with many a _See the hangdog_ and -other like complimentary expressions. - -Aleph bowed to the friendly citizens with a smile, got another hearty -cheer in return, and closed the door. - -Shaphan and Nathan were warm in their congratulations. As for Rachel—her -eyes were more lustrous than ever, and a richer color was in her cheek, -but she said nothing. She did not even look at him. - -The two brothers, however, were by no means sure that Malus would give -over his effort. It was not his way. He made it a point to carry his -point on all occasions. To be sure, the case as Aleph had presented -it seemed wholly true and reasonable; it even seemed unsafe to Malus -personally to proceed; but then he was a man of many resources, had grown -venturesome by the habit of success. So they were afraid that it was only -a brief respite that had been obtained. - -Aleph was inclined to the same view. He had little doubt but that Malus -would recognize his antagonist, and would find in the fact additional -motive to persevere. So he expressed his regret that it was not possible -to remove Miriam at once to some other house. - -This brought back Rachel from her abstraction. She went at once to the -bedside of Miriam, who clasped her hands and looked up piteously into the -loving eyes that beamed inquiringly upon her. - -“Do you think that you could bear to be carried home now?” they asked. - -“Right away! right away!” broke out the poor woman with unexpected -strength of voice. “It is better to die on the way than to stay here. -I should die of fear. Let _him_ not leave me”—and she turned her eyes -beseechingly toward Aleph. - -He approached, took her hand gently, and said a few soothing words while -he watched her. She grew quiet and peaceful as her eyes rested on his -face. - -“It seems to me,” he at length said, “that she can better go than stay. -She can summon resolution for the one, but not for the other. The effort -may even reinforce her vitality.” - -“Then let it be done,” said Rachel. “My sedan is large, and I can take -her in my arms, and ease all the motions, and the bearers will move very -carefully. Shall we do it?”—she bent to the ear of the sick woman. - -Miriam looked at her gratefully, and said with some hesitation: - -“If _he_ will go.” - -“Certainly he will go,” cried Rachel, “and will walk by the side of the -chair, and will steady it with his hand, and will every now and then look -in upon us through the curtains to see that we are all right; and when we -reach home he will take you out all carefully and tenderly and carry you -in his strong arms up to your own room and lay you on your own bed—_of -course_ he will. He shall not have my approbation for what he has done -to-day till he sees us both safe at home”—and the great dewy eyes flashed -half merrily and half timidly on Aleph. - -Aleph bowed. “The approbation of the lady Rachel is very far from being -a matter of indifference to me. So I will do as she says. We will all -go—our friends of the khans, the leech, and all the servants, save the -janitor, who on demand shall put Malus in possession. Do you approve?”—he -had turned toward Shaphan and his brother. - -“We do,” said Shaphan, “but before we go into the street, I wish to -mention a fact which perhaps may concern you. We saw Malus to-day in -close talk with Simon, the famous magician; and later in the day, on -going to your khan, we found that Simon and the beautiful Helena, whom he -sometimes calls his daughter and sometimes his sister, had established -themselves there and had placarded the neighborhood with invitations to -the public to come and witness his wonderful performances at a stater a -head. For as much more fee he promises to put the resources of his art -at the service of any visitor; whether he wishes to have his fortune -told, or to consult spirits, or to prosper in love, or in war, or in -money-getting.” - -“Have I not heard,” said Rachel anxiously, “that this magician is an -agent of Malus and is suspected of aiding him in his undertakings by the -magical art?” - -“As much is said,” answered the Jew. “The two men are cousins, though -not often seen together. It is supposed, however, by some that there is -much secret intercourse between them, and that the great success of Malus -in his affairs is largely due to his being in league with evil spirits. -This, of course, he stoutly denies. He laughs at the idea. At the same -time he speaks highly of his cousin, the sorcerer, and does not a little -to give him patronage.” - -“And yet,” said Aleph, “the Law is severe against sorcerers.” - -“But Malus denies that Simon _is_ a sorcerer in the sense used in our -Scriptures. He does not deal with evil spirits. He is only a man of -great skill and learning, who has studied nature profoundly and so found -out many scientific means of doing many wonderful things, and even -of subjecting the elemental spirits that inhabit water and fire and -lightnings and stars to his will and the public service. His spirits -are not devils. His sorcery is only science. And God forbid that the -Law should denounce science. So Malus presents the case. The two men -certainly uphold each other and play into each other’s hands. I wonder -what mischief they are brewing now between them!” - -“I thank you for this information,” said Aleph. “It may prove of service -to me. But now let us proceed to the work before us.” - -Under the direction of Rachel, the servants in a few moments collected -the various articles of furniture and comfort that had been sent from -the mansion of Alexander. She then placed herself in the sedan: and, -the nurse having wrapped Miriam in the bed-coverings, Aleph carefully -took the light burden in his arms and placed it in the arms of Rachel. -As carefully the porters lifted the chair and made their way into the -street—preceded by the two brothers, accompanied by Aleph, and followed -by the remaining servants. In a few moments the house was in the solitary -charge of the janitor, with instructions to wait a while and, if no -one should appear, to lock the door and carry the key to the police -headquarters for the district. - -The escort stopped at the private family entrance. Here the two brothers -took leave; and Aleph, receiving the sick woman into his arms, followed -Rachel into the mansion, along halls and courts and flights of steps, -to the room the nurse had formerly occupied. When he had laid his light -burden on the bed and had satisfied himself that she had borne the -transfer without serious harm, though much wearied and needing to be left -in profound quiet, he turned to depart. - -The sick woman beckoned feebly to Rachel—more with her eye than with her -hand. The young lady drew near and bent to listen to the faint whispers. - -“She wishes me to thank you for what you have done for her,” said the -maiden after a moment, “and to beg that you will not forsake her now that -she is safe among friends.” - -Aleph looked inquiringly at the lovely interpreter—not knowing exactly -how to interpret the interpretation. - -She suddenly turned to Miriam. “Of course he will not forsake you. He is -coming here often to see you—to see how you get on. No good physician -neglects his patient till she is well; and not even then if he is wise. -Besides, he wants to talk more with you about Jesus the Messiah as soon -as you are able to hear it. Yes, _of course_ he is coming, coming often, -coming to-morrow. He will suffer in our good opinion if he does not. So -now close your eyes and rest in peace.” - -Instead of doing this, Miriam burst into a flood of tears and nervous -sobbing. Up to this time she could not fully realize that the dreadful -nightmare of her life was over. But now that she found herself in her -own room, and looking about on the familiar objects, and recognizing one -thing after another that she used to call hers, and saw only kind faces -beaming upon her—all at once a sense of absolute safety came surging in -upon her like a mighty billow. Ah, what a relief—Heaven in place of Hell! -Then all the flood-gates of feeling gave way. It was some time before -she could control herself enough to articulate. But at last the words -came—though very faintly: - -“Home at last! Thank God, who has fulfilled the words of Jesus and sent -me the deliverer whom he promised!” - -The great sea went down as suddenly as it had risen. In a few moments the -exhausted woman closed her eyes and was sleeping peacefully. - -Aleph and Rachel stood together for a little, watching the peaceful -slumber. - -“The experiment seems more successful than I feared,” said Aleph at -length; “I am glad that we made it.” - -Her voice trembled a little, and her color came, as she said, without -turning toward him and with downcast eyes, “And he to whom the success -is due, and who is doubtless the friend whom Jesus promised to Miriam, -has now the express and warm approbation that I promised him, and which I -have found it hard to keep back till now.” - -Aleph answered, “Your compensation is large—I fear much too large for -doing what to me has been a pleasure and an education. And yet I cannot -decline to accept an approval which my heart values so highly.” - -In parting he extended his hand. She placed her own within it. He carried -the snowy prisoner in grave and reverent courtesy to his lips. Was she -offended? - - - - -IX. - -THE MAGICIAN. - - Επι τὰς άφανεῖς καθίστανται, μαντικήν τε καὶ χρησμούς καὶ - τοιαῦτα. - - THUCYDIDES, v. 103. - - _They have recourse to the invisible realm—to necromancy, and - fortune-telling, and such things._ - - 1. The greatest show on earth. - 2. Simon Magus at his best. - 3. Also at his worst. - 4. Avaunt, Sathanas! - - - - -IX. - -THE MAGICIAN. - - -On his return to the khan, as Aleph entered the Egyptian quarter, he -began to notice the papyrus placards of which Shaphan had spoken; and, -as he advanced, they became numerous—pasted on walls, booths, boxes, -whatever conspicuous object presented itself. Had the art of printing -been known to Simon, he plainly would have been a famous advertiser. As -it was, he had made a very liberal use of the scribes of the city. Aleph -stopped to read one immense sheet, beautifully written on, which a boy -was carrying aloft on a pole. This sheet informed the public that Simon, -the greatest magician and master of occult wisdom in modern times, would -exhibit his wonderful powers this eve at the khan near the Serapeum at -the rate of two drachmas a head. The price for admission had been put -so low in order that the entertainment might be within reach of all. -Let all come. They would see the greatest show on earth. Whatever the -wizards of Thessaly, the astrologers of Chaldea, the sybils of Magna -Grecia, the soothsayers and diviners of Etruria, and the sorcerers and -necromancers of ancient Egypt and India could do, he was able to do—and -more. Let all the people come and see. For an extra didrachma there -would be seats reserved. Seats or no seats, the people were sure to get -more than their money’s worth. If any wanted their fortunes told by the -stars; if they wanted to know the critical times in their lives so that -they might be on their guard; if they wanted to know what would be the -best times for any undertakings they have in mind, or to have such helps -in them as the elemental spirits can give, or to compound love potions, -or to communicate with distant and even dead friends, or to defend -themselves from enemies—in short, whoever wanted help of any kind that he -could not get by the common and natural means, now was the opportunity -of a life-time; let him come to Simon, the great magician of the age. -He will not be disappointed. Admission to the court of the khan one -didrachma—seats under the piazza two didrachmas. - -Cimon was found waiting just outside the khan; from the inside of which -came the sound of busy axes and hammers. He proposed that they should go -for their evening meal to some quiet stall in the neighboring Egyptian -market and there talk over their concerns. Accordingly, they were soon -established in a nook by themselves, and Aleph proceeded to relate his -experiences during the day thus far. - -In return, Cimon said that the object of Seti in calling him aside was -to ask whether he had as yet seen any sign of a hostile movement on the -part of the son of the Governor; also whether he knew of any reason why -Malus would favor such a movement. The first question he answered in -the negative: as to the second, he was obliged to say that there were -circumstances that made it likely that Malus would favor any scheme to -their disadvantage of which he might happen to learn. On this, Seti said -that, knowing well as he did the violent and revengeful character of -the young Roman, he had thought it best to have his movements watched; -and had discovered that, since the disturbance at the Diapleuston, and -especially within the last twenty-four hours, there had been considerable -stealthy intercourse between him and Malus. It looked very much as if -they were concerting mischief. After what Cimon had told him he had -no doubt as to the objects of the mischief. Might he ask whether the -circumstances referred to were such as to enlist Malus thoroughly in any -enterprise, however bad, against himself and his young friend? To this -Cimon had answered that the circumstances were indeed such that their -entire disappearance from the scene would free Malus from a great peril. - -“Then,” said Seti emphatically, “he will join the Roman in trying to do -you all the mischief he can. He will have no scruple as to way or means.” - -After Aleph and Rachel had left, Seti had still detained him for a -while with various examples of the unscrupulous craft and daring of the -man—so plainly for the purpose of putting them on their guard against -him that he was almost on the point of explaining their relations to -Malus in full; especially after Seti had concluded with asking that for -the sake of greater security they would exchange their present quarters -for rooms in the Serapeum. “It was an unusual thing to do, not to say -unprecedented; but the circumstances were unusual.” So he begged that -they would transfer themselves without delay. But Cimon thought that he -ought to confer with Aleph about the matter before accepting the offer. -So, thanking the priest for it, and promising to report the next day, he -took leave. - -“Would it not have been well,” said Aleph, “to leave in the hands of the -high-priest that parcel which I saw you making up last evening of the -results of your inquiries as to Malus—I mean for safe keeping?” - -“That is what I did,” replied the Greek; “going back for that purpose -after I had made another visit and added to the parcel some account of -that.” - -He then proceeded to say that, finding it still so early that he might -hope to find the custom house superintendent at his post, he determined -to call upon him and ascertain the result of the inquiry he had promised -to make. This he did. The official reported that the eminent merchant -Malus had entered the office shortly after Cimon had left it, and, on -hearing of the request to examine the registers, had kindly offered to -solicit a permit from the Governor. It would be very little trouble, as -he was about going to Bruchium on business of his own. But he proved -unsuccessful. Despite his efforts, the most he could obtain was a permit -for _himself_ to make the examination in behalf of the stranger; and then -only in case the person should approve himself to him as a person of -standing and consideration. Of course this ended the matter. Cimon bowed -and retired. - -He was not disappointed. From the moment when he met Malus in the passage -he had not counted on any other issue; though without any idea of the -ingenious way in which it would be brought about. - -“How much will this failure be likely to embarrass our cause?” inquired -Aleph. - -“It makes it impossible for us to charge Malus with a crime against the -State; that is, the crime of smuggling, or of collusion with some custom -house officials to defraud the government.” - -“I understand. You have certified copies of the receipts at Myos Hermos; -also certified copies of the receipts given for the same goods by Malus -as harbor-master here; so that you know that Malus has received all the -goods sent. If any of these do not appear on the registers here, it must -be because he has brought them into the city without passing them through -the custom house, or, if through the custom house, is in conspiracy with -some of its officials to defraud the State—a crime more likely to get -prompt attention than one that is merely against an individual—and a -foreigner.” - -“Exactly. Still our case, as it now stands, would naturally compel a -formal examination of the registers: for we can prove that Malus has -received everything up to the gates of the custom house. Beyond the -gates he declares himself to have received much less—that is, much has -been lost in passing through the custom house. This is really charging -its officials with crime. Such a charge, it would seem, must compel an -examination of the registers. Still I would have been glad to set the -offense against the State in the foreground of the battle.” - -“Then,” said Aleph, “supposing the registry accounts to agree with -ours, Malus would be liable to refund the value of the missing goods -according to the prices ruling at the times they were received, and to -add to this a considerable sum on nearly every one of the many other lots -consigned to him for thirty years on account of false statements as to -the duties imposed and the prices current—in regard to both of which you -have gained sufficient information. Have you estimated what the whole -indebtedness amounts to?” - -“Not closely; but it must amount to an immense sum. And then, if Malus -should incidentally be convicted of smuggling, half of the large sum -forfeited by the Roman law would fall to the party establishing the fact. -If the courts are equitable our success means the ruin of Malus (or what -he would consider such)—especially as it would bring upon him the claims -of many other persons whom he has wronged, but who hitherto have been -afraid to contend with him. Of course a man with so much at stake must be -expected to make great efforts to secure himself; and such a man as Malus -will stop at nothing, however criminal, that promises to help him. By -this time, no doubt, he is wide awake.” - -“Do you suppose,” inquired Aleph after a moment’s silence, “that the -exhibition this evening is inspired by him and covers some designs -against us?” - -“I fear so,” said Cimon, moving uneasily, “though I do not see clearly -how it can be made to serve his purpose. I would that we and our -belongings were well in the Serapeum. But it is now too late in the day -to make a change: all that we can do is to be wary while remaining for -the night at the khan.” - -“I should have some scruples about being present at a professedly magical -exhibition if it were not practically involuntary. But, since we have -no choice in the matter, we may at least get the advantage of noticing -the contrast between the miracles of Jesus as they have been reported to -us and the marvels of the most famous magician of our time—for such I -understand he is considered.” - -“Try to imagine some advantage to his cousin Malus in this movement,” -suggested Cimon. - -“Is it not supposable that Malus is very superstitious (as I believe such -men are apt to be) and has great confidence in the magic art, and hopes -to weave about us some hindering if not destructive spell, enlisting -against us demoniacal forces? Perhaps, too, he proposes to frighten us -from our purpose by astrological and other predictions of impending evil: -also will seek to enlarge his knowledge of us by asking for the facts -needed for constructing a horoscope.” - -“That will do very well for a guess,” said Cimon. “And since we are -guessing I will make a small contribution. Perhaps the darkness which is -sure to accompany the exhibition at some stage will be used for an attack -on us bodily. This can be imputed to spirits. If I should see among the -spectators any persons with villainous and cut-throat faces, I should -feel called on to be on the watch.” - -During this conversation their simple meal had been brought and -dispatched (not without an audible thanksgiving); and Cimon now proposed -that they should at once return to the khan and acquaint themselves with -their new surroundings somewhat in advance of the evening’s performance. - -The sun was about setting, and many people were already collected about -the gate, reading the large poster that hung upon it and comparing views -and expectations, when our friends came up. They were at once admitted as -being guests of the establishment. - -They found a platform erected in the middle of the court, and closely -drawn about by curtains on which were various cabalistic characters. -From within issued a smoke, an odor as of strange drugs, a hissing sound -as of boiling, faint flashes of light, and various sounds as of people -moving about and arranging. Around the stage, at a small distance, -hurdles had been set up—also about the piazza. The only break in these -two lines of hurdles was opposite the room which Cimon and Aleph -occupied. Here were two gates giving access from the stage to the piazza -by means of a flight of steps from the former. - -“What does this mean?” thought our two friends. “Did it _happen_ so?” - -In passing to their room along the piazza they found benches, each of -which could seat four persons, standing before each room, but set forward -so as to allow free passage behind them. Before their own door, however, -stood only a single short bench seating only two persons. Right before -this seat, under the eaves of the piazza, hung a single lighted lamp—the -only lamp visible anywhere. - -“And what does all this mean?” thought our friends. “Does it mean honor -to us as the guests of the house or to make us easier marks for the -archer?” - -Without stopping to answer such questions they unlocked their door; -and, entering, held their usual evening devotions with no appearance -of distraction or hurry. When they came out, staff in hand, and took -seats on the bench before the door, they found that the shadows had -considerably deepened, and the signs of activity within the curtained -stage had considerably increased. As yet no spectators had been admitted. - -Soon, however, people began to enter the court: then, after a while, -the piazza began to be occupied. Our friends watched narrowly every -successive arrival as long as the deepening shadows allowed; but it soon -became impossible to form any idea of faces and figures. But they were -very many—so many at last that there seemed to be no more standing room -in the court, nor sitting room under the piazza. The seats nearest them, -on the right and left, somehow came to be occupied last, and though Aleph -bent specially on them his young searching eyes, the light had become -too dim to be of service. He then noticed for the first time that the -lamp before him had protruding sides that fended off the rays to the -right and left. Himself and companion would have the sole benefit of the -illumination. Would it be a benefit? - -A bell tinkled. Up went the stage curtains. In the midst of a blaze of -light stood a man of unusual stature. His beard was long and black, and -long black locks hung below the close-fitting black cap. A long black -mantle covered with geometrical and other figures hung gracefully from -his shoulders. Supreme confidence in his own powers and position breathed -in his whole attitude and expression. His air was that of an acknowledged -sage. He stood motionless for a few moments as if to allow the people a -full opportunity to see what a dignified and promising person was before -them. He then turned quietly and took a cool survey of the packed court -and of the piazza beyond as if to acquaint himself with the situation—to -see how many persons and what sort of persons made up his audience. His -survey ended with his confronting Cimon and Aleph for a moment. - -A little back of this remarkable figure stood another scarcely less -noticeable—a beautiful woman richly, though scantily, dressed, in the -Greek fashion. Behind her, at the two corners of the platform, stood two -Nubians, black as midnight, who could scarcely be said to be dressed at -all. Between these latter stood a table on which was a seething cauldron -over a brazier of live coals—also a large shallow dish. Two stools and a -number of tools were under the table. - -Simon turned and bowed low to Helena—for that was the Aspasia-like woman -near him. Then, turning to the people: - -“I always make it a point,” said he, “to begin with acknowledging my -obligations to my sister, to whom I am indebted for much of my success.” - -He then added, “I wish it to be distinctly understood at the outset -that a part of what I shall do this evening is only skillful illusion; -another part will be done simply by means of my acquaintance with the -more mysterious laws and forces of Nature; a third part will be done by -the help of powerful spirits whom I have subjected, to a certain extent, -by my art, but who do not belong to that class of spirits with whom -intercourse is forbidden.” - -He at once began to draw a ribbon from his mouth. He drew and -drew—apparently there was no end to the stock of ribbons within him. At -last, with a gesture of impatience, he broke off the endless thing at -his lips, and gulped down the remainder. He then went to the brazier of -glowing coals and proceeded to eat them as so much fruit—to eat with -excellent appetite. - -Suddenly turning from this feast, he took up the large dish on the table -and poured out from it a quantity of sand on the platform. He completely -reversed the dish and shook it. He then replaced the sand, inserted in -it a small seed, spread his two hands over the dish, and waited for what -might happen. What happened was a little olive tree—as everybody could -see as soon as Simon had removed his hands and held up the dish for -general view. He then set down the dish on the floor, covered it for a -moment with a corner of his mantle, and then held it up to view again. -Lo, the little olive of a few inches had doubled its size. Once more -he covered it from view. On removing his robe, he showed to the people -a plant so large that its roots had crowded out all the sand from the -vessel and protruded from it on all sides. Using another corner of the -mantle, he reversed the process. The great plant dwindled by successive -stages into the original seed which was held up for the people to see. - -Taking the same dish, shaking the sand out of it, even taking the pains -to wipe it vigorously with one corner of his robe, he reversed it on the -floor. Muttering a few words over it, he lifted it and a cat appeared. He -replaced the dish over the cat; after a moment lifted again, and behold, -a dog instead of a cat. Replacing the dish over the dog, and after a -moment lifting it again, he astonished the people with the sight of a -litter of puppies. Reversing the process, he produced in succession the -dog, the cat, and the empty dish. - -He concluded this part of the entertainment by drawing a sword from under -his mantle and swallowing it. - -Next, Simon seated himself at the table, and laid the tips of his fingers -upon it. Helena set a seat by his side and did the same. The two Nubians -came forward, and, having removed the brazier, seated themselves on -the table itself. In a few moments it began to tip, and finally fell -to swaying and leaping so violently that the blacks were unable to keep -their seats, though they struggled hard to do so. Having dislodged the -two bulky fellows, the table rose several feet into the air and remained -suspended; and the brazier with its cauldron rose gently after it and -resumed its old place without any disturbance of their contents—and all -the while raps and musical sounds both over and under the table were -heard. The Nubians caught hold of the legs of the table and tried with -all their might to pull it down; whereupon it rose still higher, dragging -the men after it. Simon made a downward pass with his hand, and at once -it descended gently and noiselessly to the floor. - -Again Helena seated herself. Simon approached, took hold of both her -hands, and looked steadily into her eyes. Shortly, relinquishing her -hands, he made passes downward along her arms. Gradually her eyelids drew -together and she slept. - -“Now tell us what you see,” said Simon. - -“I see,” said she, slowly, and as if looking afar, “a beautiful country -of mountains and green valleys and crystal streams, sprinkled with flocks -and herds and white-faced keepers.” - -“Look again. What do you see now?” continued the magician. - -“I see,” replied Helena, “a magnificent palace perched on an eminence. -It is of stone; and it has around it walls and towers; and into its -court-yard is now coming a caravan dusty and wayworn—loaded horses and -mules and camels; and, escorting them, many armed horsemen before and -behind.” - -“Enter the palace. What see you now?” continued the soothsayer. - -“I see steps of marble, doors of brass, a lofty hall with sculptures and -suits of armor, sumptuous apartments after apartments—a library in which -are four persons; two sitting on a couch, and two standing before them. -The first two are a man and woman venerable with white locks, but with no -other signs of great age: the other two, also a man and woman, are much -younger and still in the fullness of mature life. All are of princely -features and bearing.” - -“What are they doing?” demanded Simon. - -“The younger couple are untying tablets bound about with a black ribbon. -They are now reading—plainly with surprise and grief.” - -“Approach and read with them,” said Simon. - -“I cannot read. The characters are strange. Besides, tears have fallen -copiously on them,” said the woman. - -Simon reversed his passes, and the woman, giving a great sigh, opened her -eyes. - -He then came forward to the edge of the stage next to our friends. - -“We come now,” said he, “to something very important. It has been known -from remotest times that it is possible to determine from the stars the -general character of a man’s fortunes, the critical times in his life, -the sort of dangers to which he will be most exposed. Becoming acquainted -with these, he can take precautions accordingly. For example, if one -finds that to-morrow will be a time of special peril to him, and that the -peril will come from a city, he can leave the city at once and so secure -himself. So it is very important that each one of you inform himself in -advance all about these critical and dangerous times that are sure to -come to him. Do not neglect this opportunity of consulting the stars. It -is the opportunity of a life-time. For the very small consideration of -only one gold stater he can have the benefit of my profound studies among -the stars, studies which I can assure you have been profounder and more -successful than those of any other man, not excepting Hermes Trismegistus -himself. All you have to do is to hand me the piece of gold, together -with the exact time and place of your birth, and I will construct the -twelve Heavenly Houses, and find the places of the planets therein, and -take account of their mutual bearings and modifications, and so make out -for you a horoscope that will tell you just what is to be done in every -trying situation as long as you live. And you will live twice as long -for it. Now, who will, at the trifling expense I have mentioned, protect -himself from great harm and secure to himself wonderful advantages?” - -He folded his arms and waited. But no one responded. Either there was -not sufficient faith in the people, or they had already invested in -horoscopes, or the gold piece required was wanting. The astrologer -expressed surprise at this backwardness to seize the splendid opportunity -they were having for having their fortunes told by the truth-telling -stars through their most illustrious interpreter. It was a great -mistake. They would surely regret it. He was only passing through the -city on his way to Rome at the invitation of the Emperor Tiberius, and -when he should return, if ever, it was impossible to say. What was the -difficulty? Was it the ready money demanded? Well, he would make it easy -for poor people. They might pay him on delivery of the horoscope and its -interpretation. Let them hand in their names and the facts called for, -and he would trust them. - -This brought out the people in the court. Not a few signified their -readiness to accept the new offer; and the Nubians, passing along the -inner hurdles with papyrus and stylus, soon collected quite a catalogue -of names and appropriate particulars. This seemed very satisfactory to -Simon. - -He then looked off toward the piazza from whose seats no response to his -appeal had yet come. He was now ready to attend to them. It was kind in -them to wait till the less favored class had been cared for. Now let the -piazza speak. Though they did not belong to the impecunious class, he -would make no distinction between the rich and poor, but would serve all -on the same terms. And he walked about the edge of the platform on all -sides with one hand behind his ear. - -“Your voices are too feeble,” he at length exclaimed; “I must get -nearer,” and he descended from the stage by the flight of steps in front -of Cimon and Aleph, opened the wicket and stepped on the piazza. - -“Perhaps these friends, one of whom seems to me to have come from the -native land of astrology and may therefore be presumed to know how potent -in human affairs the stars are, will allow me to construct figures for -them. Somehow I feel a presentiment as I stand near this young man (and -I have never known such presentiments deceive me), that he is entering -a critical period in his fortunes, and will need all the light my art -can throw on the character of the perils surrounding him and the way of -escape. If he will tell me the exact date and place of his birth, I can -in a few moments, by means of a great improvement on old methods, make -for him a planetary construction that will cover the next few days and be -of immense service to him. I trust he believes in the Chaldean science?” - -“At present I express neither assent nor dissent,” said Aleph; “I only -say that I have no occasion for your art. If perils come I propose to -seek help, not from the stars, but from beyond them.” - -This was said in so decisive a tone as to forbid further solicitation. - -Simon merely added in a voice which plainly betrayed resentment, “Perhaps -the young man is aware that the stars are apt to be hostile to those who -distinctly refuse them. I foresee that they will be hostile to him.” And, -swaying his long loose mantle against the knees of Aleph as he turned, he -stalked back to his place on the platform. - -There, folding his arms and looking upward intently as if carefully -perusing the sky at different points, he remained silent for a while. -He then suddenly exclaimed in a voice of thunder, “Oh, the angry -aspects! Oh, the threatening configurations! Oh, the malignant Saturn -in Aries shooting his rays aslant yonder!”—and he pointed his finger -toward the part of the piazza which he had just left. He then turned to -the people and said with a voice that seemed oppressed by some mighty -burden, “You have just heard me say that sometimes when I am very near -a person, and especially if my robe touches him, there comes upon me a -presentiment in regard to him which is, in a measure, a substitute for a -horoscope—especially if at once followed by such a consultation of the -heavens as I have just now given.” - -“Tell us what you have discovered,” cried a voice from the court. - -“I see,” he cried, “his enterprise miscarrying, his friends forsaking -him, his enemies surrounding him. Flight alone will save him. And let him -not linger. The black cloud has settled till it touches him—let him rush -from under it. The walls of the house have crept together till they press -him on every side—let him leap forth before it is too late. The walls of -the city have crowded in upon him till the four gates almost meet one -another—let him struggle through this or that as best he can, and flee, -_flee_. Flee on the swift Bactrian dromedary, flee on the swift galley -with sails and oars, flee as does the ostrich before the Arabian with -both feet and wings, flee as do the sands of the desert before the hot -Simoom. Else the Chaldean home will wail for the son that never returns.” - -This he said with the air of a prophet—his tall form strained to the -utmost, his hands lifted, and his voice urgent and full of horror. He -retained his tragic attitude and aspect for a little after he had ceased -speaking. Meanwhile Helena had stolen up to him, and stood looking -skyward as if trying to see what he saw. Suddenly he grasped her arm with -one hand and with the other pointed with anxious look toward various -parts of the sky: all the while speaking to her in a low voice, as if -explaining what they saw. He had an apt scholar. She gave frequent nods -of assent, and finally clasped and wrung her hands with as dismayed an -air as his own. - -All this seemed to profoundly impress the people in the court, on whose -upturned faces the many lights of the stage were strongly shining. They -gazed at the astrologer with open mouths: they seemed awe-struck at his -fiery words and majestic bearing. He glanced from there to Aleph—was it -to see whether the same effect had been produced on him? At all events -he saw none. A perfect composure reigned in the face and attitude of the -young man. Simon was both disconcerted and angry—as was plain enough to -the sharp young eyes that never left him. - -“I have no doubt,” cried he, after an evident effort to recover himself, -“that nearly all my friends under the piazza are more respectful to the -Celestial Science than the one whose danger and misfortunes have just -been revealed to me. But, as time presses, I will not ask them to apply -for horoscopes to-night. Let them come to me as privately as they choose -at my rooms here for the next few days; and it will be strange as well as -pitiful if the book of the stars does not read more pleasantly for them -than it has done for one this evening.” - -He made a sign to the Nubians. They hastened to fan the coals in the -brazier; and, when the cauldron had begun to seethe again, he approached -and dropped in something that made the contents hiss and leap as if they -would burst away from the vessel. He then drew from under his mantle a -sheet of papyrus covered with writing, dipped the manuscript into the -cauldron, lighted it at the coals, waved it toward the four points till -it was wholly consumed. - -He made another sign to Helena. She went to one of the looped-up curtains -and drew from a fold in it with an air of profound reverence—a wand. -This, with averted eyes, she brought to Simon: then sank on her knees -and covered her eyes with her hand. Whereupon the blacks came up hastily -and crouched behind her with all the signs of abject fear. Dipping the -end of the wand in the cauldron, the magician proceeded to describe -with it a large circle about them all. Dipping again, he traced just -within the circle and all around it a variety of characters—allowing -no break, however small, in the continuity of the tracing. The lines -became gradually luminous—first the circumference of the circle, then the -endless chain of mystic characters within. - -“The Ephesian Letters,” whispered Cimon to Aleph. - -There was an intense hush of fearful expectation. - -“I am now about,” the magician cried in his gravest tones, “to summon -here mighty genii and elemental spirits, both to show you the resources -of my art, and to convince as many of you as need convincing (and the -number of such persons is not small in these days) of the reality of a -world of invisible beings possessing great powers. Many of these spirits -are exceedingly mischievous as well as mighty, and would be glad to -destroy us all. But they dare not cross this circle, and especially the -characters traced just within it—though they would do so if they could -find the least break in the lines. I am also able to protect those of you -without this circle—provided certain conditions are complied with. All -seats under the piazza must be set forward from the wall so as to allow -free passage behind them for the spirits: and in addition every one must -remain quietly in his place, whatever may happen or seem to be happening, -till I dismiss you. To all complying with these conditions and keeping -a reverent attitude of mind toward the spirits, I can promise entire -safety. To others I can promise nothing. Solomon himself could promise -nothing. I wish all of you to distinctly understand that I will not be -responsible for even the lives of any who violate these conditions. I -warn you that we are about to deal with very dangerous beings, and that I -can only control them under certain provisos. If any man is disposed to -defy these let him look to himself.” - -Both Cimon and Aleph had for some time noticed that the single lighted -lamp that hung just before them was getting dimmer; and so were not -surprised when it flickered and expired while the magician was speaking. - -The man was now looking at his best. He seemed to have reserved himself -for this time. His commanding stature, his powerful and oracular face, -and his stately bearing enriched by the mysterious and becoming robes of -his art, shone out very impressively under the brilliant lights of the -stage. He stood in the centre of his magical circle, with his wand in -his hand. He cast the wand on the floor. Lo, a serpent, gliding along -with erect and hissing head till it came to the luminous belt of Ephesian -Letters! There it stopped; and then moved along the belt slowly, without -touching it, as if looking for some break in it, till it reached the -point whence it started. Then with depressed head it moved back silently -to Simon, who took it by the tail, and lo, he had again a wand in his -hand. - -He extended it toward the East and called out with a great voice in that -direction certain uncouth names, saying: - -“Genii, spirits elemental of air, of fire, of earth, and of water! By the -bond between us, by this wand which ye know, by the spells I have woven, -by this magic circle in which I stand, I summon you, _I summon you_!” - -He then turned toward the other cardinal points, repeating to each the -same formula, though appealing to different personal names. At once -there fell on the ear the faint beat of distant wings. Shadows began to -flit through the air, and monstrous shapes vaguely showed themselves on -the walls and roofs of the khan. Then the lights on the stage burned -blue, grew feeble, flickered, went out. Everything was now in profound -darkness—save that on the stage the circumference of the circle with -its inlying border of mystic characters was become a glowing belt that -cast a wierd light on the magician and his cowering companions, but -seemed to have no power of illuminating beyond the stage. Now the beat -of wings was heard more distinctly. It grew apace. Soon it was like the -rush of winds—high in the air above the stage, and at various points in -the passage left behind the seats under the piazza. There it swept along -with terrific force—whistling and howling. Into these noises others -immediately insinuated themselves. Strange whisperings and mutterings -became audible. These gradually passed into raps, detonations, groans, -shrieks; and occasionally a yell so fierce and demoniacal as to be -appalling, rent the air and the ear. - -But the chief place of commotion was the edge of the platform, just -outside of the fiery zone. Here, all the noises that were scattered -elsewhere were condensed and intensified into the roar of a tempest. To -fiendish laughs and screeches and yells that made the ear tingle were -added the bayings of many sorts of wild beasts when hot after their prey. -It seemed as if the spirits were crowding to get at the magician, and -tear him limb from limb, and were chafed to madness on being prevented by -the magic circle. It was the many-voiced sea, lashed into fury, leaping -in spray and thunder on a rock-bound coast. What a carnival! Was hell -emptied? And through the blackness and the uproar and the fury, pierced -voices like swords—voices that cried: - -“We are here, great Master, to do thy bidding. Lo, we are here!” - -At no time during the evening had Cimon, or even Aleph with his younger -eyes, been able to see who occupied the adjoining seats on their right -and left. These seats had not been taken till it had become too dark to -distinguish faces or even figures: and the single lamp before themselves -was so ensconced among the ornaments of the eaves of the piazza that it -threw no light to either side. But from both sides they occasionally -caught low sounds of movements and voices; and knew very well that they -had neighbors. And they felt quite sure that if an attack should be made -upon them it would come from those nearest to them. So, as soon as the -lights had all gone out, after a moment’s whispered conference together, -they noiselessly set their seat back against the door of their room, and -as noiselessly took stand in front of it and facing it, but at a distance -from it of several feet—and waited for what might happen. - -At the height of the uproar and darkness, their ears caught a stealthy -movement at both right and left; and then the careful footfall of -unsandalled feet. A moment more, and there was a stumbling against the -seat they had left, as of men who had been expecting a clear passage; -while they felt the presence of others just before them. At once came -a hasty succession of heavy blows, as of bludgeons, on the seat and -door behind it. Two heavy thuds promptly followed, and as many groans -and falls: for both Cimon and Aleph had struck with clenched hands into -the dark, and had encountered something more substantial than spirits. -This done, they stepped back to their former places and waited for what -might yet follow. Nothing followed—save the sound of footsteps hastily -retreating to the right and left. And, all at once, the hubbub of wierd -noises began to lull; the whispers and howls and other diabolic sounds -dwindled rapidly; in a few moments the rush of departing wings had died -away in the distance. - -“Now go in peace,” cried the magician. “If any have been injured by the -Powers I have summoned, it is because they did not obey my directions. -Their blood be on their own heads. I take you to witness that I am not -responsible.” - -The court and piazza were soon emptied. The people had been too soundly -frightened to stand on the order of their going; and rushed out pell-mell -through the darkness—overturning benches and hurdles and one another. - -During this final uproar, which was almost as great as the spirits -had made, Aleph felt a hand on his shoulder, heard a whisper at his -ear—“Shaphan and Nathan.” - -“Welcome,” he whispered back. “Come into our room.” - -They removed the seat, unlocked the door, and with the aid of the -two Jews dragged inside the bodies which their feet had encountered -on the floor. Closing the door, they struck a light and proceeded to -examine their still insensible assailants. In one of them Aleph had no -difficulty in recognizing Antis: in the other Shaphan and his brother -knew Draco, a noted bully of the city, at present teacher of fence at -the Museum, formerly a trainer of gladiators at Rome, and well known -as a dissipated companion of the son of the Governor. Having satisfied -themselves that the men were not seriously injured, and needed only the -open air to fully recover, they drew them out again on the piazza and -there left them to themselves—or their friends. - -The brothers then explained that the lady Rachel had sent a servant to -them after their return home to recall them; and had begged that they -would be present at the khan in the evening with some of the family -servants and give aid to her friends if they should have need. But -various circumstances had delayed them so that they did not arrive till -after the performance had begun; when they found no admission to the -piazza, and the court so densely packed that it was almost impossible to -wedge their way to the neighborhood of Aleph and Cimon. This, however, in -the course of the evening they had, by dint of constant effort, succeeded -in doing, and were quite near when the assault was made and the assembly -broke up. They then dashed violently through the crowd, and over the -hurdles—fearing the worst, for they had heard the blows, the groans, and -the heavy falls. Thank Heaven, it was the enemy that fell! - -Very cordial acknowledgments were made to the friendly Jews. In addition, -Aleph sat down and wrote on a piece of papyrus the following: - -“Aleph the Chaldean, to the daughter of Alexander, sends greeting: - -“This is to express my sense of the kindness you have shown to the -eastern strangers in sending help to them this night in their supposed -danger. And truly the danger was considerable; but through the favor of -the Most High we have escaped the assault made upon us, and have come to -understand better than before the difference between the marvels of Jesus -and the marvels of the magician. The latter are due partly to illusion -and ventriloquism, partly to occult natural law, and partly to diabolism. -They are favored by darkness and distance, depend on preparations and -compacts and machinery, proceed from an unworthy person, seek unworthy -objects, are aided by unworthy Powers, are connected with phenomena that -betray a diabolic origin, and are wholly depraving and mischievous in -their tendency. - -“When the bearers of this give you an account of what they have seen and -heard, you will, I doubt not, see new reason to believe in Him who casts -out devils instead of invoking them. - -“May the God of Abraham and Daniel, the Chaldeans, keep you! - -“Farewell!” - -When the Jews stepped out on the piazza they found that the bodies were -no longer there. Doubtless they had recovered consciousness and taken -themselves off. - -Magic and miracle! Two very different things, thought Aleph again, as he -recalled, in the solitude to which he was now left, the account which -Nathan had given of the storm on the Sea of Galilee. - - Did ever night with blacker wing - Swoop down upon the sea? - Did ever storm with fiercer flail - Smite Sea of Galilee? - - God help yon bubble bark that leaps - Against a rayless sky— - God help yon bubble bark flung back - In rayless gulfs to die! - - The gates of hell are open wide, - Its fiends outscream the blast; - “Up with the bubble boat on high! - This plunge shall be the last.” - - Alas, alas! ye helpless men - Who to the skies are tost— - Just hanging to the lion’s mane, - What can ye be but lost? - - Yet cry for help—_Where is the KING?_— - Ye have not far to seek; - Within your very bark is One - Who storms to calms can speak. - - He speaks—at once the stars look down - Upon a waveless sea; - The peace of God is in thy winds, - O breathless Galilee! - - And ever when we cry through storms, - To Christ our cry should be; - Low bow all waves and winds and fiends - To Him of Galilee. - - - - -X. - -THE ARENA. - - Μεγάλα πρήγματα μεγάλοσι κινδύνοιισι. - - —HERODOTUS, vii. 50. - - _Great results from great dangers._ - - 1. An anxious friend. - 2. Seti defends himself. - 3. So does Aleph. - 4. Who is to blame? - - - - -X. - -THE ARENA. - - -An evening of such experiences as we have just described would be -followed by a sleepless night in the case of most persons at the present -day. But those were adventurous times; the element of uncertainty and -peril entered into them far more largely than it does into our daily -life; and the habit of coolly accepting the situation and accommodating -themselves to it was common among men of standing and courage. So the -reader must not be surprised to learn that our friends, after thanking -Heaven for their preservation, slept about as soundly through the night -as if they had suffered no narrow escape and were anticipating nothing -but safety on the morrow. - -Their morning devotions and meal had been finished, and they were -conferring as to Seti’s proposal that they should remove to the Serapeum, -when a knock was heard on their door, and the high priest himself made -his appearance. - -“What means all this?” he exclaimed, as he closed the door behind him and -took the rude stool which was all that Aleph had to offer him; “the whole -khan behind time, everything in a litter, the staging in the court in -the last stages of a debauch; above all the clubs before your door and -the battered state of the door itself, to say nothing of the broken seat -before it!” - -Cimon explained. - -“Now you see why I am here so early this morning,” resumed the priest. -“My thoughts were so full of apprehension on your account during the -night that I could not sleep; and I determined that as soon as possible -in the morning I would seek you out and again urge you to remove at once -to the Serapeum. This evidently is no place for you. It is plain that -Malus and the son of the governor have gotten into communication with -each other and have joined their forces—plain that the chief object of -the doings here last night was a three-fold assault on you through your -fears, through magical powers, and through human assassins. These were -the three strings to their bow. They hoped that if the others failed the -clubs of Draco and his helpers would do the work and the magical powers -which you defied take all the blame of it. You see with what characters -you have to deal. Behold a fair sample of what these men are capable of -doing. So come to the Serapeum without delay.” - -“We were speaking of your kind offer just as you came in,” said Cimon, -“and were debating whether we could properly accept it; and had about -come to the conclusion that we could not do so without dragging the only -friends we have in Alexandria into trouble with powerful people—which -would be a poor return for the kindness we have received.” - -“Leave me to judge,” returned Seti coolly, “as to the amount of trouble -I can afford to be at for your sake. The offer I make is made freely in -view of the circumstances.” - -“We have been afraid,” said Aleph, “that your view of the circumstances -is not as complete as it should be before we allow your generous kindness -to embroil you with perhaps the government itself. You already know that -Malus supposes himself seriously in danger from us, and that so we are -seriously in danger from him. But you have not known distinctly who we -are, and what we propose to do. As to who we are, we are still compelled -to be silent; but it is fitting that you learn now the nature of Cimon’s -relations to Malus. Cimon is the dear friend and business manager -of an eastern trader who for many years has had large dealings with -Malus—consigning to him a large amount of costly eastern goods yearly. -We now find, what has long been suspected, that the consignee has made -false returns as to the amount of goods received, and prices obtained -for them, and the duties levied on them at this port. Complete proof of -this, as we suppose, is contained in the parcel of papers put into your -hands yesterday. We also cannot doubt that a comparison of these papers -with the custom house registers (which comparison we have not been able -to make) would show that Malus has defrauded the government as well as -ourselves, and perhaps that officials are in collusion with him. The -interests he has at stake, therefore, are so large that he is sure to be -as bitterly hostile to our friends as to us. And besides, as you see, -he seems to have secured a hold of some sort on the Roman authorities -themselves. So the man who undertakes to befriend us undertakes a great -deal. We are very reluctant to embroil you, and perhaps the family of the -Alabarch in so serious a trouble. On this account we have refrained from -asking advice from you in regard to our preliminary movements.” - -“The case as stated by you,” replied Seti, still with the utmost -coolness, “is not worse than I supposed; and I still press my invitation. -Trouble there will be, no doubt; but, then, if I do not accept this -trouble I shall have a greater from another quarter; for my granddaughter -sent a messenger to me this morning as soon as it was light to stir me up -to do what I am now doing. If I were to be backward in this matter,” he -added with a smile, “I am afraid she would rouse all my students against -me; which she could easily do, for she is a queen to P. Cornelius. -Moreover, it is barely possible that both Alexander and myself have just -a little of that generous indignation at wickedness that led certain -persons of our acquaintance to stand up for us without counting the cost. -Who gave Greeks and Chaldeans a monopoly of that sort of thing? No, -friends, you must not ask me to do what you would not, I am confident, be -willing to do yourselves.” - -Of course nothing more was to be said. And our friends said nothing -more—save thanks. It was agreed that they should send their effects at -once to the Serapeum by certain servants whom Seti had left without, and -follow them in person in the course of the day. - -This matter being disposed of, Seti continued, “Now tell me what steps -you have taken to bring that arch-rogue to justice.” - -“I have done nothing,” said Cimon, “save to collect evidence; and have -been uncertain what further steps to take.” - -“You should put your proofs at once in the hands of Alexander’s lawyer. -If he judges them sufficient for this latitude and for a Roman Court -(for a Roman Court it must be, since the case is between a Greek and a -Jew), let him put things in train without delay. You could find no more -skillful advocate; and he has the further advantage, somewhat rare in his -profession, of being an honest man. This in itself will instinctively -enlist him against such a rogue as Malus. He will do all he can to bring -the fellow to justice.” - -“Can you tell me what the prospects for justice in a Roman Court are?” - -“The Roman law, in general, is just; but a case has to be very clear or -the strong rogues, in Alexandria as elsewhere, will manage to escape -by means of the evasions, delays, appeals, and various tricks that -are purchasable by the free use of money. It is said that all things -are venal at Rome. I am afraid the state of things is no better in -Alexandria. Malus will use money freely—can you do the same?” - -“That depends,” said Cimon. “For such purposes as the collecting of -evidence and the securing of the ablest advocate that can be had, I say -_Yes_ to your question. For the purpose of bribing the judges, I say -_No_.” - -“This is the answer I expected from you. But your enemy has no scruples. -He will have the freedom of all means—righteous and unrighteous. In this -respect he has much the advantage over you—always provided that there -is no God, and that there is a devil. But in certain other important -respects you have an advantage over him.” - -“Will you tell us in what?” suggested Aleph. - -“First, in the intrinsic justice of your cause; for I have no doubt that -the case is as you have stated it. Next, the evil repute of Malus among -the better class of people is against him. They all know that he is -capable of doing just the sort of thing you charge against him—that, in -fact, he has done it in multitudes of cases and has only escaped by the -terror which he inspires in people too weak financially and otherwise to -contend with him. It is worth while for even Roman judges to make some -account of the higher grades of public opinion. Further, it would not be -strange if many of the small victims of Malus should summon courage in -the presence of so large a suit as yours to appear against him with an -amount of testimony that would be overwhelming.” - -“I understand then,” said Cimon, “that even if our proofs are legally -complete, we still have reason to fear that venality on the part of the -judges and hostility on the part of the Governor and other officials will -find means to set them aside.” - -“Yes—it certainly is to be feared. Malus has undoubtedly patched up an -alliance, if not with the Governor himself, at least with Romans who can -bring heavy influence to bear upon him and so on the courts. We must not -shut our eyes on this fact. It is our main disadvantage. But to offset -this the Alabarch and myself can also bring heavy influences—and they -shall not be wanting.” - -“We are fortunate and thankful to find such friends—especially as we -have no choice but to proceed. We will proceed and trust Heaven for the -result. I think this is the conclusion to which we have come, and that -we are ready to authorize our friend to place our papers in the hands of -the advocate he proposes,” and he looked inquiringly at Aleph. - -Aleph slightly bowed. After a moment, however, he added: - -“Still I would be glad if, before legal proceedings are begun, we could -give Malus an opportunity to retrace his steps. I would like to try what -effect expostulation under the perils of his situation would have. The -Most High practices forbearance to sinners; and such I understand is the -practice of the Messiah toward his enemies. His miracles show that he -has power enough to overwhelm them all with the greatest ease, but he -forbears and tries on them the effect of more light and expostulation. I -would be glad to imitate God and His Christ.” - -Seti started to his feet in amazement. - -“And this after your very lives have been so foully assailed! This way -of doing things is neither Egyptian, nor Greek, nor Roman, nor even -Jewish—however God-like and Christ like it may be.” - -“I confess,” said Cimon, “that I have something of the feeling that my -young friend has expressed. I am reluctant to drive a man to what may -prove his ruin without giving him a chance for his life. To be sure, I -have small hope of a favorable result from any appeal we can make to the -conscience and fears of Malus. But I should feel easier if it were made.” - -“Well, be it so!” said Seti after a short silence. “Make the experiment. -See what merciful dealings can do. At the most, it only means the -delay of a day or so.... Now let us see what you will _write_ to this -promising candidate for repentance and reformation: for I will never -give my consent that you go in person into the den of such a serpent.” - -Aleph looked at Cimon. The Greek nodded. The young man seated himself at -a table and slowly wrote as follows: - - “Cimon, manager and representative, to Malus, consignee and - merchant. - - “It has been discovered that the returns which you have made - for many years to the business which I represent are not in - accordance with the facts, and that now a very large sum of - money is due us. I am reluctant to appeal to the courts to - enforce our claims; and hope that your sense of justice and - of responsibility to a Higher Power will make such an appeal - unnecessary. A satisfactory assurance from you of regret for - the past and an upright purpose for the future will dispose me - to abate much from my just claim upon you. - - “Let me hear from you to-day at the - - _Khan Rachotis_.” - -“I have great misgivings as to this merciful plan of yours,” said Seti, -“and only give my consent to it on condition that you authorize me to -place your papers in the hands of our advocate at once, without waiting -to see the result of your appeal. If it is successful you can recall the -parcel unbroken. Otherwise it is to be used without delay. You agree?” - -“So be it,” said Cimon. - -“Does the parcel contain as full an explanation of the case as the -advocate will need?” - -“So it seems to me.” - -This ended the conversation. A servant of the khan was immediately -called and dispatched with the letter to Malus. Seti himself remained -till he had seen the main effects of his friends put into the hands of -two servants of his own for transference to the Serapeum. It was agreed -that the owners should follow as soon as possible. - -As chance would have it (I confess that I dislike such language on both -scientific and religious grounds), they were not detained long. Their -messenger met Malus at no great distance from the khan; and soon returned -with a spoken message that they should either see or hear from him at the -khan early the coming evening. - -What should they do in the meantime? Aleph consulted his programme of -lectures, and found that Seti was to speak at the third hour in his -course on Comparative Religions—special topic, _The Religion of Egypt_. -They would settle with their landlord and then leisurely find their way -to the lecture. They were curious to hear what the high-priest of Egypt -would say about its religion. Perhaps they would get some light on the -mystery of his position. - -Accordingly, in due time they found themselves in the lecture-room of -the Serapeum. They noticed that the room was fuller than before, and -conjectured that this was owing to the special interest felt in the topic -to be discussed. Seti evidently noticed their presence as he came in and -passed near them to his seat on the dais. - -What follows is a condensed statement of the main points of the -lecture—without the vigorous argument and abundant illustrations by which -these points were supported. - -Seti began with reminding the students that he had in previous lectures -on the origin and history of religion expressed the conviction that its -earliest stage in all countries was monotheism. The evidence of this, he -thought to be especially clear in the case of Egypt. All his researches -had converged on a remote time when the Egyptian temples contained no -visible object of worship; but were dedicated to a single spiritual Being -who was supposed to be the eternal, almighty, and all wise creator of all -things else, and who was to be worshipped by prayer and praise and gifts -and sacrifice. They called Him _Amun Re_. - -How long the popular religion remained at this point is not known. Nor -is it known by any record how a change came to take place. But probably -it was after this manner. Some of the ruder people began to use visible -symbols of the Great Spirit to assist their conception and devotion; and -by degrees their example was copied extensively by the people at large. -The next step was to pass from the worship of the Being symbolized to -the worship of the symbol itself—a thing about as easy as the descent of -rivers to the sea. - -Before long there crept in a new element. The people had all along -believed, as all other nations have done, in a multitude of invisible -beings, intermediate between the Supreme and man in dignity and faculty, -and having more or less influence over human fortunes. These, whether -supposed good or bad, the people gradually came to think it worth while -to propitiate by various services and honors, very much as they were -accustomed to do to the various grades of powerful officials under the -Pharaohs; and in process of time the services and honors given to these -minor but nearer deities grew to overshadow those of _Amun Re_ himself. - -This secondary worship, too, found symbols natural and convenient. Its -objects were invisible beings hard to be conceived of and realized. In -this case the familiar animals of the country were taken as symbols. -Foreigners have sometimes wondered at this, and perhaps with some reason; -but there are not wanting philosophers who say that even the humblest -_living_ creature is a more wonderful object than any dead statue can be, -though of the most precious material and exquisite workmanship; and that -it better represents the wisdom and power of a living spiritual being. -Whatever one may think of the propriety of this animal symbolism, it -was certainly general in Egypt at a very early period. And men went as -naturally from such a symbolism to a worship of the symbols themselves as -they did to sin and death. - -But where, meanwhile, was the priesthood of _Amun Re_? Through all these -changes among the lower orders the higher Egyptian priesthood held fast -the original theory of religion. To them there was still but one God -to whom religious worship should be paid, and He should be worshipped -without symbol. So they resisted the downward drift—resisted it strongly. -But the popular current was too strong for them. And, after long -struggling against it unsuccessfully, they came by degrees to feel that -the lower orders are incapable of worthily grasping and appropriating a -strictly spiritual religion—that the gross thoughts and cares and toils -amid which their lives are necessarily spent make a grosser form of -religion a necessity to them. The heavens are best read and understood -from eminences—how can the stars of the higher truth be seen to advantage -save from the eminences of human life with their culture and leisure -and broad outlook? They cannot. It must not be expected. A spiritual -religion is not for the vulgar. It is too high and sacred for common -handling. It were a profanation of the lofty and holy to put them into -such hands as hold our plows, work our quarries, and embalm our dead. - -These views at first tolerated, then favored, next embraced and -justified, and finally established as a policy and institution, made two -worlds in Egypt, with a great abyss between them, which have continued -down to the present time. On the one hand has been the world of Pharaohs, -priests and philosophers holding fast the primitive religion of Egypt -as a sacred Mystery: on the other hand has been a world of peasants and -idolaters judged unfit for such high knowledge and carefully excluded -from it. - -“Such,” continued Seti, “was the Egypt which I found. Such was the -policy, solid and venerable with the approval and practice of thousands -of years, that I inherited. It was an ungrateful inheritance. I came -early to doubt its wisdom and righteousness; and by the time when power -came into my hands I had made up my mind to resist and forsake it just -as far and fast as possible. I knew that a sudden change was not wisely -possible. I realized that reforms of ancient evils that have become -intertwined with the whole structure of society must be carefully and -gradually made. Else social convulsions will follow. More damage would -come from violent and precipitate measures than would come from the -evil they attack. With the power of an emperor I could not have wisely -abolished the old order of things by edict. - -“All this I felt profoundly. And so when the supreme priesthood came -to me, while I determined to proceed at once and thoroughly to the -great problem of restoring our religion to its primitive purity among -the lower classes, I also determined to proceed cautiously. I labored -to change the views of the priesthood already on the stage. As director -of all the schools for young priests, I sought to shape their education -toward the original order of things. I enlarged as much as possible the -number of the initiated in the higher classes. I took pains (how much -some of you well know) to impress my views on the young men gathered here -for education from all parts of the world—hoping that the truth would -filter down through the upper strata into the lower and the lowest. And, -further, I have persuaded and instructed the priests who deal directly -with the common people to push into the background, more and more, the -secondary deities—to bring to the front, more and more, the Supreme One; -and to insist upon it that there be no worship of the symbols of even -Him, only of the Being symbolized; all to prepare the way for withdrawing -the symbols themselves. - -“I may have been too lingering and indirect in my action. Some of my -friends think as much. It is not easy to judge in such matters. I would -be glad if we could have a Divine Teacher, such as Plato craved, to tell -us with authority exactly what to do. But until He comes (if indeed He -has not already come) we must take the course that seems to promise the -most good with the least harm. Unsuccessful violence on the traditional -religious habits of the people would be likely to give us political and -social convulsions which would be bad enough: successful violence would -be likely to give us general atheism which would be worse. Young men -(and his voice grew graver and more emphatic as his eye went searchingly -around among the earnest faces), Young men, remember that there is -something worse than worshipping Nilus, or the ibis: it is _the not -worshipping at all_.” - -The students now supposed the lecture finished; but after a silence of a -few moments Seti added: - -“Some of you may feel like asking how this course of mine can consist -with the position I hold as head of the Egyptian religion. If an answer -to this is not sufficiently implied in what I have said already, let -me add that I regard myself as being the high-priest of the original -religion of Egypt, according to our ancient institutions; and do not feel -bound to the variations from it that have been mistakenly introduced by -others. Further, in the course I am pursuing I have the approval of most -of those who have always had in charge the religious concerns of the -country—the higher priesthood. And still further, I am not chargeable -with double-dealing—for, as you will bear me witness, I make no secret of -my views and purposes; and my position does not require me to officiate -at the worship of any secondary deity, but only at that of Amun Re -Himself. Even the symbols of Him under the name of Serapis I do not now -use either in public or private. The statue of Him belonging to this -temple has not been before the public for a number of years.” - -This concluded the lecture. But the young men, too much interested in -both the manner and the matter of their teacher to be in any hurry to -get away, were still lingering in their seats, when a young man appeared -at the door and politely asked their attention. He said that he had -been deputed by the Museum to lay a certain complaint before them. It -appeared that a stranger had been received to student matriculation by -the Serapeum without actual testing in athletics. This step was certainly -very unusual, if not wholly unprecedented; and the Museum felt obliged to -complain of it after a fraternal and gentlemanly fashion, and to ask that -the ancient usage of the University may not be violated. - -Publius Cornelius sprang to his feet. “It is, I believe, according to the -ancient usage of the University that the examination which satisfies one -of its departments shall satisfy the other also. I beg to inform Quintius -Metellus that we examined the candidate to whom he refers as to athletic -matters, and were abundantly satisfied with the examination.” - -“Still it appears,” blandly returned the somewhat foppish and fast -looking young Metellus, “that no actual trial of strength and skill was -made; and the Museum cannot but think that if the new-comer is really -deserving of such exceptional treatment he will be willing to content -us with an actual instead of an imaginary testing in the more advanced -athletics. The Museum has presumed on his willingness, and is at this -moment present in a body in your gymnasium awaiting his appearance.” - -“This seems to me,” began P. Cornelius in a tone just a little tinged -with indignation—but Aleph, making a sign to him, interposed: - -“I beg,” said he, “that our president will not press his view. I am quite -willing to content the Museum, and should be sorry to have any feel that -an ancient usage of the University has been unreasonably set aside in my -favor. I hope, therefore, that the Serapeum will yield to the wishes of -the Museum.” - -“This is very satisfactory,” returned Q. Metellus. “But I am also -instructed to say that inasmuch as the social standing of the new student -is unknown to us, it seems to us that the testing should be on the more -gentlemanly accomplishments. This will throw some light on whether he is -entitled to mingle on equal terms with the representatives of the best -families of the empire.” - -“Nonsense!” exclaimed P. Cornelius. “Use your eyes, Metellus!” - -But Aleph gravely said, “I do not object to the new proposition of the -Museum.” - -“One more particular, and I have finished my mission. The Museum also -requests that the testing may be by our professional teachers of -equestrianism and fence. The testing is likely to be more scientifically -done; and if well sustained will be more creditable to the candidate. I -hope he will gratify us also in this particular.” - -“In this particular also,” said Aleph quietly—“assuming that nothing -unfair is intended, and that I shall not be asked to attempt anything -which the trainer is not willing to attempt himself.” - -“This condition is reasonable—do you accept it?” demanded Cornelius. -Receiving a nod of assent, he continued. “Then we will proceed to the -gymnasium—_under protest_. I demur to the whole proceeding. Our new -associate is too compliant. The Museum is extravagant and unreasonable. -It will bear watching—Gentlemen of the Serapeum!” he exclaimed, after -a moment’s pause, “I move you that we invite the venerable Seti to -accompany us to the gymnasium. It will conduce to order and fairness.” - -The suggestion was heartily ratified. - -The gymnasium was near. The fair occupants of the latticed gallery -already mentioned, and of whose presence some faint signs had appeared -during the lecture, had only to remove to the opposite side of the same -large room to command as good a view and almost as good a hearing of what -might pass in the gymnasium as they had been having of the lecture room. -Did they remove? Who knows? Was the Gem of Alexandria, with her lofty -brow and shining eyes, among them? Who knows? Certainly not Aleph the -Chaldean. - -The large court of the temple had been fitted up for athletic exercises. -We need only say in regard to it that it was large enough to inclose a -small hippodrome at the centre; that on the right and left of a broad -passage leading down to this from the main entrance were tiers of movable -seats rising one above another. Those on the left were already occupied -by the Museum in full force when the Serapeum came crowding in and took -the seats on the right. Then appeared Seti and took the seat of honor -in the middle of the passage. Last of all came P. Cornelius and our two -friends. These walked down at once to the edge of the hippodrome, when -Cimon took a seat on the right, and Aleph and Cornelius remained standing— - -Before a man, who, a long whip in hand, was holding at full length the -rein of a superb looking horse with a riding cloth strapped upon him. - -“What do you wish?” said Aleph to the trainer in equestrianism. - -“Handle this Arabian in all ways—mount, trot around the course, canter -and gallop, maintain your seat under shouts and the hissing of this whip.” - -“Has this horse any peculiarities?” asked Cornelius. - -“This the stranger is to find out for himself,” said the trainer gruffly. - -“The animal has the eye of a demon,” continued Cornelius; “and it is -agreed between the Museum and us that you, Beco, are not to ask my friend -to do what you are not willing to undertake yourself. So I now ask you to -mount—in short, do yourself what you ask from him.” - -“I am here to examine, not to be examined,” and the man shrugged his -shoulders and tried, unsuccessfully, to look amused. - -“Do you refuse?” demanded Cornelius. - -“I refuse to be tested myself; I am not a candidate for matriculation,” -was the surly reply. - -Cornelius looked anxiously around, and seeing the trainer of the Serapeum -standing not far away, he beckoned to him; and on his approach conferred -with him in a low voice for a moment. - -“It is as I thought,” he then cried out so that all could hear; -“our own equestrian trainer judges this animal to be vicious and -dangerous—evidently so dangerous that he would not himself venture to -attempt mounting him. I appeal to the University against such unfairness!” - -No notice was taken of this appeal; for by this time both Serapeum and -Museum were watching with breathless interest the proceedings of Aleph. - -After his first words to the trainer he seemed to take no notice of what -others were doing. His whole attention was absorbed by the formidable -animal before him. Soon he stepped forward to the side of Beco, and stood -there for a few moments looking steadily into the flaming eyes of the -horse. Then he silently took the rein into his hand and motioned Beco -with his whip into the background. There they stood alone for a while, -confronting each other—the soul of the man looking out of his eyes, -and the soul of the brute looking out of his—the one calm, confident, -masterful; the other brimful of willfulness, resistance, determination, -passion, and malignity. Each of them seemed to be asking the other, -_Which of us shall be master?_ - -Aleph began to draw gently on the rein. The horse showed his teeth, -champed his bit, struck the ground fiercely with his forefoot, seemed on -the point of springing on his enemy. But Aleph gave not the slightest -sign of apprehension. Not the smallest movement that looked toward -self-protection was apparent. On the contrary, he advanced a step, and, -if possible, his attitude grew firmer, his port more commanding, and his -eyes shot out their rays into the brute eyes with a still more confident -majesty. He saw the fierce eyes before him beginning to soften, to waver. -He advanced another step. He laid his hand softly on the thin, quivering -nostrils. He began to speak—meanwhile caressing with a gentle hand the -soft nostril, the long forelock, the tapering ears. - -“You are one of ten thousand—finely formed, powerfully built, full of -grace and strength and spirit. A steed for a warrior! But you are not an -Arabian. Parthia was your mother. And you are as wild as the wildest of -the Parthians. I do not think that you have ever felt the weight of a -man. You have been bitted, but never ridden. You have been mismanaged and -abused till you think every man an enemy. It is a mistake. You have at -last found a friend. Now we understand each other—do we not?” - -The noble head had begun to droop toward the soothing tones when Aleph, -putting both arms with the rein over it, drew it gently still lower, -patted it, patted the heavy mane, patted the proud arch of the neck, -patted the shapely flank, patted the royal curve of the back, patted that -royal curve with both hands—a moment more was _seated_ upon it, rein in -hand. - -What a bound there was then! The demon that had been cast out came back -seven-folded. But the horse seemed to think that he had a demon on his -back instead of within him. He sprang into the air with such suddenness -and violence that one would have thought him thunderstruck into a -resolution to forsake the earth at once and forever in favor of a higher -sphere. Then followed a rapid succession of pyrotechnic struggles, in -which was tried every sort of device and movement, save that of falling, -known to a horse, to free himself from his burden. Such mighty wrath; -such desperate and frenzied exertions; such shakings and strikings and -kickings and rearings and plungings, and at last such runnings away, had -not been seen since the days of Bucephalus. But during it all Aleph sat -as if a part of the animal, with no strain whatever on the rein, merely -watchfully accommodating himself to the various movements of which he -seemed to have some secret intelligence in advance: and when the running -began he only used the rein to guide it according to the round of the -arena. This was no easy matter—the speed was so great and the round so -small. Whether he would be able to prevent the headlong courser from -dashing through the seats occupied by the Museum was so doubtful to -those in the front seats that they instinctively made a great outcry and -flourish of canes at the flying centaur. This added, if possible, new -wings to the flight: but Aleph so skillfully combined the use of the rein -with limb-pressure and flexions that the round was safely made three -times. The quadruped hurricane then stopped of his own accord at the -starting point—all in a tremble and covered with foam. - -Aleph sprang from his back, caught up a large cloth that lay near, gently -wiped off the sweat from the trembling animal, patted and stroked and -soothed him with hand and voice till he ceased to tremble. - -Then taking his stand a little in front, he beckoned and called. The -horse instantly walked up to him. He laid his hand on the mane, both -hands; they grew heavier and heavier, and still the animal stood -motionless. A moment more and Aleph was again mounted and pacing slowly -around the course. Arrived at the starting point, he again dismounted, -tightened the band that confined the riding cloth, and then in a very -leisurely way resumed his seat. - -“Now, friend Parthia, shall we trot?” A gentle shake of the rein and -Parthia trotted around the course with a free and stately action. - -“Now, friend Parthia, shall we see what you can do in the way of the -ornamental?” By this time the steed had recovered his strength and -spirit; and in perfect obedience to rein and foot he curveted and pranced -and caracoled about the arena after a most wonderful fashion. But the -greatest wonder was not the horse, but the horseman. Such unaffected -simplicity, ease, and repose of manner! With what grace and even majesty -he carried himself! As he went his last round with the sunshine on his -royal face and the steed stepping as proudly under him as if he knew that -he carried a royal burden—ah, _such_ a shout went up from Serapeum and -Museum both! Aleph happened to look up and lo, on one side of the arena, -high up in the Serapeum, latticed windows were all open and bright faces -and forms were leaning out waving snowy veils. The ladies of Alexandria, -relying on the absorption of the students, and perhaps forgetting -themselves in the intense interest of the scene, had gradually pushed the -lattice aside for the sake of a better view: and when Aleph looked up and -saw them he saw also a bouquet of flowers in the air, and a fair hand -that had just parted with it, and a glorious face that he knew behind the -hand. The horse sprang to meet the descending token; and as Aleph caught -it in his hand, he, as gallant knights should always do, bowed low, even -to the horse’s mane. - -“Who owns this animal, thou villain?” exclaimed Cornelius, with some fire -in his voice and more in his eyes, to the trainer. - -The man tapped the ground uneasily with his whip, and was silent. - -Turning to the students, Cornelius cried, “Whoever was the owner of -this horse when he came here has forfeited his claim. Let us declare -it forfeited to the University, and present the animal to Aleph, the -Chaldean, to be kept at our expense; and if the original owner dares to -claim him let us prosecute the wretch before the courts for intent to -kill one of us.” - -Said Metellus, “I approve of that. It seems to me that it would be a -crime against society to reward the man for his crime by replacing a -horse worth considerably less than nothing by one worth a thousand gold -staters. May I ask what the venerable Seti thinks?” - -The venerable Seti thought that under the circumstances the horse had a -right to choose his own master—that in fact he had already chosen, and -chosen well. He should have free keeping in the stalls of the Serapeum as -long as his master should choose. - -The students ratified lustily. - -In the meantime Aleph had dismounted and stood holding the rein over one -arm, while the other was thrown caressingly over the arched neck of the -horse. As he gave the rein to a servant of the Serapeum who now presented -himself he said: - -“I am glad if the Museum regards the trial thus far as satisfactory. But -there remains another trial to which they have asked me to submit—that by -their teacher of fence. For this I am now ready”—and the flowers which -till now he had held in his hand he secured under his girdle. - -Then up spake Cornelius again. “I cannot but think that the Museum is -thoroughly satisfied already with the justice of our matriculation. And -to ask a young man after such exertions as we have seen to pit himself -against a fresh man and a famous professional seems to me wonderfully -unreasonable. Besides, what has occurred suggests the idea of bad faith -somewhere. Of course the Museum does not mean anything of the sort; but -in my opinion they are being made tools of by somebody who has a deadly -purpose to serve. Unless Draco of Rhodes is a better and fairer man than -Beco the Roman, he can be hired to commit a murder.” - -“It must be confessed,” said Q. Metellus, who had come forward and was -now standing by the side of Cornelius, “that the Museum has made but a -sorry show here to-day, either as a tool or worse; and I should not much -blame P. Cornelius if he had taken a worse view of us than he does. We -have had a most instructive time, but no thanks to the Museum for it. We -were trapped into it. For my part I disclaim all fellowship with Beco -and his proceedings; and if I could think it possible that another such -scoundrel could be found attached to the Museum I should be tempted to -forsake it for cleaner quarters. If I should wish the examination to -proceed further it would be solely for the purpose of vindicating our -good name and showing that Beco is the only devil among us.” - -On this arose another young man among the benches of the Museum who -commended in a general sort of way the remarks of Metellus; but then said -that the Museum had formally taken the ground that it was not proper to -take any accomplishment for granted, saving as the higher includes the -lower. It would not only be inconsistent but an unfortunate precedent -should they leave the testing incomplete. To be sure, the young man who -calls himself Aleph the Chaldean has borne himself well thus far; still -he might wholly fail under the remaining test. Certainly the Museum, -however well satisfied at present, would be better satisfied if the whole -plan agreed upon should be carried out. He did not anticipate another -Beco in Draco. No doubt Draco would be forbearing with the young man, and -would only tax him enough to make a reasonable trial of his skill in the -gentlemanly art of fence. For this purpose no dangerous weapons need be -used—only the open hands. As the candidate did not seem to be at all worn -by what he had done, let him have a chance to win new laurels from Draco -of Rhodes. - -Some of the Museum applauded. - -“But Euphemes of Corinth should consider,” began P. Cornelius; but Aleph -laid his hand on his arm and said, “Excuse me, my friend.” - -Then turning toward the Museum, he added in a voice that had in it a -touch of humor as well as several touches of decision, “I beg that -the Museum may be gratified by the complete carrying out of the plan -they have proposed. I do not ask for exceptions in my favor, either -from my fellow students or from your teacher of fence. Let him do his -best—provided he deal fairly and honorably.” - -This settled the matter, though Cornelius and some others, especially of -the Serapeum, looked and muttered discontent. “It is too bad. Talk of -fairness and honor in connection with such a desperado as Draco! Depend -upon it there is some wickedness in the wind. When such a fellow comes to -the front the gods retire.” - -And he _was_ a formidable figure to look at, as he presented himself in -the arena. A man of unusual stature and weight, with prodigious muscular -development about the arms and chest, but without obesity and with every -appearance of activity as well as of strength. His face was the worst -part of him—shaggy, coarse, hard, cruel, with protuberant blood-shot -eyes out of which looked all the passions save fear and pity—the whole -made more repulsive by a large swelling on one cheek which Aleph well -understood. - -To this forbidding figure Aleph walked down (followed at a little -distance by Cornelius and Metellus) and stood before him with folded arms -and investigating eyes. - -Draco proceeded to pass his hands across the shoulders and chest of the -young man; felt of his arms; took their length; inspected his hands; -stood off a little distance to observe the limbs and general build. - -“Very well to begin upon. I think I could make something of you. Not -quite enough like Mars, however.” Then, taking the attitude of a boxer, -he said, “Now deliver some blows at me with your open hand.” - -Aleph made certain strokes which were more remarkable for the freedom and -grace with which they were delivered than for anything else, and which -Draco found no difficulty in parrying. None of them were aimed at the -face; but once the low stroke was so struck up by Draco in the parrying -that the hand touched the swollen cheek. Draco’s eyes flashed. - -In this preliminary bout it became evident to Aleph, from the force and -direction of the parrying, that Draco was aiming to disable as well as to -parry. His wards were strokes—his defense an attack. - -“Now take your turn at parry,” said Draco with a subtle menace lurking in -both eye and voice. - -Aleph saw that the time had come when he would need all his watchfulness. -He erected himself to a fuller stature. His feet and limbs set themselves -into new firmness. His eye took on new openness and intensity without -losing anything of its characteristic repose. He had hardly made this -instinctive preparation before the blows began to come—at first with some -show of tentativeness and moderation, but, as they were warded off, they -returned with ever increasing heat and force, and gradually came to be -aimed exclusively at the head. Now it was the mouth, now the eye, now -the temple. He seemed bent on at least marring the manly beauty before -him, and which contrasted so strangely with his own coarse and brutal -features. Gradually the open palm became the knotted fist. Gradually the -knotted fist came as fast and fiercely as the whole passionate force of -the man could wield it. - -Through the whole of this impetuous hail storm, Aleph kept strictly on -the defensive. His whole work was parrying. Was not this in the bond? -Of course his hands were full of occupation—his feet also when Draco -began to shift positions and at length attacked him on whatever side and -from whatever direction he could. Aleph hardly had time to wonder at the -headlong ferocity of the storm that was discharging itself upon him. - -“_Stop!_” cried Cornelius. “This is fighting, not examining. _Stop!_ I -say—this is intolerable.” - -But Draco paid no attention. The glare of a tiger was in his eyes. His -face was that of a fiend. - -“Shall I quit the defensive?” inquired Aleph in a low voice to Cornelius -and Metellus—as he gained a moment’s respite by a spring to one side. - -“Do so!” they both exclaimed. “He means to kill you.” - -Then was a sight worth seeing. Then the youth fairly awoke. Then his -whole frame began to work with the supreme grace and force of some -mighty machine. It was Apollo turned to Mars, or rather to Jupiter Tonans -himself—so wonderfully sovereign and commanding became his aspect. And -perhaps the most impressive thing about it was the mysterious repose and -utter self-possession that sat on thrones in every feature. - -Compared with his movements now, all his former ones were mere pastime. -It was sublime to see such a face, such a figure, such a blending of all -the poetries of expression and motion. He still parried, but every parry -was followed by a blow delivered. Swifter and stronger flew that young -hand. He, too, could be swift and mighty—he, too, could press, now on -this side and now on that, and again, seemingly, on all sides at once. -And yet his breathing was unhurried—there seemed in him endless reserves -of strength and battle. - -“Immortal gods! how he handles himself,” exclaimed young men as they -stood on their benches and watched breathlessly. - -Almost as soon as the defensive became the aggressive, a severe -stroke on his swollen cheek warned Draco that he must begin to look -to self-preservation. He could no longer give his whole attention to -assault. He became vividly sensible of the great change that had taken -place in the aspect and bearing of his antagonist. He saw how cool and -collected he was—how perfectly master of himself. The sight angered him, -made him furious. He would have given his life for one fair demolishing -stroke on the young man on whom as yet he had not been able to fasten -a single bruise. But scant time had he now for even such flashes of -thinking. He had all he could do to ward off the blows that came so -mightily and swiftly, and yet with a certain deliberate terribleness -and ease that seemed to say that such could be delivered forever. Soon -another blow passed his ward and reached the cheek hitherto untouched. -But it was with the palm of the hand. Was Aleph affecting to be -forbearing and merciful to him who had never given mercy nor needed it? -Was he, like some perverse boy, being cuffed into good behavior? The -thought was intolerable. That a youngster of a score of summers should be -sparing him—conquering him with even something less than his utmost, was -agony. And yet that was what everybody could now see was bound to happen. -It was plain to see that Draco was waning and that Aleph was waxing. -The sweat was dropping freely from the face of the one; the brow of the -other was not perceptibly moist. Spectators could see that the young man -often voluntarily neglected advantages that the passion and precipitation -of his adversary gave him, and was seeking to close the contest with as -little damage and mortification to him as possible. After one of these -plain forbearances he said to Draco in a low voice: - -“Need this go on? Say that you are satisfied with the examination and we -will stop just here. You have for some time been in my power.” - -For answer the infuriated man leaped at him with the expression of a -fiend, and tried to throw his arms about him and bear him to the ground. -So sudden and violent was the movement that Aleph eluded it with some -difficulty; but he did it, and, in passing, dealt the ill-balanced man a -blow that felled him to the ground. He lay motionless. - -“He is not injured—only stunned,” said Aleph to Cornelius and Metellus -as they came up. They looked at the speaker and wondered. Not a blow -appeared to have reached him. There was no visible disarrangement of -his dress even. The flowers at his girdle were still in place. And the -supremely cool and masterful look that had presided through the whole -contest was still sitting in full glory on its throne. - -The issue had been anticipated by the students for some time; but their -breathless interest in watching the conflict had kept them from any -general vocal expression. But now there was _such_ an uproar—such a -waving of canes and caps, such stamping and clapping and lung-rending -huzzaing as a thousand frenzied young men could make, and such as the old -Serapeum had not known for many a day, if ever. Did Seti make any effort -to suppress or moderate? Not he. Some even go so far as to say that he -was seen unconsciously keeping time to the uproar with his foot. Others -say (and I am disposed to think they are right) that he sat as motionless -as the statue of Memnon, sat as if in a dream, till the tumult had -somewhat subsided. Then he held up his hand. Silence at once reigned. - -“Young men of the Museum! I cannot think that any considerable number of -you have been knowingly concerned in this conspiracy. Were it otherwise -it would be to the eternal disgrace of the University, and especially -of your part of it. I prefer to think, and _do_ think, that you have -been victims. You could not have supposed that it was intended to assail -the very life of a young man under pretense of testing his athletic -accomplishments. You have been misled and deceived by somebody. I leave -you to find out who inspired and contrived this whole thing. It is -necessary for your good name. And I shall not wonder if you decline -henceforth to have anything to do with these two professional trainers -who have allowed themselves to be used for murderous purposes. - -“Perhaps some, if not all, of you have thought it strange that I did not -interfere to break off this contest when its true character became plain. -I was on the point of doing so several times: but as I looked at the -young man I seemed to see in his whole bearing such abundant promise of -a successful issue that I felt it would be a wrong to all of you young -men to keep from you an inspiring example, and a wrong to him to keep him -from the honor to which he is so justly entitled.” - -“The venerable Seti is right,” cried Metellus. “We of the Museum are no -better than we should be; but we are not sunk so low as to take part in a -plot against the life or limb of a stranger who has done us no harm—much -less against a member of our own University. We have been imposed upon. -We supposed that nothing but a reasonable and safe testing was intended: -we even supposed that less danger would attend it under our trainers than -would naturally belong to an emulative contest between students. - -“It would be a farce for me,” he continued, “to ask the Museum to vote -as to whether the examination of the candidate has been satisfactory. -There is not one of us but would throw his cap to the moon in token of -approval. Of course we adopt the hero into the Museum by a thunder of -silent acclamation. We have seen something to-day to tell to the old -folks at home—something to tell to our children,” he added smiling. And -then with a graver face and a graver tone he went on, “And somehow -I feel as if I should go away from this place a truer and worthier -man for what we have seen to-day. I had heard of magnanimity before; -to-day I have seen it. And I like it. Heroism is good, but heroism with -righteousness is better. I see that it is possible to come down on a -great deed, which is even better than rising to meet it. - -“But though the Museum does not need to vote approval of Aleph the -Chaldean (what a ridiculous thing it would be!), I think we owe it to -ourselves to act on the suggestion of the venerable Seti; to express -formally our condemnation of these villains (the one lying here where he -ought to lie, and the other standing yonder dangling a whip which ought -to make many a weal across his own back) and their prompters, whoever -they may be. Have we any further need of the services of trainers who are -themselves trained by the infernals? I think not. Those agreeing with me -will stretch out their hands.” - -As far as Metellus could see, every right hand was lifted. - -What congratulations were showered on Aleph, how cordial and admiring -both Serapeum and Museum seemed, how profuse the latter were in their -disclaimers and apologies and promises to unearth the whole plot, and how -modestly Aleph carried himself under it all, I will not attempt to set -down in detail. - -“Come with me,” said Seti to our friends, as the students broke up, “and -I will show you your new quarters.” On the way they told him of their -arrangement to meet Malus at the khan in the evening, but promised to -return immediately after to the Serapeum. At the door of their apartments -a servant met them and said to the priest that his granddaughter was in -her sedan at the gate and wished to see him. Would he come at once? She -was looking very pale and ill. Seti at once threw open the door, bade -them enter and be at home, and hastened after the servant. - -He did not appear again that day. Very likely he went home with Rachel. -And very likely Aleph would have followed in the course of the afternoon, -had not Cimon happened to mention that he overheard a student saying -that news had just come that the emperor had asked the daughter of the -Alabarch in marriage for his nephew and heir Germanicus, and that the -visit of the Alabarch to Rome had reference to this overture. “Perhaps,” -added Cimon, “this is what has disturbed her.” - -“She would never marry a pagan,” said Aleph decidedly. - -“Perhaps Germanicus is such a pagan as her grandfather,” returned Cimon. -“He is said to be a very promising young man, and the son of excellent -parents; and no doubt the Jewish elders will be greatly in favor of an -alliance that promises to secure and advance their interests so greatly. -They will remember Queen Esther.” - -Aleph made no answer—unless the silent one of drawing out the knot of -flowers from his girdle and setting them carefully with water in a vase -which he had discovered in the room. But _was_ this an answer? If so, -it certainly was not a very clear one. Did it say _No_ to Cimon? Did it -say that his suggestions were not as weighty as they might be? Did it -merely say that the rare and lovely flowers were worth preserving for a -day or two on their own account—whether they came from a future empress -of Rome or not? Or did the _heart_ of the young man really speak in -the act without consulting his judgment—as hearts sometimes do? I am at -a loss. Such Delphic conduct is very embarrassing. Why will people put -interpreters to so much trouble? If I had been Aleph I would have—but no -matter what I would have done. What does the public care? - - - - -XI. - -THE TREMBLING. - - Κρεισσον δε νοσειν η θεραπευειν. - - —EURIPIDES, _Hipp._ 177. - - _Better to be sick than to act the part of a nurse._ - - 1. How could you! - 2. Lazarus, come forth! - 3. Empress of the West? - 4. Sympathetic advice. - - - - -XI. - -THE TREMBLING. - - -Seti found Rachel sitting in her sedan and looking more like collapsed -alabaster than a human being—her eyes closed, every trace of color gone -from her cheek, and yet with an expression that told of a desperate -struggle for self-mastery. - -She opened her eyes as she felt Seti’s hand on her arm. - -“O grandfather, how _could_ you allow that dreadful combat to go on!” - -“What, have you then been a witness of it all? I had forgotten that it -was possible. My poor child—it was indeed too much for any lady, save a -Roman accustomed to a Roman arena!” - -“I had no idea of what was coming when I went over to the other side of -the gallery with the rest. And they pressed me to the best window for -seeing and hearing: once there I was under a spell. I could not tear -myself away. I felt obliged to see and hear though I died in the act. -Every sense was acute beyond anything I can remember. Oh how I suffered -at the earlier stages of that last conflict! It seemed as if I could -neither stay nor get away. It was awful. I was amazed that my companions -did not seem to mind the scene as I did. Why did you not interfere?” - -“I hardly understand why, myself. But probably it was the confidence -which the whole bearing of the young man, and his superb physique, in -which he surpasses all I have ever known—probably it was the confidence -that these inspired that he would be more than equal to the occasion. -Still, now that it is all over, I wonder at myself somewhat.” - -“But suppose that brute of a horse, or that greater brute of a man, had -killed him? I shudder to think of it. I had no idea that anything could -have shaken me so.” She closed her eyes and involuntarily trembled. - -“But,” she added in a moment, “this is not all. I received this morning -from my mother a letter which moved me greatly and perhaps unfitted me -to bear the scene in the palæstra as well as did the other young ladies. -Between the two I feel too weak to go home alone: besides, I want your -counsel. Can you not go with me?” - -Seti went with her. - -The following is a copy of the letter—omitting the usual epistolary -preliminaries—which Seti read and pondered that afternoon: - -“My dear Rachel, you know how little I thought of remaining in Jerusalem -till now. But our relative Nicodemus has been urgent, and such great -things have been happening here that I have felt more like sending for -you and your father to come to me than like returning home. - -“My dear daughter, you doubtless have wondered that hitherto I have said -so little in my letters of Jesus of Nazareth (as he is called here), -though you have seemed so anxious to hear about him. The fact is that the -ideas of the Messiah to which I have been accustomed and which are held -by the chief people here, have made it hard for me to feel my way to a -definite and settled opinion; and I have been unwilling to write much on -a subject in regard to which my mind was in so confused and uncertain -a state. But I have at last—after much prayer, and much study of the -prophets, and much inquiry of credible witnesses, as well as some seeing -with my own eyes—come to see my way clearly. Yes, my dear daughter, I do -indeed feel sure at last that Jesus is our long-expected Messiah. If the -proofs of this which he furnishes are not sufficient it seems impossible -to prove anything. Even Moses himself did not more clearly establish his -Divine mission. - -“Nicodemus has helped me not a little. He is a very cautious man—I think -somewhat too cautious and slow; as is not unnatural to one who has so -much to lose—but at home he makes no secret of his conviction that it -is impossible to account for the wonderful deeds of Jesus save on the -supposition that God is with him. I hope this influential man will soon -get courage to speak out. - -“When I came here I found the reality of Jesus’s miracles admitted; and, -after I had learned the character of his life and teaching, I did not -see how they could be accounted for reasonably by the magical art and -evil spirits. But I have lately fallen in with some of his disciples, -and especially with some friends of his at Bethany, who have given me -a more clear and connected view of his doings and teachings than I had -before. At Bethany I met the mother of Jesus—a wonderful woman, whom -to see and hear is to believe. In answer to my inquiries, she told of -the strangest possible events preceding and following the birth of -Jesus—of an angelic annunciation, of a Divine conception, of the birth -at Bethlehem, of shepherds sent by a glory of angels to worship the -child, of a caravan of princes from the far east who came, star-guided, -to do him homage, of a flight to Egypt, of their return on the death of -Herod to live at Nazareth in Galilee till Jesus was thirty years old, -of how good and holy he was during all those years, so that she never -saw a fault in him, though much that was mysterious. She had sometimes -felt oppressed by the mystery which always hung about him like a silver -veil, but through which occasionally struggled gleams of a Divine majesty -and power. As time rolled on, and the child had long since become the -mature man, she wondered that so many years were allowed to pass before -his making any public movement. But she knew that it would come in due -time: God would be as good as His word; such preparations and heralding -would not be an idle flourish and make-believe. Then she went on to tell -me about his forerunner and baptism and first miracle near three years -ago; and of the many miracles she had seen since. While listening to his -teaching, she had been quite as much astonished at his wisdom as she had -been at his power. It was a very strange feeling the mother had when she -found herself looking up to her son as being immeasurably above her in -everything. Still she rejoiced in the fact with a sort of awful joy. - -“As she told me all these things there was so much simplicity and -truthfulness, as well as intelligence, shining in her face and whole -manner, that I could not but accept her testimony. Then how I wanted to -see _him_! This I had never done until a few days ago. And it was in this -way: - -“Have I said that the house in Bethany where I saw Mary the mother of -Jesus was the house of one Lazarus and his two sisters? One day when I -was there Lazarus complained of feeling unwell. The sisters, Mary and -Martha, did some trifling thing for him and thought no more of it. But, -instead of improving, he grew worse. A leech was called in. Still the -brother grew worse. Day by day the shadows deepened, until at last the -leech himself confessed that he could do no more. Then the sisters said, -‘Though the leeches cannot help Lazarus, there is one who can;’ and they -immediately sent off a messenger to Jesus, who was then in Galilee. Day -after day passed and still no Jesus came. Meanwhile the sick man pined -and wasted, and the home and hearts grew darker and darker, and at last -the leech said there was no hope. No, no hope in _him_, or such as he, -but still hope in Jesus that he would bring or send help. Can it be that -he will suffer his friend to die?—he who has cured all sorts of diseases -for all sorts of persons with whom he had no special tie?—I was there and -saw the struggle between hope and despair: saw despair finally triumph as -last words were spoken, as the breath came gaspingly, as the light faded -from the eye and the pulse from the wrist and—he was gone. Close his -eyes, O friends; straighten out the stiffening limbs; let the mourning -women come! Lazarus is dead—_dead_. - -“The sisters gave themselves up to their grief. They refused to be -comforted. They could not understand that dreadful silence. Had the -seemingly inexhaustible fountains of power and helpfulness really given -out? At all events, all was now over. Nothing remained but to bury their -dead, and wait with streaming eyes and broken hearts for their own turns -to come. And the sooner they should come the better. - -“So the dead was buried, the lament made, and the sisters sat down with -despair for companion in a home where midnight had come in place of -midday. Some of us sat with them as much as we could—holding their hands -in silent sympathy. What could words do in such a case! We answered their -groans with a pressure of the hand. We followed their tears with our own. -Every now and then, amid their tears and groans, they exclaimed, ‘If he -had been here our brother had not died—had not died.’ - -“So three days wore away—carrying with them what little was left of the -light in their eyes and the color in their cheeks. On the fourth day, -while I was sitting with them, some one came in and whispered to Martha. -She at once rose and hastened out. But Mary sat still—not even appearing -to notice the departure of her sister. So we continued sitting. But it -was not long before Martha returned with flurried haste, and with an -expression on her face that seemed like the first faint gray of dawn on -the edge of a black bank of clouds. Mary started up at a whisper from -her, and with something of the same expression on her face followed her -out. We followed, too; for we thought that our sympathetic presence at -the grave where we supposed they were going might still be helpful to the -stricken sisters. - -“And now, my dear daughter, prepare to read something wonderful. My hand -trembles as I proceed to write it; and sometimes when I have thought of -it such an awe has come over me that I could not have then written at -all. But my nerves are now steadier. Behold what happened! - -“As we neared the cave where Lazarus had been laid away, we saw a -group of men. Mary darted forward and threw herself at the feet of one -of them. Then I understood it all. Jesus and his disciples had at last -come. I did not need to hear her say, ‘Lord, if thou hadst been here my -brother had not died;’ for, as I looked with all my eyes of both body -and mind, on the face that was looking down so compassionately on the -weeping woman, I saw at once the original of the picture that his mother -had made for me. I never had seen such a face. I do not expect ever to -see another like it. I do not speak of its beauty, though beauty was not -wanting; nor of its majesty, though majesty was not wanting; but of a -mysterious something that seemed to lie back of and shine dimly through -the comeliness and the kingliness—a power behind the throne greater than -the throne itself; more beautiful than the beauty, more majestic than -the majesty; a certain something so pure, so wise, so mighty, and yet -so loving and pitiful, that Divinity himself seemed looking through the -windows of flesh. This was how he seemed to me. It may be that he does -not make the same impression on all; indeed, I know that he does not. -And even to me, while I looked, there was a sensible coming and going -of the Divine expression—like a rapid flowing and ebbing on the strand -of a boundless sea of mingled fire and foam. Nay, while I was absorbed -in watching him the Infinite seemed to sweep back and back, and at last -disappeared altogether—leaving nothing but the purely human. But oh, what -a human! The sands laid bare were pure gold. So gentle, so tender, so -sympathetic as his tearful eyes rested on the tearful people—a frightened -dove or hind would have taken refuge in his bosom. Mary evidently took -refuge there. - -“‘Where have you laid him?’ said the most sympathetic voice in the world. - -“‘Come and see,’ said the sisters; and led the way to one of the tombs -close by. The cave was wrought into the brow of a hill, and was closed by -a door against which rested a large stone. - -“‘Take away the stone,’ said Jesus; and as he spake I seemed to see the -Infinite coming back into his face with a mighty rush and completely -covering the merely human out of sight. - -“We were breathless with expectation. - -“He stood for a moment with eyes uplifted and lips that moved—as if -communing with the sky. Then, in a voice that had in it such a commanding -quality, such a tone of unquestioned and unquestionable supremacy as I -had never before noticed in any voice, and which seemed able to speak a -world out of nothing, he cried: - -“‘LAZARUS, COME FORTH!’ - -“Would the dead hear? I _knew_ he would hear. The voice itself predicted -a resurrection; and I felt in every fibre of my being that almightiness -was present and failure impossible. And yet how intently I gazed on the -door of that tomb—how intently I listened for some sound from within! He -scarcely had done speaking, when, sure enough, there was within the cave -a stir, a rustle, a _step_. Another moment and the heavy door swung open, -as of itself, and a man in grave-clothes appeared. The swathing bands -were still about his hands and feet—the napkin was still about his face. - -“‘Loose him and let him go!’ bade Jesus. - -“The people obeyed, and lo, our friend Lazarus of old! Not the -fever-stricken, delirium-haunted, emaciated Lazarus of a few days ago, -who could not have stood on his feet without being wholly supported; -but the Lazarus of his best days, able to go and come and do with the -best. Also, looking as he did then, but with a difference. The mystery -of the unseen was in his face. He seemed in possession of vast secrets. -With this was a look, first of bewilderment and surprise, then of -recognition—recognition of him whose potential word had brought him back -to the world. He knelt at the feet of Jesus, and kissed his hand—as men -do homage to their king. _His_ King had come. - -“Any doubt whether the death was real? Not to those who, like myself, had -seen the sick man decline from day to day until the last feeble breath -was drawn and the body grew cold and stiff. Not to those who prepared the -body for burial and carried it forth to the tomb. Not to those who stood -by the cave-mouth when the door swung back, four days after; nor to those -who took off from the living man the cerements of the dead. The smell of -death could not be mistaken. No, there is no doubt. - -“Since then I have seen Jesus several times, and have talked with him. -And I _know_ that he is our Messiah. Would that you and your grandfather -and all the dear family could see and hear him too! I feel that you all -would, and must, judge as I do. Both my eyes and my heart recognize him. -I seem to know him by a new internal sense. - -“Not so, however, our chief men. He does not impress them as he does -me. They are getting exceedingly bitter against him. Every new wonder -increases their exasperation. I am ashamed to say it—but I have no -doubt that they would gladly take his life. It must be that they are -judicially blinded; or, if not, that an evil mood of the heart and will -wonderfully hinders perception in religious matters. - -“I would like to say more; but I hope to see you soon, and to make you -a joyful sharer of my faith by a fuller account of what I have seen and -heard. - -“But what is this that I hear? Hints come to me almost daily about you -and the great alliance. And yet you said nothing about it in your last. -Just before he left for Rome, your father wrote me that the emperor had -made proposals for you in behalf of his nephew and heir; and that this -was partly the occasion of his going to Rome. I hope that you will speak -freely in your next. I can see what great advantage to our people, not -to say to all peoples, might come from such an alliance; especially as I -hear the best things said of the young Cæsar. He is said to be like his -excellent father. Is it possible that a daughter of mine will become more -than a second Esther?” - -Such was the letter—omitting the usual formalities of beginning and -ending. While Seti was reading it, Rachel kept her eyes fastened -anxiously on his face—especially as he approached the end. When at last -he looked up, she came and stood before him and put a hand on each -shoulder and looked beseechingly into his eyes. - -“Grandfather, had you known of this before?” - -Seti slowly bowed his head. - -“Why did not my father tell me?” - -“Perhaps he did not want to agitate you unnecessarily—perhaps he wanted -to see the young man and make inquiries about him, and learn more fully -from the emperor himself all that was implied in the proposals before -allowing you to be troubled with the matter. You see it was possible that -such inquiries might show it best to decline the offer without its coming -before you at all.” - -“Grandfather, let it _never_ come before me. In advance, I put it away -from me with both hands.” And then suddenly: “Do you think father would -be willing to sacrifice me, I do not say to ambition, for I know him -incapable of that, but to what he thinks to be the interests of his -people?” - -“I think,” said Seti slowly, “that he might be willing to sacrifice -himself for such an object, but would feel that he has no right to -sacrifice you. Sacrifices of this sort must be voluntary.” - -“Then I am safe,” she exclaimed, “for my will is all another way, and it -has passed beyond my control. If a victim is needed for our people, let -father lay me on an altar of stone or earth, as did our father Abraham -his son Isaac, and I will die by his hand gladly; but to die all my life -long on such an altar as Tiberius—this is beyond my power, even for the -good of Israel. It seems to me an awful wickedness. I abhor the very -thought of it.” - -“And so do I,” said Seti. “I do not believe in doing evil that good may -come, pagan though I——” (she put her hand over his mouth). “But they say -that Germanicus is not a Tiberius, but is like his father, who was among -the very best of the Romans, both in character and accomplishments; and -is it not just possible that if the young man should come here in person -to plead his own cause you would——” - -“I would _not_, grandfather; if he should come to me with his head -weighted with all the diadems that ever were worn, and with all the -personal accomplishments that ever managed to flourish on a heathen, I -would turn my back upon him. There, now! Bear witness, ye heavens!” - -“I think I understand you,” replied Seti, after a moment. “I feel very -much as you do about this matter, heathen though——” (she again hurried -her hand to his mouth). “But do not speak in this way to others. I see -that the matter is getting abroad, and you will be likely to get hints, -inquiries, counsels, congratulations from many quarters. Take refuge in -silence. By all means do not look like an empress, and an angry one, as -you did just now. You shall not be crowded into the imperial throne for -the sake of Israel, or for any other sake.” - -She kissed him for answer; laid her head on his bosom; and, exhausted, -went to sleep as he softly stroked her shapely head. So he sat and held -her in his arms till the day was spent, and the old moon in the arms of -the new looked in at the casement, and saw the new moon in the arms of -the old. And those moons aloft that are never weary, and worried, and -worn, shed tears over the sublunary ones whose lot is so different—tears -which the very early risers in Alexandria, the next morning, mistook for -dew. They were plain people; and, like most in University towns, were not -much wiser for the University. - - - - -XII. - -THE VANISHING. - - Καιρὸς πρὸς άνθρώπων βραχύ μέτρον έχει. - - —PINDAR, _Pyth._ iv. 509. - - _Opportunity for men has a brief measure._ - - 1. Where are they? - 2. Call on the governor. - 3. Invoice the University. - 4. Let Piso do his best. - 5. Where is God? - - - - -XII. - -THE VANISHING. - - -Early the next morning Seti knocked at the door of our friends. Getting -no answer, he repeated the knock. Still hearing nothing, he opened the -door and went in. The room was vacant; as was also the sleeping-room -adjoining. Plainly the latter had not been occupied during the night. He -was alarmed. - -Summoning two servants to follow him, he proceeded to the khan with rapid -steps. What was his dismay to learn from the landlord that, shortly after -Cimon and Aleph came in, the evening before, a body of the city police -appeared and demanded to search their room for jewelry stolen from the -warehouse of Malus. Permission being readily given, the Cretan agent of -Malus, well known in the city, who accompanied the party and conducted -the search, went fumbling about on his hands and knees in the darker -parts of the room; and finally held up, with an exclamation of delight, -a small casket which he declared was the missing article, and had been -missing ever since Cimon’s visit to the warehouse. Whereupon the chief of -the police showed a warrant for arresting Cimon. The young man protested, -and declared that he saw the Cretan slyly whip the casket out of the -bosom of his own tunic. But the older man thought that the police were -right in claiming that they had no option in the case—he would go with -them without resistance, and his friend could take such measures on the -morrow for his relief as he might find best. So he went off with the -party, leaving the young man standing at the gate. - -But this party had scarcely disappeared, when a band of Roman soldiers -came up and surrounded Aleph. “Are you Aleph, the Chaldean?” demanded the -leader. - -“So I am called,” said the young man. - -“Then we have been sent to arrest you.” - -“For what?” demanded Aleph. - -“For assault and battery here last night; and as a suspected enemy of the -emperor.” - -“Show me your warrant,” demanded the young man. - -The leader produced a document bearing what purported to be the seal and -signature of the governor. “Is this document genuine?” said Aleph to -the landlord, who was standing by. The landlord looked at the paper and -nodded. - -“Then I will go with you,” said the young man calmly. “But may I not -first communicate my situation to my friends, that they may have an -opportunity to set me right with the authorities?” - -“We were not authorized to allow delay for any purpose.” - -“You will have to delay,” said Aleph, “for the purpose of hearing and -allowing these by-standers” (several of the guests of the khan had by -this time come up) “to hear me declare that I am innocent of the charges -brought against me, and can prove as much, opportunity being given me.” - -A soldier approached to bind him. Aleph motioned him away with his cane. -“I have said that I will go with you. I now say that I will go with you -without attempting to escape while going, provided you leave me free and -in possession of this cane. Otherwise the man who approaches me does so -at his peril.” - -After some consultation his demand was granted; and he went off quietly -with the party, saying to the landlord as he went, “You can at least tell -what you have seen and heard.” - -Such was the account given to Seti. He remained merely to ask a simple -question: “Could there be any doubt as to the party being real Roman -soldiers?” The landlord thought not: they had the equipment of Roman -soldiers; and, besides, their bearing and step together were professional. - -The high-priest hastened back to the Serapeum, assumed his pontifical -robes, summoned a large train of servants, and proceeded in his official -chariot, drawn by four white mules, to the Roman headquarters in -Bruchium. Arrived at the palace of the governor, a herald stepped before -the gate, blew a trumpet, and cried: “Seti of the Serapeum, high-priest -of Egypt and metropolitan, desires audience of Avilleus Flaccus, -Proprætor and Legate of Cæsar and Governor of Egypt.” - -In a few moments the gates were thrown open, and the whole party entered -a large court, where, at the foot of a flight of marble steps, Seti -alighted and was conducted by an obsequious usher into the audience-room -and presence of the Roman governor. - -Seti was dignified and formal; coolly saluting his excellency with all -the usual formalities, but not a jot beyond. On the other hand, Flaccus, -an ordinary man to look at but wearing the extraordinary toga permitted -to the imperial representative, was exceedingly demonstrative and -deferential in welcoming his illustrious visitor. He seemed to feel that, -belonging only to the Equestrian Order and with no ancestors save those -whose names had been written with water and in water, he was socially -far from being equal to the freezingly cold and stately Egyptian pontiff -whose sires had reigned in palaces and temples before Rome was founded. - -Seti cut short the ceremonial. Would the governor be good enough to say -whether he had given an order for the arrest of a regularly enrolled -member of the University, an inmate of the Serapeum, and a particular -friend of himself and the Alabarch Alexander? - -Flaccus appeared to consult his memory. He did not remember to have given -any such order. - -“An order to arrest one Aleph, the Chaldean, as a disturber of the public -peace and a suspected enemy of the emperor?” suggested Seti. - -No, he did not think that he could have given such an order. - -“An order executed last evening by a company of Roman soldiers?” -continued the priest in the same icy tone. - -“Certainly not.” - -“I am glad to hear it, and to have your authority for denying the report -that is getting abroad. It may also be for your interest to deny it -personally as you have opportunity; for the young man in question is a -great favorite, not only with the Alabarch and myself, but also with the -young men in the University, who represent the noblest Roman families and -a great interest with the emperor and the Cæsar.” - -“I think,” said Flaccus, with a not very successful attempt at an arch -look, “that I know of somebody who is likely to have more interest with -Germanicus than any of them.” - -“However that may be,” said Seti emphatically, “it is certain that the -young man will have such justice as our best efforts can secure.” - -“What can I do?” said the Roman uneasily. - -“I will tell your excellency,” said the Egyptian. “It is understood in -the city that a party of Roman soldiers, under a written warrant from -you, arrested and carried off, we know not where, a privileged member of -the University, for whom the best vouchers can be found. But, as I now -learn from you, that warrant must have been forged; and what appeared to -be Roman soldiers, were not such, but other parties in disguise. Now I -would respectfully suggest that you give me and the other friends of the -young man written authority to search for and rescue him at whatever cost -to those who have carried him off. This will answer our purpose, and at -the same time serve to defend you from the suspicions of the people.” - -Flaccus hesitated, bit his lip, twirled a gold badge that hung from -his neck, looked at every object in the room save Seti. Seti looked at -nothing save him. - -The priest rose to go. “Time is of great consequence to me this morning. -Am I to understand that your excellency declines to authorize me in -writing to rescue from robbers and murderers a young man for whom the -Alabarch and myself, as well as the University at large, offer to stand -vouchers?” - -“I do not see why you need a written authorization from me,” said -Flaccus, beginning to sharpen a reed. - -“I did not say that we need such a document. _You_ need to give it.” He -said this last in a low but a very distinct and measured tone of voice. - -“Well, I will give it,” said the governor with sudden decision—“if it -will oblige you and your friends.” - -“It _will_ oblige us,” said Seti; and in a few moments he took -punctilious leave with the desired document in his possession. - -He returned at once to the Serapeum. Resuming his ordinary dress, he -proceeded to the lecture room, where, as yet, he found only two or -three students, among whom was Publius Cornelius. He beckoned them to -him, and asked such co-operation as they could give in a matter he was -about to bring before the whole class. Shortly they came pouring in, -rather obstreperously, I fear, as college boys have been wont to do -from the beginning; but as soon as they set eyes on their teacher there -was a profound hush; for they saw at once that something unusual had -happened—that the Seti they had hitherto known had given place to quite a -different Seti and a much younger man. All the old dignity and authority -were in his face and bearing; but somehow there had come into the old -look a roused and forceful expression such as a crisis might be expected -to call out in a young man largely endowed both as a man of thought -and action. Calm, watchful, mindful of all that is passing and likely -to pass, prepared to throw his whole force into action at a moment’s -warning. All the students were in a hush of expectation as they saw the -new man sitting on the old bema. - -He began with saying that he had no lecture for them that morning. But he -had something better than a lecture—an opportunity for a good action. He -then concisely and simply narrated his morning experiences, and held up -the document he had obtained from Flaccus. Perhaps the young man had been -killed. Perhaps he was only imprisoned in some out-of-the-way place. It -was for his friends to find out the facts as soon as possible. He knew -of none who could do as prompt and good service in the matter as the -generous-minded fellow-students of the extraordinary young man who had so -commended himself to their admiration. Would they undertake it? - -The response was instantaneous. Many sprang to their feet, with flushed -faces and hot, indignant words. - -“A conspiracy!” cried one. - -“An insult to the University,” cried another. Some called out “_Draco_” -interrogatively; and others, of the bolder and more highly connected -of the Romans, among whom was Publius Cornelius, shook their fists -significantly in the direction of the Cæsareum. One thing was evident -to the watchful eye of Seti—that there would be no lack of sympathetic -readiness on the part of the Serapeum to act as he wished. What did he -wish? - -This was brought out by Cornelius, who declared that they were all of -one mind to further any plan that their venerable instructor might have -to propose; and moved that a committee be appointed to confer with him -as to what had best be done. He also proposed that this committee should -secure the co-operation of the Museum, which he had no doubt would be -enthusiastically given. - -“Besides,” he added, as he repeated his emphatic gesture toward the -north-east, “the Museum is nearer than ourselves to the sources of this -mischief and can explore them better.” - -A committee was appointed—including Cornelius. These gathered about Seti. -His plan was that some students should find out whether Draco and the son -of Flaccus were present in the city all the last night—that others should -find out whether any soldiers were then absent from their quarters, -and if so to whose force they belonged—that still others should watch -the gates and harbors for their return and note the time and direction -of it—that still others should rummage the streets, especially in the -neighborhood of the khan Rachotis, for some who had observed the party, -noticed the direction they took, perhaps witnessed an embarkation. The -students interested were so many, they could, by properly distributing -themselves, make all these inquiries at once. No time should be lost. Let -them report to him. - -Feeling sure that the young men would need no further impulse, the priest -left them, and, stopping at his room for the parcel which Cimon had put -in his hands, proceeded to the office of Alexander’s legal adviser. -This was in a wing of the extensive palace of the great banker whose -affairs furnished the greater part of the business of the lawyer. The -man was both a Roman and a Greek—his father being from Tusculum, and -his mother from Athens. He possessed in a remarkable degree the mental -characteristics of both nations—the practical and resolute character -of the one, and the acuteness and subtlety of the other. To a profound -knowledge of Roman law, especially as applied in the provinces, he added -a familiar acquaintance with the usages of Alexandria as a business -community—having lived in the city from childhood. Alexander early -discovered his abilities, and by degrees made him a confidential adviser -in legal matters, especially after he became a proselyte and attached -himself to the Diapleuston. - -Marcus Piso was not much of a man to look at—at the first look. Small, -slender, somewhat stooping, no longer young—it was necessary to be -with him for a time and watch his face and manner—his keen eye and -protuberant brow—as he dispatched business with one and another. Then he -inspired confidence both as to his ability and integrity. Then one said, -“Alexander is not mistaken in his man.” - -The little man did _not_ show to advantage as he rose to receive his -imposing visitor. But, what was better under the circumstances, he at -once conducted Seti to an inner office and listened with all his ears, -and eyes too, to a brief account of our friends, of what had just -transpired, and of the measures taken for the discovery of Aleph. - -“I tell you these facts,” said Seti, “to interest you as much as possible -in these men whom the Alabarch and myself intend to support and befriend -to the utmost of our power.” - -“I have been strongly interested in them ever since the affair at the -Diapleuston, which I happened to witness; and my thoughts were running on -them when you came in; for news of the arrest of Cimon for theft had just -reached me.” - -“As if a man having credit with Alexander to the amount of 200,000 gold -staters was likely to pilfer! No, the charge and the arrest were gotten -up to prevent or discredit an impending suit by Cimon against Malus. And -Aleph has been killed, or spirited away, partly to aid the same purpose, -and partly to gratify the malice of certain others whose names you can -guess.” - -Seti then produced Cimon’s parcel, and continued: “I am told that you -will find in this parcel all needful particulars in regard to the -proposed suit against Malus. Please examine it at once and if you find it -warrants legal proceedings institute them without delay. Of course Malus -is strongly intrenched and will fight to the death; but we will back -you with all our forces. I am sure that I speak for Alexander as well -as for myself. Meanwhile, whatever you can do to cancel or relieve the -imprisonment of Cimon, please do. The case of the young man I will look -after myself.” - -Seti’s next visit was to Rachel—not by way of the street, but by a -private door in the inner office of the advocate, by which he was -accustomed to communicate with the banker. He found his granddaughter -in Miriam’s room. And he saw at once, in the looks of the two women, -that the evil news had preceded him. Miriam looked totally exhausted, -and lay on her bed feebly moaning, with closed eyes; her hand held by -Rachel. As to Rachel herself, Seti was struck by the change that had -taken place. A touch of mingled amazement and suffering was in her face; -but into the profoundly emotional expression had come “_nescio quod -preclarum et singulare_”—a look of self-control that had been fought for -and taken possession of by fire and sword; such a victory that another -like it would be ruin. A certain new and powerful expression was in every -feature. Lights and shadows of the heroic were hiding in the depths of -her eyes and in the curves of her lips. She came and sat on a stool at -his feet. - -“Grandfather, we have tried to wait patiently for you. You see that -we know all. Now tell us what you have done; for I know you have done -something.” - -Seti told of his morning movements. - -“Do you think it possible that they have _killed_ him?” she asked with -awe in her voice and white lips. - -“Sometimes I think not; and yet it would be hard to give my reasons. His -enemies are capable of any crime. Perhaps the only ground of my opinion -or feeling that he has not been killed is the wonderful resources, both -of body and mind, which he has for self-protection. I have never seen a -young man with such powers, and such a complete and never-failing mastery -of them. He is a natural prince and hero, and somehow and somewhere has -had a training to match. He is just the man for great and desperate -situations. He is an empire in himself. I hardly wonder at Cornelius, who -says of him that he has in his veins the blood of the immortal gods. Body -and soul, he is built like a temple. What Karnac was, Aleph the Chaldean -is.” - -“It is even so, grandfather,” murmured the maiden; and she buried her -burning face in her hands. - -“This gives me hope,” continued Seti. “Besides, as I have told you, he -refused to be bound or to give up his staff; and the same wariness that -led him to retain this means of defense would be apt to keep him on his -guard against assault. Yes, such a great and resourceful nature would not -be killed easily.” - -“Say _not at all_, grandfather. Let us not _imagine_ such a thing, lest -it take the heart out of us,” and she shuddered. - -Seti looked at her keenly for a moment. She suddenly drew herself up as -she sat, tossed away with both hands the heavy tresses that had fallen -over her face, and looked up with wide-open eyes into his. He laid his -hand tenderly on her head, and sighed before saying: - -“It is as you say. We must hope for the best if we would escape the -worst. Aleph the Chaldean _is_ a living prisoner somewhere, and we must -find and release him as soon as possible. So I must go.” - -“Take Miriam and me as active, though invisible, partners in this matter, -dear grandfather,” pleaded Rachel. “It is necessary for us if not for -you. We cannot sit here and wait, and wait, with folded hands till -somebody brings us word of what others are doing, or trying to do. It -would kill us. We have kept ourselves alive thus far only by praying: now -we must have something to do to help our praying. You see how the case -stands with me—it is a _necessity_.” - -“But what can you do?” - -“We can at least _try_ to do in some womanly ways. This will be a relief -to us. You are working by means of the famous University; perhaps we can -work quite as effectively by a humbler class of agents. At least we can -_try_: and our thinking and planning may save us if they do not save him. -In my father’s absence I want your approval.” - -“I think you are right,” said the priest slowly. “So be it, then. It -may be that your womanly devisings will be the first to penetrate the -mystery. I shall not complain if it prove so.” - -Seti kissed her and departed, saying to himself, “Some trees are killed -by decapitation, but this tree becomes thriftier and fairer than ever.” - -_Was_ it decapitation? Well, if it was not that, it was something that -marvellously resembled it. Seti was an experienced man, and his faculty -of insight was great: and I would sooner take his judgment in the -matter than that of most. He thought the trial that had befallen his -granddaughter terribly severe. I think the same. I should be sorry to -have that stroke repeated. Nobly as the first blow has been borne, I -could not answer for a second. There are limits to successful pruning. -A plant may be decapitated once too often. Seti thought so too, and -he carried away with him a greater burden than he brought; for now he -understood that the question was no longer how to save Aleph, but how to -save Aleph and Rachel. - -The Egyptian went home praying—praying to _Amun Re_. An able lawyer, -an enthusiastic University, a resourceful high-priest armed with an -official document, were all very well in their place; but they needed -presiding over and empowering by the Supernatural. Would He do it? In -the course of his long observation, Seti had known some striking cases -of poetical justice in human affairs. The wicked had been taken in their -own toils. Into the pits they had dug for their neighbors they had fallen -themselves. But it was often otherwise. The righteous had fallen before -the wicked. Craft and power and powerful money had proved too mighty for -goodness and justice. If good causes had always thrived, the Romans would -not be in Egypt, nor Flaccus in the Cæsareum, nor Malus in the grandest -warehouse of Emporium Street. So who can tell what _Amun Re_ will do? -And yet prayer is the breath of the nations and the ages. Nature herself -says, _Let us pray_. - -So the thoughts of Seti prayed, and prayed mightily, as he bent his steps -to the Serapeum. - - - - -XIII. - -THE SEARCH. - - Αλλοτ’ άλλοῖσι διαιθύσσουσιν ἀυραι. - - —PINDAR, _Olymp._ vii. 173. - - _Different winds rush in different directions._ - - 1. Oh, for Ariadne! - 2. Leaping to a conclusion. - 3. Domestics at new work. - 4. Pharos and some stars. - - - - -XIII. - -THE SEARCH. - - -Rachel went and sat by the bedside, in long silence. At length she began -unconsciously to think aloud—at first slowly and with long pauses; then -more rapidly. - -“They have _not_ killed him. Then they have taken him out of the city to -confine him somewhere.... The shortest and least embarrassed way out of -the city would be by the gate of the Moon to Mareotis.... Here boat would -be taken. Where would it go? There is no place where a prisoner could be -confined on the islands of the lake or on the southern shore—none in the -pleasure-villas on the banks of the canal connecting the lake with the -Nile—none on the Nile itself till one comes to the fortress that once -belonged to the family of Seti, but now is in possession of the Roman -governor. I have it—there _are_ dungeons there, and Sextus Flaccus has -access to them, and they are well away from observation. _That_ is the -place where they have carried him.” - -Her face flushed, and her eyes flashed with sudden decision. -“Grandfather’s way may be sure, but it is slow; and by the time he finds -his way up the Nile to the Setian stronghold it may be too late. I will -leap to a conclusion.” - -She at once summoned all the domestics of the household. Did any of them -know of a traveling merchant, accustomed to carry his wares from house -to house along the east bank of the Nile? Several knew of such a person. -Was he a Jew? Was he of the Diapleuston? Was he quick-witted and prudent? -Was he now in the city? Receiving an affirmative answer to all these -questions, she at once dispatched a man who professed to know where the -peddler could be found, to bring him without delay. - -In less than an hour her messenger returned with the very peddler whose -acquaintance we made in the first chapter of this narrative. She looked -at him narrowly. He was not an attractive object—what with his poor -clothes, his unkempt hair, and his excessive obsequiousness. But he did -look shrewd and to a degree reliable. At all events she must try him. So -she told him that she had heard a favorable account of his intelligence -and discretion; that she wanted to employ such a man to go up the Nile -as far as the Setian palace on a confidential mission. She wished to -find out, without the knowledge of any armed force that might be there, -whether a young man is held in confinement in the palace. And she thought -that, if he would furnish himself with such a pack of goods as seemed -most likely to attract the servants and others about the premises, he -might incidentally contrive to get from them the desired information. She -would furnish the goods, and, besides, reward him richly for the service. - -“Is the young man tall and marvelously well proportioned?” inquired the -Jew. - -“He is.” - -“Has he the face of Moses, and the bearing of a king?” - -“So it is said.” - -“Is it not he who on the last Sabbath defended our synagogue from -sacrilege?” - -“It is.” - -“Then,” said the peddler, “I will do what the lady asks of me—not for her -rewards, though Father Abraham knows that I am poor enough. I will do it -for the young man’s sake, who can beat the heathen at their own weapons. -I can beat them in trade; but it is a satisfaction to me to see them -beaten after another fashion.” - -“Have you ever been at the palace?” inquired Rachel. - -“Often, in the way of trade. An old Egyptian and his wife, a Jewess, keep -the place when the governor is not there, and are employed about the -premises in some way at all times.” - -“Here is a purse of gold. Make up your pack as attractive to these people -as possible. Stay with them as long as you can. Be ingenious. Keep eyes -and ears open. Spare no money nor promises that will help your object. -I will see that your promises are fulfilled. Take the first boat going -south; be put ashore at a little distance from the palace; then do the -best an ingenious man can, to find out whether Aleph, the Chaldean, is -confined there, and, if so, how he may be released. Return or send as -soon as possible. But stop——” - -She went to a desk, and wrote on a small sheet of papyrus as follows: -“Your friends have found you. You shall have help soon.—R.” - -She handed the paper to the Jew, saying, “Should you find him, perhaps -you may be able to get this to him.” - -The man hastened away. What should she do now, and during the days that -might pass before she could hope to hear from the peddler? To sit still -and wait, she felt to be impossible. Was there anything more she could be -doing to keep her heart from preying on itself? She asked the question of -Miriam as well as of herself. - -Miriam had quickened and strengthened bodily under the rousing of thought -and care for one outside of herself, and was sitting up thoughtfully -in her bed. Yes, she thought that something further might be done. She -doubted whether the students would be as good at getting information from -the town-people as would some others. The frequent broils and jealousies -between the two classes would put inquirers at a disadvantage. And, then, -the people who would be most likely to notice the abduction, because -most likely to be abroad in the evening, would be the humbler classes, -whose homes had little to attract them. The humble stall-keepers; the -daily workmen hanging about the street-corners; the street-boys, brimful -of curiosity, afraid of nothing, ready to run after anything unusual; -the watermen, that wait for jobs at the gate of the Moon or on the -lake-wharves, would be more likely to notice and more free to speak of, -to people of their own class, the passing of the soldiers. - -“Suppose we ask the servants,” said she, “whether they know any of their -own class living on the route from the khan to the Gate—any workmen, or -watermen, or waifs likely to have been in that neighborhood waiting for -what might turn up. If they themselves do not know of any such, they will -be likely to know some who do; and so inquiries may be set in motion -through all the humbler classes. Give the servants a holiday—several -holidays, if necessary. We can dispense with them. I feel a return of my -old vigor—the God of Israel be praised!” and, to the surprise of Rachel, -the woman drew herself from the bed into a chair that stood by the side -of it. - -Rachel was too much absorbed in her object and plans to spend any time in -speculating on that mysterious connection of the soul with the body that -enables the former in its roused state to infuse its own healthy vigor -into the latter. But she was glad that the pressure of circumstances had -so opportunely transformed the helpless into a helper, and only begged -her not to exert herself too much, as she carefully drew the wraps about -her. - -Rachel welcomed the suggestions of Miriam; and soon the many servants -of that large household were abroad seeking for information, or seeking -those who could seek it better than themselves. - -Toward the close of the day Seti appeared to report that Sextus Flaccus -had been found to have been in the city all the previous night, and -that, apparently, no soldiers had been absent from their quarters. But -Draco had disappeared from early in the evening, and had been traced to -Mareotis—this seemed to Rachel a particle of light. No reports as yet -from the students watching the gates and harbors, or from those seeking -traces within the city. Rachel told Seti of the supplementary measures -she had taken for getting information within the city, but she said -nothing of the peddler and his expedition. I hardly know why. Perhaps -it was because she thought the womanly logic of the movement would not -commend itself to a philosopher. - -The next morning Miriam was still better—indeed almost seemed to forget -in her new object of absorbing interest that she was an invalid at all. -As yet the servants had made no report; having come in late the night -before and gone out again before light in the morning. Inactive waiting -is an uneasy business at the best; so Rachel determined to have as little -of it as possible. She sent off a servant with a basket of provisions -to the house of the peddler with instructions to learn at what hour he -left the city and in what sort of craft; for there was almost as much -difference then as now in the speed of vessels. She found that the active -man, within an hour from the time he left her, had managed to provide -himself with a more attractive pack than he had ever before carried, and -to get on board a well-appointed merchant vessel just starting southward -with a fair wind and not a few oars. This was some comfort. She prayed -that the wind might follow fast, and that the rowers might be able and -willing at their toil. - -In the course of the day another small comfort (small and transient like -the scarcely perceptible shade of greenness that sometimes comes even -in the heart of winter, for a few hours, to some sunny nook and then -retreats as fast as it came) came with some scraps of information brought -in by the servants. They reported that the company of soldiers had been -noticed at different points in the Egyptian quarter; and, on comparing -these points, the women saw that they meant a movement toward the gate -of the Moon. This was a much-needed encouragement to Seti, who came in -the evening to say that the students had as yet been able to draw no -information from the people whatever. They seemed to regard all the -inquiries with suspicion, as if they meant some College prank against -which their best refuge was silence. What so many students wanted to know -they would do well to conceal. So the young men spoke to deaf ears and -silent tongues. Still they would not discontinue their inquiries. They -hoped that all their ravens would not come home to roost. - -The next day added considerably to the stock of information. Several -street-boys who were hanging about the gate and wharves on the night in -question had been ferreted out in their various dens by the servants, -and agreed that a company of soldiers with a prisoner passed through -the gate while they were there, and took boat to a larger craft lying -out some little distance in the lake. On their part the students had -discovered that the pleasure-galley of the Flacci had been absent from -its station ever since the same evening, and had been seen by a waterman -steering toward the canal and the Nile. Rachel was now so satisfied that -her first movement was a wise one that she told Seti of it. He was glad -that so time-saving a measure had been adopted; and returned to inform -the students that such traces had been discovered that they need no -longer continue their inquiries in the city, but should hold themselves -in readiness to co-operate in another movement that might be necessary. -He now felt quite sure that the soldiers employed in the abduction were -_discharged_ soldiers—men who from age and other reasons were no longer -in active service—of whom there were not a few in the city quite ready -to lend themselves to the purposes and the pay of such a man as Sextus -Flaccus. - -Immersed in her cares for Aleph, Rachel had neglected till to-day to -inquire about Cimon and his affairs. For this she blamed herself roundly. -But she was glad to learn that her father’s solicitor had found Cimon’s -papers very complete as against Malus, had formally instituted a suit, -had been able as Cimon’s official advocate to procure admittance to -him and arrange for his comfort till his trial should come off, that -the chief clerk of Malus, who had been discharged by him as soon as he -learned how liberal of business information he had been to Cimon, had -come to him with valuable evidence. Three suits were to come off in the -following order—(1) The suit of Malus against Shaphan and Nathan, (2) -the suit of Malus against Cimon, (3) the suit of Cimon against Malus. -Marcus Piso was more than satisfied with this order; for he felt that the -first two trials would throw much damaging light on the character and -operations of Malus and prepare the way for the success of Cimon’s suit -against him. - -“But then those Roman courts! Who could guarantee their equity! Would -not the Flaccan influence be supreme in them and in favor of the supreme -criminal in whose misdeeds it had long participated! The Most High only -knows! If possible, we must make the right of the case so plain that -neither court nor government can go against it without the whole people -crying shame on them. And this I am more and more inclined to think can -be done.” ... So encouraged Marcus Piso. At the same time, with a shadow -on his face, he admitted that the devil was strong. - -The next day was the Sabbath. The family of Alexander were very strict -in their observance of the day, but not so unreasonably strict as to -refuse works of necessity and mercy. Miriam (now wonderfully improved) -and Rachel would not have hesitated to plan and do, to any extent, in -so urgent a case as that of Aleph if they could have seen opportunity. -But, until they should hear from the peddler, what more could be done? -Certainly nothing but praying. So they gave themselves wholly to this -mighty form of working. The God of Israel, so pitiful and so powerful, -and who had said, “Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver -thee,” was invoked that day with an energy and whole-heartedness that -seemed bound to cross all the spaces and make its way to the very -foothold of the Throne. Till the public services at the Diapleuston, the -women were scarcely off their knees for a moment. - -At the synagogue, to her surprise, Rachel found Seti seated where Cimon -and Aleph had been placed on the last Sabbath. She went and sat down by -him for a few moments, placing her hand in his; and then went to her -own place. The selections from the Law and the Prophets by her uncle -Philo, as well as his remarks that followed, seemed to her to have a most -positive though veiled reference to the case, which she felt was by this -time weighting all their minds with its certainties and uncertainties. -She felt it good to be there. There was something soothing and supporting -in the sympathetic atmosphere. And so she lingered after the conclusion -of the services. - -While thus lingering, she noticed a woman of the humbler class trying -to make her way somewhat impatiently toward her through the slow-moving -crowd. As soon as she came near enough the woman thrust into her hand a -paper rudely folded and at once passed on with the rest of the retiring -congregation. Rachel opened the paper at once, and with some difficulty -deciphered the following: - -“He is here. They are trying to starve him. I can prevent that for a -little; but the custodes will take no decisive step till they have had my -promises in your behalf confirmed by your own lips.” - -When she had finished reading the scrawl she found Seti standing by her -side and drawing her arm within his. It was timely. Unsupported she might -have fallen. It was a flash of light that she had longed for, but it had -in it something of the threat and terribleness of a flash of lightning. -It revealed, but it revealed an urgent danger. Her agitation remained -voiceless till they had reached home and Seti had read the letter. It -lifted a cloud from his brow. Now they knew that Aleph was still alive, -knew where to find him, could make some reasonable plan for his rescue. -He congratulated her. Early to-morrow they would go up the river in the -galley of Alexander, well-equipped with resolute men. Perhaps he would -ask some of the students to follow at a distance in another galley. They -might not be needed; but it was well to overlap emergencies with our -provisions. At all events, the young men would be gratified—and they -deserved to be. He had never thought so well of young men since he was a -young man himself. Especially of Cornelius. Such unselfish enthusiasm and -untiring effort in behalf of a confessed superior, such hearty use of his -influence and leadership to further all plans in aid of Aleph—why, they -spoke almost as loudly for Rome as Tiberius and the Flacci did against it! - -The clouds on the horizon had begun to redden. Was it from the rising -or the setting sun? Neither Seti nor Rachel could tell; for they did -not know the east and west of Providence. It was indeed something to -have found that Aleph was still living (a fact which they had compelled -themselves to assume, but which phantoms with mocking faces and -whispering voices were all the while challenging at both ears); also that -he was at the Setian palace. Now they could localize and focalize their -exertions in his behalf. This was at first a very sensible relief. But, -in finding these facts, they had also found that their friend was in the -hands of a body of desperadoes who were seeking his life. Might they -not succeed before the swiftest help could reach him? Perhaps they had -succeeded already. That single poor peddler was a mighty thin partition -between life and death. So the clouds which had thinned away somewhat -soon thickened up again into the old blackness. Through the live-long -night the waves of hope and fear alternately beat on the vexed strands -whose names were Seti and Rachel. - -The wear and tear of such times are very great on some people. A single -night has been known to bow a form as stately as Seti’s—to blanch tresses -as young and beautiful as Rachel’s. But let us hope the best for both -sufferers. One of them is strong in youth, the other is strong in age. -Neither will be easily overborne. Neither is a stretch of low-lying -sands, easily loosened and carried out to sea in rough weather. Both -are highlands, fronted and ribbed with rocks for the sea to dash and -roar upon—rocky convictions of the supernatural, rocky faith in a divine -government, rocky _mens conscia recti_. In this I find some comfort. At -the same time I know that even rock-bound coasts sometimes suffer heavily -in a wild time. Have I not walked on such a coast the day after the -storm has been hurling its battalions upon it and found it ragged and -torn and strewn with ruins—the battle-field of yesterday? And I am far -from saying but that this may be just the condition in which the sore -winds and waves of their trial may leave Seti and Rachel. We must be -prepared for the worst while we hope the best. Should the worst come, no -heart will be sorer than mine. - - - - -XIV. - -THE ARGONAUTS. - - Φιλεῖ δὲ τῷ κάμοντι συσπέυδειν θεός? - - —_Anon._ - - _Does God love to help the struggling good man?_ - - 1. How best to do it. - 2. Song for signal. - 3. The golden fleece and dragon. - 4. Hair-breadth——? - 5. Even as He. - - - - -XIV. - -THE ARGONAUTS. - - -Early the next morning the pinnace of Alexander was moving toward the -Nile as fast as eight strong oarsmen and a fair breeze could carry -it. Under a silken awning in the stern sat Seti and Rachel: while at -some distance a few stout male servants in holiday attire leaned over -the bulwarks, watching the water ripple away from the shapely sides, -listening to the low monotonous stroke-song of the rowers as they -rhythmically struck the waters, and occasionally talking together in a -low tone. - -Seemingly it was a holiday excursion—nothing more. The whole aspect of -things on board that delicate butterfly of a vessel, including the lovely -maiden in her rich robes, with her harp standing by her side, was that -of a pleasure party. No one looking from shore or passing vessel would -have thought that such a festival barge with its luxurious and dainty -furnishings and daintier mistress was heavily weighted with anxious -thoughts of peril and conflict. - -To Rachel, her surroundings, from the cloudless sky and wooing breeze to -the costly and delicate sea-chariot on which she was borne, seemed almost -so many mockeries. Her real sky was full of clouds, her real wind was -the breath of storms, and the real galley on which her spirit was sailing -was a war ship full of swords and spears and faces threatening battle. -She found it very hard to cover her anxieties with the serene face and -manner which she felt the situation demanded. So she kept the servants as -far from her as possible, that their prying eyes and ears might not play -too successfully on herself and Seti. - -They were hardly well afloat before Seti began to unfold his plan of -proceeding. - -“It is very important,” said he, “that we implicate the Flacci, both -father and son, as little as possible in this affair. The father, bad as -he is, probably has nothing to do with the abduction; and so ought not to -suffer on account of it. The guilty party is Sextus; who, having access -to his father’s official seal and blank forms, forged the warrant for -the arrest, and then employed some dissolute companions of his among the -discharged Roman soldiers to execute the warrant. These having no duties -in the city have not yet returned, and so the watch of the students for -them has been in vain. Sextus is the great criminal in the case and -deserves exposure. But, if we so manage the matter as to expose him both -to his mortified father and the public, we shall be sure so to exasperate -both of them as to throw their whole influence, under one pretext or -another, against us in the impending suit against Malus. And that would -be a very serious matter. So we must try to rescue Aleph as quietly as -possible—in some way that does not direct public suspicion toward the -Flacci at all. If we should appear before the castle of the governor with -a sufficient force to back us, and demand the prisoner, the whole affair -would at once go abroad to the four winds, and cry FLACCUS in every ear -from Pharos to the Cataracts: besides, the garrison would probably deny -having the prisoner, and contrive some way of disposing of him before -we could effect an entrance. So the best way for us is to persuade the -custodes to give Aleph the means of making his own escape; and we can be -near to receive him and carry him quietly back to the city—saying nothing -as to where he was found and how rescued. If this plan fails we must, of -course, resort to rougher methods.” - -“Do you think,” inquired the maiden, “that Aleph would have submitted -so quietly to the arrest had he not supposed it made by the proper -authorities?” - -“Certainly not. He yielded to what he supposed to be the government of -the country in which for the time being he was living.” - -“In that case, if he were assured that the arrest was pronounced -unwarranted by the governor, and that he was expressly allowed to free -himself by any means, would he not be likely to make great efforts to -free himself?” - -“Doubtless, if opportunity could be found. But how is he to break down an -iron door with his hands, or, with his hands dig through massive stone -walls settled together and cemented by ages? I know that dungeon well. -It is the strongest in all Egypt. Supreme strength and courage must have -opportunity. Genius must have some capital of favorable circumstance on -which to work. Even heroes must have ground on which to stand, and scope -for their arms. No, I know the place too well to think that our young -friend, full of resources as he is, can do anything to help himself till -he is at least outside of the dungeon, or till some fitting tools have -been introduced into it.” - -“I knew the castle belonged to your ancestors, and is rightfully yours; -but I did not suppose that you knew anything about the interior.” - -“See here!” said the Egyptian, as he drew from the folds of his robe a -parchment discolored by age, and unrolled it before her. “Here is a plan -of the whole structure, cellars and dungeon included. This has come down -to me through many generations, together with a written description of -every part of the structure; and, though I have never set foot in it, I -think I could find my way about it without the least difficulty. There -has always lingered in the family a vague faith, be it superstition or -not, that this noblest of the ancient Egyptian palaces was destined to -come back to us some day; and so the eldest in our line has always made -it a point to know as much about the structure as if he were in actual -possession.” - -“Explain the plan to me, my dear grandfather. It may somehow help us in -what we have to do. I, too, would like to be able to thread my way alone -over the whole.” - -“Heaven (_your_ Heaven) forbid that you shall have need to do so. Still, -we have leisure for an explanation, at least in part; and it will be -in the way of our family custom. This line (pointing) represents the -high and massive stone wall that surrounds the whole palace, together -with extensive grounds in the rear. There are three gates to this all -surrounding wall—one in front, opening on a flight of steps to the river -by which the master and his friends come and go; the others far back on -the north and south sides and chiefly used by servants for communicating -with the little hamlets that lie, one above and the other below the -palace. On the river side of the inclosure rises the quadrangle of the -palace. The front and two connected sides contain the state and family -apartments: the rear is given up to servants and the various offices -belonging to them. Of course the soldiers are quartered in this last. We -will only study this part now. It is of only a single story above ground. -Right here in the middle is a large room where doubtless the soldiers eat -and drink: to the right and left of it are their lodging rooms and the -kitchens. Directly under this common and mess room is the single dungeon -of the castle, connected by a flight of steps with the mess room, and -also by another flight through a heavy iron door with the rear grounds of -the castle. One can reach the dungeon only through the iron door or by -descending from the common mess room. The wine and provision cellars are -to the right and left of the dungeon, and a narrow passage runs before -the whole.” - -“Has the dungeon any light and ventilation?” inquired Rachel anxiously. - -“Only through the narrow grated opening in the wall by which food can be -introduced without opening the door; and the narrow passage before all -the vaults is only dimly lighted by a barred opening near the ceiling at -either end.” - -“Would Aleph have light enough to read a note or this plan of yours?” - -“It may be. Such eyes as his can do what mine could not. I have sometimes -thought that they furnished their own light. But whoever could put a note -through that grate could introduce a narrow lamp or taper also.” - -“If a pointed iron bar could be secretly introduced by the custodes -through the grate, would Aleph be able to pry open the door?” - -“Impossible—at least without making so much noise as to rouse the -soldiers.” - -“Perhaps they are revellers,” she said reflectively, “and, having free -access to the wine cellars, have frequent carousals and even stupid -drunkenness.” - -“Very likely; almost certainly,” Seti exclaimed. “They are the boon -companions of Sextus; and, like him, will not miss an opportunity of -indulgence. If we can only gain over the custodes, we might so drug their -wine as to stupefy their drunkenness still more, so that loud noises -would not rouse them. This deserves to be thought of; and, fortunately, -I happen to have with me for another purpose a drug which I think will -answer. But we must not depend on this plan alone. If one expedient -should fail, we must have another to fall back upon.” - -“And what is that?” - -“We must persuade the custodes to get possession of the key of the -dungeon. This ought not to be impossible, if the soldiers have a drunken -carouse every night, as seems to me very likely. But we cannot be very -specific in our plans till we have seen the peddler and custodes, and -know exactly what the situation is.” - -Rachel said nothing more, but pored over the plan of the palace. At -length she drew from a small ivory box by her side an ink horn and -papyrus, and proceeded to make a fair copy of the plan—adding some -jottings of explanation as Seti had given them. She then put both -original and copy in his hands. He compared the two, nodded, and looked -at her inquiringly. - -“I mean, if it is possible, to get this to him with the iron bar.” - -He silently returned the copy. - -Meanwhile the pinnace had been steadily pressing on its way. It passed -through the canal, it turned up the Nile, it went sweeping by crocodile -and hippopotamus and ibis sporting in the water or sunning by the banks, -it met corn ship, and Roman galley, and Nubian dory, and skin-raft loaded -with brick and stone, and, occasionally, a pleasure barge freighted to -overflowing with the laughter and song of the young and gay. The peasants -on the banks for a moment stopped work at their trenching and water -wheels to gaze at the beautiful vessel, the Nautilus of the Nile, and -perchance to envy those who reclined under its snowy wings and silken -canopy. Ah, little did they know what anxieties were aching away at -the heart of all that beauty and costliness! The breeze toyed with the -sails, the waters rippled and gleamed and laughed away from the decorated -prow, the oars rose and sank in a water-song of their own that kept time -with the low chant of the rowers—there was music of all sorts filtering -through the dreamy air—but under that awning of silk and purple there was -only the music of prayer and, it may be, of some hope that the Most High -would not allow the wicked to triumph. But prayer was the chief thing. -Much silent planning and resolving was done during the latter part of the -voyage, but there was more silent praying than either. - -“Grandfather, what a comfort and help it is to pray!” as she turned -toward Seti and laid her hand on his arm. - -“I have found it out, my child, though not as soon as I could wish. But -the knowledge will remain. Straits crowd one toward the Unseen Helper.” - -And now the castle was in full view. On a promontory that curved out -boldly into the river, skirted both above and below by a thick grove of -mingled mimosas, acacias, sycamores, and palms, each of which groves -screened a little bay and hamlet, stood a quadrangular fortress with its -defiant encompassing wall. Rachel drew her harp toward her and began to -play—at first softly and slowly, and then with a stronger and more rapid -hand. As the pinnace approached the castle she began to accompany the -instrument with her voice: and, when fully in front, the voice surged -up over the promontory in melodious billows and seemed to envelop it in -floods of exultant song, every word of which was rendered with wonderful -distinctness. It was a chant. It was a chant in the original tongue of -these words from the Book of Daniel. “Now when he came to the den he -cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said -to Daniel, ‘O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God whom thou -servest continually able to deliver thee from the lions?’” - -Again and again the words rose and beat their delicious music against the -castle like an invading army. Seti narrowly watched the premises as the -pinnace glided by, but saw no sign of life. But as soon as they had gone -a little farther, rounded the promontory, and then silently veered into -the sheltered nook by the hamlet, they saw the peddler on the wharf with -his professional pack on his back. - -When the vessel was fairly moored, the man begged to be allowed to come -on board and exhibit his goods, which he protested were the finest and -cheapest to be found outside of Alexandria. The beautiful lady would -certainly find something she would like among his various stores. In -short, his eloquence was so great that he was at length allowed to come -on board and ostentatiously spread out his wares about Rachel and Seti. - -“Say that he is living,” she almost gasped, though scarcely above a -murmur. - -“He is, my lady.” - -“Say that food has been given him daily.” - -“At least since I came.” - -“Now tell us,” she said, with a firmer but still low voice, “while you -slowly display your goods, piece by piece, what you have done—in as few -words as possible.” - -“Yes, my lady. I landed at this hamlet, and went up at once to the -south gate of the palace grounds. Here I found a soldier on guard; but, -on making him a small present, he allowed me to enter and seek my old -acquaintances, the custodes. Fortunately I found them by themselves in an -out-house—the old Egyptian and his much younger Jewish wife; the latter -much the leading partner, as I had long known. I warmly saluted them -as old friends, hoped they had not forgotten Ezra, assured them that I -had never been so well prepared to give them a good trade as now; and -proceeded to unpack and display my goods despite their protestations that -they did not want anything, could not afford to buy anything, and such -like nonsense. But I saw that their eyes followed me as I spread out -article after article, and that they listened well as I mentioned prices -absurdly low. - -“‘You must have stolen these things,’ exclaimed the Jewess. ‘Alas, that a -son of Abraham should turn thief!’ - -“‘I hardly wonder,’ said I, ‘that you suspect my honesty; for, as you so -plainly see, these goods are worth many times what I ask for them. How -then does it happen that I can honestly offer them so low? I will tell -you. I have a very liberal friend—no less a person than the lady Rachel, -daughter of the great banker Alexander; and she pities me and other poor -children of our people; and it is she who makes it possible for me to let -you have the goods at so low a figure. Our father Abraham knows that I -could not do it otherwise.’ - -“As soon as I mentioned your name, I saw at once that I had touched the -right chord. I have since found that she came from Alexandria, where her -family in time of sickness and poverty had received much help from your -family. ‘The God of our fathers bless the pitiful and gracious lady,’ she -exclaimed. ‘Many a time has she helped me and mine.’ - -“‘And is she not the granddaughter of Seti—the high-priest and head of my -race?’ inquired the Egyptian husband. - -“‘To be sure she is,’ I exclaimed, ‘the worthy child of both Egypt and -Israel—and I will tell you a secret (I sank my voice very low and looked -cautiously about). I can tell you of a way in which you can greatly -oblige these great friends of ours and get as many of these goods as you -would like for just nothing—absolutely nothing.’ - -“Their eyes opened wider and began to glisten. They drew themselves -closer to me. - -“‘Look you,’ said I, ‘there has been in the dungeon of this castle -for the last few days a young man who is a special friend of Seti -and Alexander. He was arrested without right, and spirited away from -Alexandria in the night, and brought here by a company of men appearing -as Roman soldiers.’ - -“Thrown off her guard, the Jewess exclaimed, ‘How did you come to know -this?’ - -“‘No matter,’ said I, ‘it is enough that I _do_ know it; and know further -that if you would oblige Seti and Alexander, who have such claims on you, -as well as wonderfully advantage yourselves, you have now an opportunity. -If you will help them in this matter, they can and will do great things -for you. It is the opportunity of a life-time.’ - -“‘But what can we do?’ exclaimed both custodes at once. - -“‘I will tell you. But first tell me whether you have seen that goodly -young man with your own eyes, and know him to have been safe and sound -when he was put into the dungeon.’ - -“‘So he seemed by the torch-light,’ said the Jewess. ‘A goodly young -man, you may well say. I never saw one half so goodly. He stood like a -king among his slaves, with his great staff for a sceptre. The soldiers -seemed almost as much afraid of his eye as of his staff, and plainly felt -relieved when the key was turned upon him.’ - -“‘Has he had food and drink since then?’ I asked. - -“They hesitated; and the woman looked in a troubled way at her husband. - -“‘Now, by all the patriarchs,’ cried I in great excitement, ‘have they -been starving this friend of Seti and Alexander all these days, and you -doing nothing to help him?’ - -“‘Not so,’ she hastened to exclaim. ‘We thought we could not let the -young man perish; and as soon as we found out that no food of any kind -was being given him we managed to introduce some secretly through a -grated opening in the wall originally made for that purpose. But it -has been at the risk of our lives. We cannot continue. If we should be -discovered he would kill us.’ - -“‘Whom do you mean by “he”?’ I asked. - -“‘The leader among the soldiers.’ - -“‘What sort of a man is he?’ - -“‘A great, bull necked, big fisted man; with fierce and cruel and blood -shot eyes, and cheeks somewhat bruised and swollen. I have heard him -called Draco. This man carries the key of the dungeon at his girdle day -and night. He treats us like dogs, and would kill us outright in his -terrible passion should he find us out. No, we cannot afford to take such -a risk for a single day longer. We were worrying over the matter when you -came up.’ - -“‘Look here, woman!’ said I fiercely, ‘if you let this Hebrew (for he is -of our faith) perish, you will have to account for it to both man and -God; but, if you will give him ample food and drink daily and help us to -free him, the lady Rachel promises to reward you richly—beyond what you -could dream. If there is risk in the matter there is enough pay in it, -too, to make it well worth your while to take the risk. But I do not see -that you need to run any considerable risk. Where are these men in the -night?’ - -“‘They always pass the best part of the night in a drunken carouse. They -have found the wine cellar.’ - -“‘And, I dare say, by midnight they are lying about the floor of the mess -room dead drunk and stupid as logs.’ - -“‘It may be.’ - -“‘And what is to hinder you from taking that time for putting food, and -whatever else his friends may wish (this note for example), within reach -of the prisoner? The risk must be very small. Indeed I am not sure but -that you might safely steal in among the besotted and snoring brutes, cut -off the key from Draco’s belt, and open the door of the dungeon. The lady -Rachel would enrich you for life.’ - -“The woman threw up her hands in dismay. ‘I _could_ not do it. The very -idea of such a thing almost frightens me to death. Besides, how do I know -that the daughter of Alexander will fulfill all your fine promises. You -always did talk larger than the truth. You never spare fine talking in -the way of business.’ - -“I confess this awfully embarrassed me. My habit in dealing with my -customers _has_ been somewhat of the ornamental and poetical sort. And -now at last it had brought me into difficulty. What should I do? I -silently promised myself that I would mend my ways. I protested to the -woman by all things sacred that I did not misrepresent you. The miserable -woman declared she would not believe me. Nothing short of your own lips -should satisfy her. If you would come and with your own mouth repeat my -promises they would try to do what they could. But she shook like one in -a palsy when she said it. - -“Seeing that my reputation was too much for me, sinner that I am; and -that nothing better could be done, I said, ‘You are unreasonable; but -it shall be as you say. The lady will come and confirm all I have said. -But meanwhile (here I drew out my bag of gold pieces) this is what she -has given me to reward those who take risks in her service; and if you -will daily put into the grated opening plenty of food and drink, together -with whatever else I may give you, and will daily come to me in the upper -hamlet where you are in the habit of going for provisions, and will swear -that you have done so by the beards of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and -Jacob, I will, each time, give you two gold pieces. And I will begin now; -for I want you to put this note into the dungeon this very day. Swear to -me that you will do it.’ And I held up two shining pieces in the sun. - -“Her eyes snapped. So did mine—the gold looked so dazzling and lovely -in the golden sun. As for the husband, he sat with amazed eyes and open -mouth, but said nothing. Neither of them had seen such gold before. - -“The woman stretched out her hand. I made her swear, gave her the note -you gave me, and then gave her the two coins. - -“Just then a man shouted to them from the castle in a threatening tone; -and they hurried away in a fright, while I gathered up my wares as fast -as I could and went back to the hamlet. Here I scrawled a note to you, -gave it to my son whom I had taken the precaution to take with me, and -put him on board of a vessel for Alexandria just then passing. Since -then the custode has been to me daily, made oath that she has fed the -prisoner, and received her gold pieces. She reports that Draco has gone -back to the city for a day or two; but that he has left a substitute who -wears the key of the dungeon at his belt, and leads off every night in -the drunken debauch. I expect her every moment. It is about time for her -to make her daily visit.... There she is with her provision basket! I -will go and bring her on board.” - -Rachel was struck with the air of the humbly dressed and somewhat bent -woman whom the peddler soon brought up to her. She looked the picture of -timidity and uncertainty—as if drawn in opposite directions by powerful -forces, and almost torn in pieces in the struggle between them. Her -nerves were all on the wing. One could warrant that no sound sleep had -come to her for many a night. She staggered rather than walked up to -where Rachel was sitting. - -Rachel saluted her warmly; with her own hands placed a cushion for her -near herself; asked her name; by degrees drew her out to tell of her -former life in Alexandria and of her bits of contact with the family -of Alexander. How long had she lived here? Were there others of “our -faith and race” in this neighborhood? Was she holding fast to the God of -Israel? And did she hear and understand the chant from the prophet Daniel? - -Seti sat silently by and listened to the gentle, soothing tones in which, -without any airs of condescension and patronage, but simply as woman with -woman and believer with believer, the princess talked with the peasant, -till he saw the discomposure of the poor woman slowly give way to the -winsome ways of one speaking to her as from her own level. And yet what a -contrast! The fresh, glorious beauty and grace, fittingly arrayed, of the -one over against the faded features and crooked form and rough garments -of the other! Could it be that the two were of the same race? No one who -saw Rachel that day could doubt that she at least thought so, and knew -how to make her lowly sister feel the same. Said Seti to himself, “The -last few days have ripened her like tropical suns.” There are ways in -which the great may put themselves in sympathy and fellowship with the -lowly without putting on their dress, eating their food, living in their -cabins, and using their language. - -“And this is my grandfather, Deborah,” at length said Rachel, looking -toward Seti, “who, though he is high priest of Egypt, honors the God of -our fathers and loves our people. He shall be witness to what I will now -say to you. Our merchant friend here has told you how much interested -we are to rescue the young man of our faith who is now in the castle -dungeon. But Ezra was not able to tell you, as I do now, that the young -man was not imprisoned by the government, but by a band of ruffians on -their own private feud; and that we have in our hands a warrant from the -governor to deliver him from his enemies as best we can. But there are -reasons why we wish to do it as quietly as possible. Here you can help -us. You have already helped us by keeping our friend from starvation. Now -we want you to help us still further—in fact, to help us free him this -very night. If there is any risk to you in what we shall now propose, -we will reward you accordingly. We will do for you all that our agent -the merchant has promised. We will make it unnecessary for you to be a -servant any more. If you choose you shall go with us to Alexandria, and -live at your ease for the rest of your life. You know that we are able -to do as much as we say. Now, grandfather, will you tell Deborah what we -want her to do?” - -“Do you and your husband draw and carry the wine every night to the -soldiers?” inquired Seti. - -The woman answered in the affirmative. - -He went on, “Put this powder in the wine skin from which you draw. It -will not hurt the taste of the wine, but the drunkards will sleep the -sooner and sounder. Doubtless there is somewhere on the grounds a large -pointed iron bar: is it not so?” - -She replied that there was one in the provision cellar. - -“It is well. In the course of the day contrive to introduce the bar, with -a note which I will give you fastened to it, into the prison through the -grated opening. Will you do it?” - -She bent her head in assent. - -“One other thing—the hardest but most important of all. As soon as the -mess room is quiet after the debauch, and the men are lying stupid with -drunkenness and drug, steal in on tiptoe and cut off the key from the -girdle of the captain, and unlock the dungeon door, if the young man -has not yet succeeded in prying it open. The drug is so powerful that -I think you can do it safely. If one should happen to rouse, he would, -very likely, think you had come to bring more wine and relapse into his -stupor. When the young man is free, conduct him to the north gate, which -I know you have the key of; where we will meet you with a number of men -and conduct you all to the pinnace which by that time will be near the -north hamlet. Will you do this also?” - -“Oh,” the woman exclaimed with almost an air of distraction, “I am _so_ -afraid. Those wicked, frightful men—how _can_ I go in among them!” - -Both Seti and Rachel talked long with her; plied her with arguments and -promises; and at last had the satisfaction of seeing her more composed -and firm, and of hearing her promise that she would do as they wished. - -As she rose to go, Rachel grasped her hand and said, “Now be brave for -a few hours and your fortune is made. Do all we have said—do just as we -have said. Do it for the sake of the innocent, do it for Israel’s sake, -do it for our sakes who have some claims upon you, do it for your own -sakes for whom this day may do so much.” - -As the woman was turning away, Seti held out to her a vial filled with a -colored liquid. “As evening comes on pour this into a cup of water and -drink it. It is a cordial. It will strengthen and steady you for what you -have to do.... And then,” he added to Rachel, “the note and plan to be -fastened to the bar!” - -She at once wrote thus: “To night we expect that the guard will be stupid -with wine and drug. When they are fully quiet after their debauch, see -what you can do toward prying open your door. If you cannot succeed, you -may still hope that the door will be unlocked shortly from without. Make -your way out of the castle by means of the inclosed plan, if no guide -appears; and meet your friends at the north gate.—R.” - -She showed this to Seti, who nodded his approval. Folding her copy of the -plan into the note, she gave it to the custode—charging her to put it -through the grate while it was still light enough to read the note and -to see how best to attack the door. The woman departed some gold pieces -richer than she came. - -The peddler gathered up his wares, repacked them, and went forward with -his pack. Late in the day, at a signal from Seti, the boatmen who had -scattered themselves along the bank, returned, unmoored the vessel, -pushed out silently into the stream, dropped silently down past the -castle, and as silently warped into another sheltered nook very like that -they had just left and about as far from the castle. - -Here the servants spread refreshments for Rachel and her grandfather: and -then a larger outspread was made at the other end of the pinnace for the -others. While these were eating, Seti and Rachel went down among them to -speak a few kindly words, to see that their wants were well supplied, -and to ask all of them, save two or three needed to stay by the vessel, -to be ready late in the evening to escort them in a short walk they were -proposing to take. It would not be amiss if they should take bludgeons or -other arms with them: they would find a plenty of such below. Very likely -arms would not be needed; but then the place was neither Heaven nor the -Diapleuston. Is it necessary to state that no person was employed on -Alexander’s barge unless he was a Jew of his own synagogue? - -How should they spend the weary hours of waiting before it would be time -to set out for the gate? Seti did something to answer this question. - -As soon as the men had finished eating, he stepped to the front of the -dais with a roll in his hand, and invited all of them to come near -while he should read from their Sacred Writings. He then proceeded to -read from the Septuagint the 93d and a part of the 94th Psalm. It was -very different reading from that artificial sub cantus heard in the -synagogues. It was the reading of a prophet by a prophet, of a poet -by a poet. Such a natural, hearty, sympathetic rendering of the great -thoughts—it seemed as if the royal Psalmist, in the full glow of his -inspiration, was rehearsing his own words. The people stood with open -mouths and wondering eyes as the man of three generations—his form -erect, his eyes keen, his hair but slightly frosted, his teeth perfect, -his voice firm and resonant, his whole bearing that of one who defies -decay—celebrated in grave and majestic tones the glory of the One God, -His justice, and the final overthrow of the plans of the wicked. He -closed by reading with special slowness and emphasis these words, “_Who -will rise up for me against the evil doers—who will stand up for me -against the workers of iniquity?_” - -Rolling up the parchment, he looked searchingly about on the upturned -faces. - -“Friends,” said he, “we are not far from a den of evil-doers. In yonder -castle, a small band of ruffians, without warrant from the authorities, -have shut up in a dungeon the young man who stood up so nobly for our -faith in the Diapleuston a few days ago. We are here with a warrant from -the governor to rescue him. We expect this will be done about midnight -without any help from you. But we have promised to meet the rescuing -party at the north gate of the castle grounds with our men and conduct -them to the pinnace. We hope that this will be all we need to do. But -if we should be disappointed, I want you to be ready with stout hearts -and arms to succeed where others have failed. The soldiers are few, at -midnight they will be drunk, the castle will be open, and I who know -every nook in it will be your guide. Now, who of you will rise up for us -against the evil doers?” - -“We will all go,” said one. - -“Yes, _all_,” said another and another. - -“There is none of us willing to be left behind,” exclaimed the peddler as -he looked around. - -“And yet,” said Seti, “we must leave some with the vessel. Ten of your -stoutest will be enough to go with us; and you may select these for -yourselves.... Now let us kneel and pray to the God of Israel, who can do -great things for us whereof we shall be glad,” and, to the astonishment -of all, he kneeled, and spread forth his hands heavenward, and invoked -the blessing of the Most High on their undertaking with the manner of -one who saw God and stood in his very presence. Few words, but full of -meaning and realization and devotion. And that westering sun looked -through the screen of palms on as true and acceptable a prayer meeting as -he sees to-day. - -In the brief twilight that follows an Egyptian sun setting, they saw a -man running down to them from the high road that skirted the bank. It -proved to be the old Egyptian custode. He was spent with running, and, -when brought up to Seti and Rachel, could hardly speak. But at last he -managed to let them know that he was much afraid, from his wife’s growing -agitation, that her courage would fail at the critical moment. All -appearances promised an agony of fright and incapacity when presence of -mind would be most needed. He begged that the lady, who only seemed to -have power to soothe and hearten her, would not fail to come with the -others. It might save everything. - -“I _will_ come,” said Rachel; and, looking at Seti, she added, “I had -rather in any case go with you than remain here in suspense.” - -He made no reply to her, but said to the Egyptian as he dismissed him -with a present: “Do not forget to have the north gate opened early—also -the iron door leading to the cellars. Have a lighted lantern ready as -soon as the soldiers are quiet.” - -The stars came out one by one. Sirius flashed out first; then Aldebaran; -then the body and belt and sword of Orion, together with Pleiades and -Hyades and the Chambers of the South—with their pageant universe. No moon -would appear till after midnight; but such was the stellar effulgence -that nothing more seemed needed for such an enterprise. - -The _flight_ of Time! Yes, he is sometimes pictured with wings as far -stretching and mighty as an archangel’s; and sometimes he seems to us -to be plying them with all his might. But not in such circumstances as -our friends were in. To eager, restless, suspenseful hearts, hoping the -best but fearing the worst, eager to work but for the present able to do -nothing, Time has no wings at all, not even feet, but creeps along as if -weighted with untold chains. So crept he that night to Seti and Rachel. - -But even the snail is at last found to have moved—the most lingering hour -that ever crept toward a man, second by second, at last arrives—and so, -at last, midnight ached along and found Seti and his company at the north -gate. It was unfastened. So far, well. - -They listened. They thought they could hear dull strokes at carefully -measured intervals. “Get nearer—as near as you can,” said Seti to the -peddler, “and see if the sound does not come from the dungeon.” - -In a few moments the man returned to say that the prisoner was evidently -at work on his door; but that the custodes, both man and wife, were -sitting in an apparently helpless state on the steps before the iron door -leading to the vaults. He could scarcely get an intelligible word from -either of them. - -“Let us go to them,” whispered Rachel to Seti; “let us go to them alone. -The men would only alarm and confound them more.” - -For answer he drew her arm still further within his; and went cautiously -forward through the shadows straight toward the door of the vaults. Sure -enough, there were the custodes on the last step, cowering, trembling, -moaning faintly, almost stupid with terror. Rachel knelt by the woman, -took hold of her hand with one hand and stroked her with the other, bade -her be of good courage, if only for a little. - -“You see,” said she, “that I have come to help you. Seti also is here; -and many other helpers are behind. Have you taken the cordial? Ah, I -see that you have forgotten it. Never mind, take it now. There, now I -hope you will soon feel better. What do you say? You have no strength? -You cannot go alone? Look, Deborah, let us go together as far as the -prison door and see what progress has been made. Perhaps it will not be -necessary to go for the key. Come, lean on me.” - -So the woman was persuaded to her feet. The potion that Rachel had given -her seemed beginning to take effect. Seti pushed open the iron door, -found a lighted lantern just within, cautiously descended the steps with -it, closely followed by the two women. Now the blows were falling strong -and fast; as if the prisoner knew that no time was to be lost. They came -to the grated opening into the cell. Seti set the lantern by it. At once -the strokes ceased. - -“Is it Aleph the Chaldean?” inquired the priest in a voice scarcely above -a whisper. - -“Thank Heaven! it is the voice of Seti, my friend and father,” answered a -voice within. - -“Will the door give way?” asked Seti. - -“I fear not,” replied Aleph. “I cannot see where to apply the bar, and so -much of my labor is thrown away. If a light could be introduced through -the grating, I could soon tell whether freedom is possible in this way.” - -“Can you get a narrow sconce that will pass through the grate?” asked -Seti of the custode. - -The woman, without speaking, pointed in a vague way toward the room above. - -“Do nothing till we return,” said the priest to Aleph. “We will find you -a light, or something better.” - -Then he whispered to Rachel, “There is but one thing to be done. Seat the -woman on this bench and come. We must do without her. She might shriek or -fall among the men at any moment. Safer without her.” - -The woman sank on the bench like a rag. Seti took down the lantern, drew -Rachel’s arm again within his own, and softly made his way up a flight of -steps to the door of the mess room. He listened a moment. Nothing was -audible but the dull hard breathing of the men within. - -He gently pressed the door open. The room was full of lights of all -sorts—as if the ruffians had been afraid of darkness and meant to have -as little of it as possible. And all around—on benches, on the floor, -under the great table, hanging limp over the backs of chairs—were the -men in a state of swinish intoxication. Broken and upset cups lay about -everywhere. Pools of wine and vomit were on the table and on the floor. -The foul air was almost intolerable. - -Seti took up a sword that lay on the floor, and held out the lantern to -Rachel. - -“No, grandfather,” she whispered, “this work is for me. I can tread among -them more lightly than you can; and now I can see the key at the belt of -yonder man,” and she pointed to a man who sat at the head of the table, -his arms spread out upon it, and his head resting on his arms. - -He expostulated, “Perhaps the woman neglected to drug the wine as she -neglected her own cordial.” - -Without replying, the maiden gathered her robes tightly about her, -and stepped in among the dangerous brutes. Her feet fell as fall the -snow-flakes. Around one man, over the arm or leg of another, narrowly -missing the nodding head of a third—on she went through those swine -possessed with devils like some celestial vision, with eye and foot -steady and sure, till she reached the farther end of the room and the -side of the symposiarch. She saw the key. Oh for a knife to sever it -from the belt! She could see nowhere any sharp cutting tool. The man was -snoring heavily; the snores got into a tangle, trembled, stopped. He -groaned and moved. She stood breathlessly over him with steady, flaming -eyes till his breathing became regular again; then, seizing a small -sconce from the table, she held it under the string that fastened the key -to the belt. In a moment the two parted company. With lamp in one hand, -and the key with her draperies in the other, she made her way back to the -door and Seti as carefully as she went. - -They passed out. Seti noiselessly closed the door, drew up between it and -an angle in the wall a stout bench, and descended to the dungeon. Rachel -put her hand with the narrow lamp in it through the grate, and whispered -in an unsteady voice, “We have the key. Take the light, and, if you have -displaced the door somewhat, replace it. Else the key may not work.” - -He took it, made a few movements with his bar, then said, “Now try the -key.” Seti inserted it and tried to turn—alas, the bolt would not move. - -“Hand the key to me,” said Aleph; “perhaps I can do better from the -inside.” - -It was passed through the grate. The outside hearts stood still as the -key was heard groping for its hole, then stoutly pushed home, then -beginning to turn in the wards. Would it stop? Has it stopped? Ah, what -a moment that was! Human nature could not endure many such strains. But -hark! There is a sudden mighty heave and push and wrench; and, oh joy! -youth and strength and Heaven have surely conquered. Back flies the bolt -with a loud noise that is musical as Paradise; and lo, Aleph stands -before them. Seti threw his arms about him, and exclaimed, “My son—thank -Heaven!” - -“I also thank Heaven and my foster-father,” returned Aleph warmly, as he -returned the embrace; and then, turning toward Rachel with eyes that even -in the dim light throbbed into hers thankfulness, and much besides that -made her face burn and her heart sing, he added, “And there is another -who will not be forgotten, even the angel whom God has sent to shut the -lions’ mouths so that they have not hurt me. I knew your voice, and even -your hand, as well as your chant, as you came.” - -“We must hasten,” interrupted the priest. “We are not yet quite out of -the lions’ den.” - -Aleph at once went into the dungeon and brought out his staff and the -lamp. - -“And Deborah? It will not do to leave the poor woman here; and, shattered -as she is, she cannot help herself away. She failed us at the last -moment, but she did what she could,” whispered Rachel to Aleph as she -pointed to the custode on the bench. - -He bent to look at the woman. “No, she cannot walk, and must not be left. -I will carry her.” - -And he took her up as gently and as easily as one might a babe; and so, -following Seti, they went up the steps to the iron door and then out -under the blessed stars that seemed to rejoice and exult with them. Seti -did not forget to make assurance of safety doubly sure by putting another -bolted door between them and pursuit. They found the Egyptian sitting -where they had left him. He plainly was able to help himself: so, bidding -him follow, they moved on to the gate, where they found the boatmen -and peddler much alarmed at their long absence and about going to seek -them. This gate also they immediately bolted after them—thus putting a -third embarrassment in the way of pursuit. The pinnace-men could scarce -restrain their joy and shouts when they saw Aleph among them with the -woman in his arms. They did _not_ restrain themselves as soon as the bolt -of the gate went clanging home, but sent up a shout full of heartiness -and victory. The newly risen moon seemed to shout back again. - -They reached the vessel without further adventure. - -“Unmoor, men,” cried Seti, “and push out into the river!” - -When this had been done, and the pinnace was moving gently with the -current, his voice rose again. “Before we spread our sails and take oars -for Alexandria, let us acknowledge Him who has answered our prayers.” And -so under the bright moonlight, floating gently down the restful ancient -river, with no sound on the air but his own majestic voice, the high -priest, as if primate of all religions, gave thanks, in few and fitting -words and with uplifted hands, for the success of their enterprise to Him -“who executeth judgment for the oppressed, who giveth food to the hungry, -and who looseth the prisoners.” - -Now up, men, with the sails! Now, ye oarsmen with light hearts and strong -arms, ply joyfully the oars homeward! Aleph, sitting at the feet of Seti -and Rachel, is duly questioned and tells modestly his story; and he in -return soon comes to know all that we know about the measures taken for -his rescue—also about the situation of Cimon, in regard to whom his -concern seemed to have been greater than for himself. For the most part -Seti told the story. And he told it well. Rachel certainly had no reason -to complain that justice was not done to the part she had taken in the -matter. And she saw more eloquent speaking in the two luminaries that -occasionally beamed up into hers than she had ever seen in moon and -stars—or even the sun. - -But toiling men must have rest and sleep. So, after the lapse of an hour -or so, during which good progress had been made, the boatmen moored again -under the screen of another leafy grove that overhung the river and laid -themselves down wherever they best could. Seti and Rachel retired below. -As for Aleph, he had had enough of inactivity. The sense and delight of -freedom once more were strong within him. He leaped ashore; and walked -about in the grove, and sometimes on the highway from Alexandria which in -general followed the banks of the river, and which the Romans, according -to their wont, kept in the best condition. While on this thoroughfare he -heard the sound of wheels and the tramp of furiously driven horses coming -from the north. He stepped into the grove. The noise rapidly grew, and -soon became mixed with the voices of men in angry dispute. As the voices -came still nearer—could it be?—Aleph thought he recognized the voice of -Draco. Then appeared a chariot drawn by two foaming horses, with four men -seated in it. When nearly abreast of him the horses suddenly stopped. - -“We will go no farther,” exclaimed the voice of Draco, “till this matter -is settled. We mean that he shall die; and we also mean to be paid well -for what we have done for you. We must have enough to pay us for the loss -of our situations, and to keep us in Rome, or wherever we choose to go, -for the rest of our lives. We want the talents down—all of them. We are -not a-going to trust you for a yearly stipend, which may and may not be -paid; we must have everything in our own power. You did not promise so -much? But you promised to pay us liberally; and the pay must be what _we_ -call liberal. Cannot get so many talents? You can at least steal them -from your father, or from the treasury of the province—we do not care -which. We do not care how you come by the money if so be that we get it.” - -In the course of the violent altercation that followed Aleph recognized -three other voices—that of the equestrian trainer, that of Antis, and -that of Sextus Flaccus who seemed in a half drunken state. He also -gathered that Sextus had been berating the trainers for their defeat -by Aleph until the passionate men had been provoked beyond measure, -lost all self-control, and were ready to do almost anything to gratify -their resentment. Sextus was too much in wine to see his danger; kept on -abusing them roundly; and even went so far as to threaten that he would -pay them little or nothing for their services. This had brought matters -to a crisis. - -“Now,” said Draco at last, with an oath as horrible as a pagan or an -atheist could swear, “let us have done with this. Tell us, Sextus -Flaccus, what you will do—yes or no. Will you promise by the soul of your -mother, the only oath you are likely to keep, that within five days, by -hook or by crook, you will pay over to us the money we demand? If not, -you drunken fool, we will strangle you on the spot and throw your body -into the river. It will be said that you fell into the river in a drunken -fit. And everybody will believe the story—even your own father. Swear, -I say, or _die_, DIE. We can help ourselves at the castle to more than -you are likely to give us, if it be true, as we hear, that your father -hides his treasures there; and then we will take to the desert and have -everybody for a prey. Come!” - -Nothing came from Sextus but a new volley of provoking epithets and -threats. - -The two trainers grasped him. A struggle followed. “Drive on a little -farther to a better spot,” cried Draco to Antis. - -The horses sprang forward under the lash and soon disappeared. But Aleph -could hear the noise of scuffle, muffled calls for help, half suffocated -cries of terror. He ran after the chariot as fast as possible: at length -descried it standing by the roadside empty. At the same time he heard a -loud splash and saw three men run up from the river bank, leap into the -chariot, and drive off at a furious pace. It was vain to pursue—perhaps -he might rescue the victim. So he rushed to the bank which the men had -just left; and leaned over the water, holding by a friendly sapling that -bent over the stream. At first he could see nothing, coming as he did -from the bright moonlight; but in a moment he saw a hand just sinking -beneath the water—saw also a crocodile close by in the act of turning -over to seize his prey. Quick as thought he struck at the monster with -his staff, and then, plunging his arm deep in the water, caught the -fingers of Sextus just as they were passing out of reach, and drew the -body to the bank. It was apparently lifeless. The proper way of treating -such a body is no discovery of modern times. Aleph was not ignorant -of it, promptly used it, and found signs that life was not extinct, -though flickering in its socket. He took up the body and hastened -to return to the pinnace. He found it all alive with anxiety at his -disappearance—especially after the sounds of strife and rushing wheels -had faintly come to them. Seti and Rachel met him, as he stepped on board -with his burden, with a joyful welcome and inquiring looks. - -“Sextus Flaccus, nearly or quite murdered by his comrades—first -throttled, and then drowned!” - -A few swift words of further explanation, and Aleph hastened to the dais -with his burden, and for a long time bent every energy to restore the -vital warmth—by posture, by friction, by wrapping in rugs, by aiding the -ribs in the scarcely perceptible breathing movement, by fanning—Seti -assisting with advice and hands. It was a hard fight with death; but at -last came signs that their labor would not be in vain. Sextus breathed -regularly though feebly. His throat, which they had laid bare, and which -was all bruised and discolored by the strangling hands of the ruffians, -showed the efforts of the vital fluid to resume a forceful circulation. -At last he moaned and opened his eyes. Opened them on Aleph as he knelt -before him, fanning him, gently adjusting his position and wraps as -usefully as possible. Opened them at first in a vague, bewildered stare -into which soon came a grain of intelligence, then of astonishment, -then of alarm. He tried to raise himself. Aleph gently helped him. -Then followed a fixed gaze of absorbed inquiry in which thought seemed -wrestling with thought, each demanding of each, _What means all this? -Is it possible?_ He then quietly closed his eyes and seemed trying to -recollect himself. Seti and Rachel kept well behind, and watched with -breathless interest. Again Sextus opened his eyes—this time with full -intelligence in them. He tried to speak. No sound came. He tried again. -Aleph put his ear near the struggling lips. - -“Are you Aleph the Chaldean?” came in the faintest of whispers. - -Aleph nodded. - -“Aleph the prisoner?” - -Aleph nodded again. - -“Did you save me from the men, and the Nile, and—the crocodile?” Sextus -asked in a stronger voice. - -“What, did you notice the crocodile?” said Aleph. “I thought you were -beyond noticing anything.” - -“I saw him preparing to seize me—saw something worse than a crocodile; -for all my follies and sins of many years, including my treatment of -you, came up before me in one dreadful flash. Ah, it was a dreadful -sight—worse than any monster on sea or land!” - -“You see that it is possible to escape from monsters that are very near,” -said Aleph soothingly. “But I would not talk any more just now. You are -too weak. Let me adjust the rugs and wraps more comfortably for you, and -lie down again. You are among friends.” - -Sextus bent another long wondering gaze at the noble face that was -bending over him, and then resigned himself with closed eyes to the -gentle hands that laid him carefully down to a smoother and softer -resting place. In a few moments he was asleep. - -“Well,” said Seti, with a grave smile, “you _are_ a very strange young -man. Is this the way you treat enemies in your country? If so it is very -unlike any other country that I happen to know. Still, I confess that -the way, unprecedented as it is, has a good look to it, and may be worth -introducing into Egypt.” - -“Say not _unprecedented_, my dear grandfather,” said Rachel, “for you -know Deity treats men better than they deserve; and the Christ, it -seems, does the same. How forbearing he is toward his enemies, when he -could so easily overwhelm them!” - -Aleph was looking dreamily at the banks now fast gliding by (for the -pinnace was in full motion again and the dawn was kindling all things -into color and beauty), but at the word _Christ_ he turned inquiringly -toward Rachel. She understood him. - -“Yes,” she said, “we have something new to tell you about the -Christ—something new and wonderful that comes from a witness that I can -trust—my own mother”—and she proceeded to relate to him the history of -the resurrection of Lazarus and the consequent exasperation and plottings -of his enemies. - -“Having had little else to do, I have been thinking much of Him during -the last few days,” returned Aleph, “especially of what the prophets, -Isaiah and Daniel, say of his suffering character. ‘He was wounded for -our transgression, he was bruised for our iniquities, and the Lord has -laid on him the iniquities of us all: he was taken from prison and from -judgment, and who shall declare his generation, for he was cut off out -of the land of the living.’ And Daniel says, ‘And after three score and -two weeks shall the Messiah be cut off, but not for himself.’ So I am -expecting the worst and the best—the greatest sacrifice and the greatest -salvation the world has ever seen. Jesus is surely a king; but at present -his kingdom is not of this world. He will pass to his throne through the -gates of death. Then of his kingdom there will be no end.” - -He said this as a seer might say it, and with a new light in his face. - -Sextus slumbered on, hour after hour, as the vessel glided down the -silent river and the sun glided up the silent sky. Their morning meal was -spread for them and still he slept. But when they raised their heads, -after the priest had thanked Him who giveth to all their food, they saw -that his eyes were wide open and fastened on them. Aleph at once went -to him, helped him to a sitting posture, propped him with cushions and -rugs, and then brought him fruits and other food. He was now able to eat, -though but very slowly. Aleph did not leave him till his slow repast was -quite finished, and he was again settled into a restful position. During -all this he said not a word. - -It was not long after the meal and the general religious service that -immediately followed that they saw in the distance and coming toward -them a large galley evidently crowded with people. As it approached they -recognized the young men of the University; and the young men at the -same time recognized the commanding form of Aleph, who had risen for a -better view of the craft in which Seti seemed so interested. What a shout -from young throats suddenly broke into the sky! What a climbing into all -high places and lookouts! What a frantic flourish of hands and caps—yea, -of spears and swords and bucklers; for it was now plain that something -besides a cordial reception of a returning friend was in the thought of -the young men when they left Alexandria. They were prepared to fight as -well as to celebrate. - -“Hail Aleph the Chaldean!” Three times they had given this uproarious -greeting with full lungs and wild gesticulations; and there is no telling -when they would have stopped had not Aleph stepped on the bulwark toward -the galley and beckoned to them. They instantly became silent. - -“You see, my friends, that the venerable Seti has found me, and found me -safe and sound—thanks to Heaven and him. No matter where, no matter how: -he desires that no questions he asked about these things. My arrest and -abduction were not by the authorities: they were a private enterprise -altogether for which we may hold Draco responsible, if we can lay hands -on him. Apart from him all is buried. Many thanks to you for the generous -interest you have taken in the stranger, for the efforts and pains you -have been at on my account, and of which I have been duly informed. I did -not know when I joined the University what a company of generous and warm -hearted associates I would have. If my arm were long enough I would grasp -the hand of every one of you. Suppose it done till we meet again. Once -more; in return for your warm greetings, I am sure that I can give not -only my own but those of the dear friends in whose hands you see me, and -without whom I should not be here to-day.” - -Pausing a moment, he added, “I have a favor to ask. We have with -us a sick friend for whom quiet and rest are needed. For this -and other reasons we propose that you precede or follow us at a -considerable interval; and that we enter the city apart in as quiet and -undemonstrative a way as possible. We can demonstrate at our leisure -hereafter. I certainly shall want to demonstrate my gratitude.” - -One great cheer for the speaker; and another for “the empress of -Alexandria” as they now discovered Rachel beneath the curtain which she -had hastily let fall between herself and the approaching galley; and -then the galley silently dropped behind—far behind. But our friends could -hear faintly from it the music of song and instrument, and faintly see -the flutter of banners and streamers of all sorts all the way along the -river and canal. But when they entered the lake they quite lost sight and -hearing of the galley. So the pinnace came quietly to its old moorings. - -Up to this time Sextus had sat silent and almost motionless where he had -been placed. He now threw off his wraps and attempted to rise. With the -help of Aleph, who hastened to him, he succeeded; but he was not able to -stand alone. - -“I see a close palanquin on the shore,” said Aleph. “I will beckon for -it, and if you somewhat muffle the lower part of your face, you will not -be recognized. I will order the bearers to take you to Bruchium.” - -Sextus looked gratefully at him, and said in a low but decisive voice, “I -shall not forget this, as you soon will have occasion to know.” - -So they parted with mutual pressure of the hand. - -Then Aleph parted from Seti and Rachel—saying to the latter as she -reminded him of his promise to see Miriam, “Shall I also see the empress -of Rome?” His voice was somewhat unsteady. - -She hesitated for a moment, and then said, impulsively, “You will never -see her, if earth and Heaven can prevent it;” and her face shone with a -determination that was almost fierce. - -“If I only wore a diadem, I know at whose feet it would be laid”—he said -it simply, as to himself. - -“Aleph the Chaldean already wears a diadem which the daughter of -Alexander values more than any that will ever shine on the banks of the -Tiber,” was the reply. - -What is the use of being a princess and, by invitation, an empress, if -she cannot speak her mind frankly? But what _is_ her mind? Seti might -have used the same words. From his lips they would have meant high -approval and even admiration. Was this all that she meant? Did she -only pay such fitting intellectual tribute to Aleph as one pays to an -admirable statue, to the glorious stars, or to each of a hundred shining -historic persons? We admire them and praise them—but we can live without -them. We can leave the admirable statue in its palace or temple and very -contentedly go about our business, never to see it again. We can praise -Plato to the skies, and yet be quite willing to have him and his Republic -remain some twenty odd centuries away from us. Who has a right to say -that such was not the mind of Rachel?—appreciative, outspoken, Setian, -and—nothing more? - - - - -XV. - -THE CONFERENCES. - - Αυοῖν παρόντων ήμισυς λόγος πάρα. - - —ÆSCHYLUS, _Eum._ 428. - - _He hears but half who hears one side only._ - - 1. Legal preparations. - 2. A mixed cup. - 3. A critical conversation. - 4. For better or worse? - - - - -XV. - -THE CONFERENCES. - - -There were several reasons why the first wonder and rush of surmises -as to the reappearance of Aleph did not last long. They were let alone -severely. And then the rumors of an approaching visit from the Cæsar grew -stronger every day; and all eyes and tongues were strongly drawn toward -the daughter of Alexander and her probable views and feelings as to the -great alliance. In addition, the air was now full of the great trials -that were to come off in a few days—Malus against the two brothers, Malus -against Cimon, and Cimon against Malus. That Malus should venture to -attack anybody was not a matter for surprise; but that anybody should -venture to attack Malus was indeed wonderful. So the city had plenty -to talk about without querying long as to the where and how of Aleph’s -escape, with nobody to answer questions. - -The public interest grew exceedingly when it became plain, as it soon -did, that the contest would not be between two individuals, but between -two great parties. On the one side were Malus and the Flacci with -their host of dependents: on the other was Cimon, supported by all the -influence and forces of Seti and Alexander, as well as by the good-will -and prestige and family influence of both branches of the University, -with which Aleph was now unboundedly popular. Though he firmly declined -to give any information as to who the chief criminal in his abduction -was, and what the place of his confinement, and how he was rescued, the -students were not offended—following the lead of Cornelius and a few -others who had specially attached themselves to him, and to whom he -had said that his silence was to save embarrassment to Cimon and other -friends in their affairs. They looked in his face and believed him. -They heard the ring of his voice and were content both with him and -his friend—with Cimon, _because_ he was his friend. As Malus soon had -occasion to know. Not a student entered his warehouse. If one saw him -coming he ostentatiously crossed to the other side of the street. And the -vexed trader was compelled to listen to some serenades that were neither -very musical nor very complimentary. Of all such demonstrations in his -favor, Aleph was ignorant; though he was well aware on what side the -sympathies of his fellow-students were enlisted. - -I have said that the public assumed that the Flaccan influence would be -cast in favor of Malus. But one day an event occurred which unsettled -at least the University part of the public on this point. At the close -of one of Seti’s lectures and before the students had left, a herald -appeared at the door and announced his Excellency the Governor. Seti -stepped forward after a very cool and stately fashion to receive the -dignitary; and inquired what he could do to pleasure his Excellency. -His Excellency stated that he was fond of young men, and liked to look -in upon them now and then, in their curriculum; but that his special -object to-day was to congratulate both him and his young friend, who he -believed was called _Aleph the Chaldean_, on the success of the measures -for the rescue of the latter. - -“I _do_ congratulate you most heartily, venerable Sir—as I know that you -are much interested in the young man. Is he present?” And Flaccus looked -about on the students as if to discover him. - -“Will Aleph the Chaldean come forward?” said Seti: “His Excellency wishes -to congratulate him in person on his safety.” - -The young men were too much interested in what was passing to stand on -ceremony. The better to see everything, they stepped on the seats and -pommelled down obnoxious shoulders and heads. And they saw Aleph advance, -not only without embarrassment, but with a grace and even majesty that -would have become a king. And yet the kingly way was so unaffected and so -modest in its expression, as not to be offensive. - -“May it please your Excellency,” said Seti with emphasis, “this is the -young man for whom you have asked and whom you authorized us to rescue at -all costs.” - -“I am glad I did it. It was one of the best acts of my life,” exclaimed -Flaccus, as he looked up with undisguised astonishment at the figure and -face before him. - -Then with some hesitation he continued, “You do not seem, young man, to -have suffered much from your confinement. It could hardly have been very -severe without leaving some marks upon you. I see none whatever. I would -not object to being confined myself if I could reappear in as good a -condition as yours.” - -“Still, such a confinement as mine is not one which I can conscientiously -recommend to your Excellency,” returned Aleph. “It had some features -about it rather trying to the average constitution. I think that the -fact that I am here to-day in a sound condition is due to my having a -constitution considerably tougher than the average.” - -“No doubt it is so,” said the Roman. “I am glad that you have come off -so well. I have come here to say so; to express my pleasure at your safe -return; to congratulate you upon it; and also to congratulate you on -having secured in so brief a time such warm and most desirable friends as -I see about you. I trust you will count me among them.” - -“Aleph the Chaldean accepts with pleasure the kind words which your -Excellency does him the honor of offering; and himself feels that he has -been highly favored in finding in a strange land so many friends whom he -will never be willing or able to forget.” - -“I have another object in coming here to-day,” continued Flaccus. “My -son, who is sick, begs that you will visit him at the Cæsareum. Your -nation, I believe, is well versed in leech craft; and perhaps you can -help him. If you will take a seat with me in my chariot it will gratify -both him and me.” - -“I will go to your son almost immediately,” said Aleph. “But your -Excellency will excuse me for declining the honor of your chariot. A less -distinguished way of going will better suit my youth and circumstances.” - -To say that the students were astonished hardly does the facts justice. -Three things amazed them—that the Governor should take a step so likely -to be understood by the public as against Malus; that Sextus Flaccus, -sick or well, should send for Aleph; and that Aleph should carry himself -in so unembarrassed and independent and yet courtly manner in the -presence of the chief Roman dignitary. It was another revelation to them. -Some of them said, “Plainly, this is not the first time Aleph has dealt -with people in high places—he is too much at home with them to be dealing -with novelties.” - -Both that day, and daily for many days afterward, Aleph found his way to -the Cæsareum, and to the slowly recovering Sextus. What was said or done -in these interviews never transpired—at least among the students. I am -not prepared to say but that Seti and Rachel came to know of pleasant and -hopeful things. - -Well, it _is_ time to speak again of the lovely Jewess. Of course -Aleph, the very next day after his return, fulfilled his promise to -see Miriam—and all the more readily because Seti had domiciled himself -at Alexander’s until the return of his son in law. He found not only -Miriam but also Seti and Rachel in the family apartment. Great was his -surprise at the gain the nurse had made since he last saw her; and so -he was able to give congratulations as well as receive them. Miriam’s -congratulations, however, were rather lame in the expression; for when -she saw him enter without any sign, even the slightest, of harm from all -that he had passed through, her eyes filled with tears and she scarcely -found voice to say more than, _Thank God_. - -“You see,” said Rachel, “that Miriam has wonderfully improved within the -last few days; but I doubt whether you can guess to what the improvement -is owing.” - -“The skill of the leech?” suggested Aleph, smiling. - -“Nay—as if you did not know her leech!” and she lifted her eyebrows. - -“The excellent nursing?” - -“By no means—I can speak for that.” - -“The _want_ of nursing? The nurse has been busy elsewhere; and so nature -has had a chance to act freely. Excessive care is sometimes as hurtful as -no care at all.” - -“Still at fault,” cried the maiden. “Shrewd as you are, you will not -be likely to guess: so I must tell you. She took a new medicine; and -it was _Aleph the Chaldean_. Devising ways and means to get you out of -your difficulties, O much enduring Ulysses, O pious Æneas beaten about -in all seas—this is what has made the change that you see. It is a very -healthful business this rescuing Aleph the Chaldean.” - -Then followed a pleasant explanation of the part which Miriam had taken -in the rescue, and such a grateful recognition of it as it deserved. - -On the humorous plea that Miriam was indebted to him for her health, and -must make payment for the same in valuable information, Aleph proceeded -to ask her many questions suggested by her former narrative of what she -had heard and seen of Jesus. Rachel joined him in this. As a result they -found not a few difficulties removed or diminished by a better knowledge -of circumstances. - -During this questioning and cross questioning Seti sat a silent but alert -listener. Only at the close, when the young people fairly woke up to the -fact that for a long time he had said nothing, and turned deprecatingly -toward him, did he say, “You two would make very respectable advocates. -I hope Marcus Piso will examine witnesses as well in the approaching -trials. I am glad to see that your faith in Jesus does not forget the -claims of reason.” - -Here a parcel was brought in and given to Rachel. “From my mother,” she -exclaimed, as she glanced at the superscription. “This doubtless contains -further news of the Christ that will interest us all. Let us see.” - -She broke the seals. In a moment she became so absorbed in her reading -that, evidently, she was quite oblivious of her surroundings. Her face -became a mirror behind which appeared the whole changing heaven of her -moods and feelings. The first glance at the letter brought a shadow on -the beaming countenance. As she went on the shadows deepened apace—as -when clouds add themselves to clouds in advance of the storm. At last the -storm itself came. Her face became a picture of mingled astonishment, -compassion, indignation, and dismay. She dropped the letter on the floor, -exclaiming, “_Can it be! Where is the Almighty Avenger!_” And the tears -streamed between her fingers as she buried her face in her hands. - -Seti and Aleph had both watched her changing expressions with alarm—had -both risen and were now standing by her side. - -“What dreadful thing has happened, my child?” asked Seti. - -“They have murdered Him—_murdered_ Him—have murdered the CHRIST!” she -exclaimed: then turning to Aleph, “And you were right. You feared the -worst, and the worst has come. Can there be a bright side to such a -picture?” - -She tried to brush away the tears that she might better see the -expression of his face. - -He said gently, “I think I can conceive of a brighter side even to such -a terrible picture. But I see that you have not finished your reading. -Perhaps the remainder of the letter will contain the brighter side.” He -took it up from the floor and handed it to her. - -Thus encouraged, she resumed her reading. Almost immediately a change -appeared on her face. Her eyes opened widely with a new wonder, and -beamed with a new light. As she went on the shadows thinned away as fast -as they had thickened; the light and sweetness grew apace as does the -fairest morning; and at last the sun rose on every lovely feature as she -finished the manuscript and exclaimed, _God be praised—there is indeed a -brighter side!_ - -She turned to Aleph, “You are right again. Jesus lives. He has passed -through death to his throne.” - -“I do not think,” said he, “that you are now able to read to us the whole -wonderful account as your mother has written it. But perhaps you can -give us a briefer account in your own words—suiting the length to your -strength, and passing lightly over details that have tried you most.” - -“I will try. But I think that I could not even do this were it not for -the strength and courage which this last reading has given me.” - -After a moment she proceeded: “From the time of the resurrection of -Lazarus the chief men at Jerusalem, with two exceptions, have been bent -on the death of Jesus. On the night before the Passover, they sent an -armed force to Gethsemane, where he was praying, arrested him, took him -to the palace of the high-priest, went through a form of trying him for -blasphemy, condemned him (two only objecting), then hurried him to Pilate -the governor; and so importuned and worried and threatened the reluctant -Roman that he at last consented, but not until they had taken on -themselves and their children the whole guilt of the deed, to condemn him -to the cross. Then followed mocking, and buffeting and scourging. Then in -the early morning, accompanied by many weeping and wailing friends and -a mob of howling and exulting enemies, the soldiers took him to Calvary -and there crucified him between two robbers. Oh, the cruel, cruel spikes! -Oh, the more cruel jeers and mockings and tauntings and railings of the -soldiers—and even of his fellow sufferers! They evidently were suffering -far less than he. Those familiar with crucifixions had never before seen -such agony. All the signs of an inexpressible anguish were in both face -and form. And once he uttered a cry so terrible that Nicodemus, who -heard it, said that it would haunt him to his dying day. He had never -heard the like before: never could bear to hear the like again. He is -fully persuaded that the sun in all his circuits had never looked down -on such mortal agony, because it was the agony of Him on whom ‘God laid -the iniquities of us all.’ In fact, the sun refused at length to look on -the awful scene any longer. He had climbed over the eastern hills, and -up to the zenith, with undimmed face, when, all at once, he disappeared. -For three hours the darkness of God was over the whole land. Men could -hardly see one another. But the darkness of men was still greater than -the darkness of God. They still continued to cast at Jesus through the -lurid dimness the stones of their derision and insult until the end. At -the ninth hour the great Victim died—praying for his enemies. Then the -earth quaked mightily. Ancient rocks that had defied men and time broke -in pieces before the silent cross. The veil of the temple was rent in -twain by unseen hands. Even dead men came from their graves, to meet -Jesus as he descended into his. ‘_Truly_,’ said the centurion who had the -crucifixion in charge, ‘_truly this was the Son of God!_’ - -“When all was over, the disciples smote their breasts and returned to the -city, filled with horror and almost despair. Who could have thought it! -Is there really no humanity on earth, and no divinity in Heaven! Is this -the end of their hopes—this the end of their long and fondly expected -kingdom of God! From the towering summits of faith to the depths of doubt -and misery—what a fall! My mother was not able to see the more immediate -disciples for two or three days; for she was crushed in both body and -heart: but Nicodemus kept her informed as to everything. Besides, she -knew how they were feeling from knowing how she felt herself. She was -prostrated before the awful mystery. She was dazed and almost incapable -of thought under the mighty shock. And yet she had at the bottom of -her heart a feeling that this could not be the end. God _cannot_ be so -defeated by man. - -“So much for the tragedy. Had this been all that my mother wrote I could -never have smiled again. Her account filled me with shame and horror and -wrath. It seemed to me that God would have been just if he had at once -smitten those murderers into the lowest Tophet. God forgive me! but I -almost felt as if I could do it myself. I felt as if I belonged to an -accursed and doomed race. Yes, I felt as if I could never smile again. -But you see that I can (and her face wet with tears shone out upon him, -with bewildering radiance); and it is because the tragedy has a triumph -for its sequel. - -“On the third day after the crucifixion Nicodemus came home in great -excitement, saying that the Roman guard which Pilate, at the solicitation -of the Jewish chiefs, had set about the tomb where the body of Jesus had -been placed, came into the city early in the morning and reported to the -chiefs with scared faces and trembling lips that One with a form bright -as the lightning had flashed down from the sky in their sight, rolled -away the stone from the door of the sepulchre, and sat upon it. They -fell to the earth, and became as dead men. When they came to themselves -they found the angel gone and the tomb open and empty. Great was the -perplexity of the leaders on hearing this; but they finally resolved, -Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea protesting, to fortify one crime by -another, and gave a large sum of money to the soldiers to say that the -body was stolen while they slept. This recalled vividly to my mother’s -mind what Jesus had once said, but which, in common with the other -disciples, she had taken as having some figurative meaning, ‘_And the -third day I will rise again_.’ - -“Soon after, one of the maids of the house, who also was a disciple and -had been out at the market, came hastily home, saying that some of the -apostles and others had seen angels at the sepulchre who told them that -Jesus had risen—had even seen Jesus himself and spoken with him. My -mother could no longer restrain herself, but hurried away to a place -where the disciples were wont to gather; and found many assembled. The -room was in a fever of restless pacings to and fro, of eager questionings -and answerings. Seen him? Spoken with him? Sure there is no mistake? -Peter and certain women were in great request, for they could say _Yes_ -to all such questions. The joy of assured conviction shone in some -faces; a hope that still feared in others. It seemed too good to be -true. Thomas, one of the Twelve, declared it could not be true: there -must be some delusion in it—either of the senses, or the nerves, or -the imagination. He would not believe without the concurrent witness -of at least three senses. He had scarcely said this, when, though the -doors were closed, they saw Jesus himself standing among them with the -well-known form and features and voice; and he said to Thomas, ‘Reach -hither thy finger and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand and -thrust it into my side; and be not faithless but believing.’ Thomas broke -down at once. Doubt was impossible. Not a ray of hesitation remained -with any. None understood the sublime march of events; none knew what -prodigies were yet to come, whether his enemies would now be swept away -and a visible Divine Kingdom set up, or not; but of this all were sure -that he who had died on the cross was again alive among them. And they -rejoiced with exceeding great joy—though the joy yet felt the swell and -tossing of the just departed storm. - -“Since then my mother has seen the Messiah several times. But he never -shows himself to the people at large. It is now understood among the -disciples that in a short time, after meeting them in Galilee, he will -return to Heaven—leaving his disciples to preach in his name forgiveness -of sins to all nations who will repent and believe.” - -“I think I will read to you,” added Rachel, “the last page or two of -the letter, that you may see what views are now being held by those -immediately about Jesus as to his person and work.” She read: - -“Now we all know that my thought was right—that his death was an -atonement for the sins of all men; and that the victims which have been -offered from the beginning were only types of this great Victim. And I -say to myself, What must be the nature and dignity of him whose death can -atone for all human sin? Must he not be Divine as well as human? Must -he not be God manifest in the flesh? Who else could make so mighty an -expiation?—who else save he of whom it is written, ‘And the government -shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, -Counsellor, the mighty God, the Everlasting Father,’ and who has said of -himself, ‘I and my father are one?’ - -“I cannot return home just yet—much as I wish to see you and others. -This great opportunity of seeing and hearing for a brief time longer the -Redeemer of the world is too precious to be sacrificed. Besides, the -successive tides of grief and joy have so shaken me that I am unfit to -travel. - -“Read what I have written to your dear grandfather. Oh, that he were -here—his fairness of mind and penetration would be sure to place him on -the side of Jesus. - -“Of course I have written the same things to your dear father and -brothers at Rome—hoping that amid their great schemes of business and -ambition they will find room for faith, _my_ faith. May they not be among -‘The rulers who take counsel together against the Lord and against his -Anointed?’ As to you I have no doubt, even though the lot of Esther”—the -maiden broke off abruptly with a flush and a shudder, and busied herself -for a little in adjusting the leaves of the manuscript. - -This letter led to a long conversation; I should say to long -conversations. Daily, for many days, Aleph came to his friends; and daily -the great theme was Jesus the Christ. Seti never failed to be present, -and never failed to be silent—save when a brief inquiry could bring -light. But, the day before the trials were to begin, he was absent, -arranging last things with his lawyer. Miriam also was absent. - -The unfailing and unwearying topic of topics again came up; and after a -delightful talk about the past and the future of the Messianic history, -Aleph inquired about the attitude of Seti. - -“My own impression has been,” said he, “that it was better for a mind -like his, so fair and penetrating and judicial, to be left largely to -feel its own way to the truth. So I have made no formal effort to commend -our own faith to him—save by shaping my inquiries of Miriam and our talks -with each other so as to furnish answers to questions which a great and -philosophic mind would naturally ask on its way to a just conviction. -Have I been right in this?” - -“I think so,” she answered. “Such men, my father says, must convince -themselves. The most we can do is to get the material for judgment within -their reach. And I think we have done this successfully in the case of my -grandfather. His mind is open to evidence from all quarters. He has no -national or race prejudices. He married a Caucasian princess; and was -willing that my mother should marry a Hebrew. Signs are not wanting to me -that his judgment is slowly but surely settling in favor of Jesus, not -only as a divine messenger, but even as an incarnation of the One God. -And yet I do not think that he has any idea of relinquishing his position -as primate of the Egyptians.” - -“I see no reason why he should,” returned Aleph. “He holds the original -Egyptian position in matters of faith; also that of the higher priesthood -all through the Egyptian history. He fairly represents the religion of -the land as it was when his office was established: his predecessors have -wrongfully used their power to change the ancient faith and practice; he -can rightfully use his power to restore it. Meanwhile, he is acting no -part; he is perfectly frank and outspoken as to his views and objects; -his function requires of him no endorsement of idolatry or even a refusal -of the Hebrew Scriptures and their Messiah. He could, to-day, say to his -College of Priests, not only that, like the far-back fathers, he believes -in one Infinite God who only is to be worshipped with Divine honors, but -also that he believes that this God has just appeared in the person of -Jesus—he could freely say all this and his subordinate priests would not -be stumbled. So I think that no law, human or divine, requires him to -surrender the advantages of his position in favor of some one who would -promote the national apostasy instead of reforming it.... But I could -wish to see him pronounced in favor of Jesus before I leave the country.” - -“That, I trust, will not be soon?” said Rachel, with a startled look. - -“As soon as these trials are fairly over, I suppose.” - -“What!” she exclaimed with a look of dismay, “I thought you would remain -a long time, studying our institutions, enlarging your knowledge of the -Western World, especially getting an inside view of our University life -and teachings. Be persuaded to remain—a long, very long time. Seti had -rather lose all the rest of the University. I do not think he could be -persuaded to part with you at all. And I think,” she stammered, “all your -friends here feel very much the same.” - -He replied, “My father did not propose for me a long stay in this city. -Through my Greek preceptor I was already considerably acquainted with -the matters you mention. They have been merely collaterals to two main -purposes—which were, first, to learn what could be learned about the -Messiah who, as my father believed, was born at Bethlehem some thirty -years ago; and, second, to investigate the proceedings of Malus. As -side issues my father wished me to get such improvement as a young man -might from seeing the world, and from being under the necessity of -judging and acting for himself among all sorts of men and under all -sorts of conditions. And as soon as the great objects of my visit could -be accomplished he wished me to return. I am an only child: the father -wishes to see his son, and the son wishes to see the father. And if I -can return through Judea and see the Messiah, and carry away from him -to my parents a blessing, I shall consider my mission accomplished. But -it will cost me something—very much indeed—to go away, even though it -be homeward. I never expected to find such friends in Alexandria as I -have found; and, as the day approaches for me to say farewell to them, -I find I am approaching one of the greatest trials of my life. What -wonderful kindness they have shown the nameless stranger who could not, -consistently with his father’s wishes, furnish the commonest letter of -introduction! And what delightful hours have I spent in this house with -one whose views and feelings on the most important of all subjects have -harmonized so completely with my own! Yes, it will cost me much to go -away—I did not know how much till I received yesterday a letter of recall -from my father (his lip quivered); and I doubt whether I have even now a -full sense of the bitterness that will come in saying last words. But, if -they must be said, it is doubtless better that they be said a week hence -than at some remoter time. I feel that my heart is less and less under my -control with every passing day. You see (he added with a sad smile) that, -if there were no other reasons, I must go away to escape from you: Rachel -is too mighty for Aleph the Chaldean. When one cannot conquer it is best -to leave the field.” - -“Flight is disgraceful,” exclaimed Rachel with sparkling eyes. “Better -die on the field. But I will be merciful to my captive. He shall live.” - -“To be dragged at your chariot wheels—to grace the triumph of her at -whose feet lies the empire of the West?” He rose. - -She also rose and came toward him. “You are quoting; or you are thinking -of a distant somebody of whom you have heard and whom you have despised. -Surely you are not thinking of _me_. It is true, if I must say it, that -I have been offered the Roman purple in the person of the heir-apparent; -and that to-day the elders of my people have been here to urge my -acceptance of the proposals—for the public good. I listened to what they -had to say and was silent—following the counsel of my grandfather. But to -you I will not be silent. I have never seen Germanicus, and never want to -see him. The empire of the West will have to wait long at my feet before -I take it up. I will have none of it. I had rather die.” - -She hesitated a moment and then went on, while a celestial blush spread a -new loveliness over every feature, “So you see that you need not go away -to escape from me. The daughter of Alexander was glad, beyond measure, to -hear that she was beloved by Aleph the Chaldean. She accepts his love and -gives him as large in return.” - -Even Aleph could be transfigured. And it was nothing less than -a transfiguration that now took place in his face at this frank -declaration. Rachel had seen that face in many moods of thoughtfulness, -watchfulness, resolve, pity, gratitude, command; but she had never before -seen it radiant with joy. Now she saw it—wonderingly and blissfully saw -it. All the flood gates of the morning seemed suddenly opened in his -face. Such eloquence beamed upon her from that illuminated page that she -needed no voice to interpret it. But a voice came—with a curious accent -of surprise and inquiry. - -“Can it be that I hear aright? Can it be that the greatest good fortune -of my life thus far has come to me to-day; and that the maiden for whose -favor princes strive can give her heart and hand to one who is to her -merely Aleph the Chaldean—the unknown?” - -“You are _not_ unknown,” she replied with a face as radiant and -transfigured as his own. “It is true that I do not know whether you -are rich or poor, whether prince or peasant, but this I know, that in -yourself alone you deserve the warmest love that woman can give; and I -give it. You shall be my emperor.” - -“What will Seti say?” - -“He will say as I do—proud old Pharaoh as he is.” - -“What will your father say—the rich, the ambitious?” - -“He will say as Seti says till he comes to know you better; and then -he will say as I do. Much as he values money, I happen to know that he -values merit more.” - -“What will the city say? That the Gem of Alexandria, who might have -chosen the greatest and best in the land, and even been mistress of the -West, has thrown herself away on a nameless adventurer?” - -“Perhaps. But I do not propose to marry to suit the city.” - -In a moment she found herself in his arms, and felt his warm, lingering -lips on her forehead. She looked up at him archly and said: - -“And what will _your_ father say?” - -“Ah, that is a very serious question!” he answered with a smile; “but -fortunately I can answer it better to-day than I could have done -yesterday. This morning I saw Cimon, and, on my telling him my feelings -toward you, he surprised me by saying that it was my father’s hope that -during my absence I might find among the chosen people some suitable -maiden to share my lot and be to him a daughter—that his wandering Jacob -might somewhere find a Rachel. And Cimon, from whom I have kept nothing, -is satisfied—nay, more, is delighted. So thus I answer your question. My -father will say as Cimon does, and Cimon will say as I do.” - -How long Aleph tarried at this unwatered wine I do not know; but I happen -to know that he did not become so intoxicated but that he could hold a -long business consultation afterward with Piso and Seti about the trials -that were to begin the next day. - -He was driving the chariot of the sun; but he held the fiery coursers -well in hand. - - - - -XVI. - -THE BASILICA. - - Οί δὲ δίκας ξείνοιο καὶ ενδήμοισι διδοῦσιν, τοῖσι τεθηλε πόλις. - - HESIOD, _Works_, 223. - - _Those who administer the laws with justice to foreigners and - natives—by these the city flourishes._ - - 1. Before the courts. - 2. Is Themis blind? - 3. Fiat justitia. - 4. Buat cælum. - - - - -XVI. - -THE BASILICA. - - -The courts of Alexandria were held in the great Basilica at the -intersection of Emporium Street with the Street of Canopus. - -Among the Romans, subject peoples were, as far as possible, left to be -governed by their own laws and customs. Accordingly all suits between -persons of the same nation were first tried by their own judges. An -appeal could be taken from these to a Roman court. Also, the case went to -a Roman court if the judges failed to agree on a verdict. - -The suit of Malus against the two brothers, Shaphan and Nathan, for the -non-payment of the sum they had agreed to give for his rights in their -khan-business, together with interest on the same for nearly thirty years -(time did not outlaw debts in Alexandria), being between Jew and Jew, -came before Jewish judges, who happened to be equally divided between the -two chief synagogues. - -In suits of this kind, and indeed of almost every kind, it was customary -for the more immediate friends of either party to give him moral support -by taking seat with him in the court-room. Of course Malus was not -unprovided with sympathizers. Nor were Shaphan and Nathan. On their side -of the room sat Seti and Aleph, as well as some of the principal men of -the Diapleuston. - -I do not propose to give a detailed account of proceedings. Those who are -curious about the formalities of ancient courts, Jewish or Roman, must -seek for them in other works. I touch only _fastigia verum_. - -The advocate of Malus first stated briefly the accusation. Then Malus -made oath that the statement was correct. Next the defendants made oath -to the contrary. Then Piso, as advocate for the defendants, proceeded -to question Malus. Was it not possible that he had long ago received -payment, but had gradually, through press of affairs of much greater -consequence, lost sight of the fact? Malus replied that he was not apt -to be forgetful in business matters: besides, he distinctly remembered -having made an annual application in writing at the beginning of each -year for the sum due him, to say nothing of many personal applications. -He was prepared to furnish witnesses to the fact of such applications, -both written and oral, during a full quarter of a century. - -Piso inquired why he had not brought suit before. Malus replied that he -had not been pressed for money; but that the leading motive for his long -delay had been _mercy_. He hated to push matters to extremities; but -had at last come, very reluctantly, to feel that forbearance with such -unscrupulous persons was no longer a virtue, but rather an encouragement -to wrong-doing. - -Here his advocate suggested that he probably was in the habit of giving a -receipt for moneys paid him. - -“I _always_ do it,” he said promptly. “Of course a receipt is always -expected and demanded in case of large payments. If the defendants had -paid me the money due they would have demanded a receipt and I should -have given it. Let them produce my receipt.” - -Malus indulged himself with what he meant for a smile, which was broadly -imitated by his party. - -“Do you recognize this?” inquired Piso, producing a discolored sheet of -papyrus, and handing it to Malus. The man’s hand visibly trembled as he -took it; and as his eye glanced along the page he could not prevent a -ripple of dismay from passing across his features. But it was gone in an -instant. - -“A very clever forgery!” he sneered. - -Piso took back the paper and handed it to the judges, together with some -letters which he himself had received from Malus in course of years on -business matters. - -“The honorable judges will perceive,” said he, after a few moments had -been allowed for a comparison of the papers, “that if the receipt is a -forgery, it is an exceedingly clever one—perhaps will perceive that it is -so clever that none but an expert scribe, who has made a close study of -the plaintiff’s handwriting in many specimens, could possibly have done -it. This is what the leading scribes in the city tell me, and are here to -testify. But Shaphan and Nathan are _not_ skillful scribes—as you may see -from these specimens received from them in course of business,”—and he -passed over to the judges a parcel. - -After a few moments he resumed. “But the honorable judges should further -notice that the receipt bears the signatures of two witnesses, as was -customary years ago in transactions of such magnitude. These witnesses -have given me some trouble. They left the city shortly after signing -this document, and I could not find any one who knew where they were. -The probability was that they were dead; for they were not young when -they disappeared, and thirty years make havoc with old people. But -yesterday, without concert and from opposite directions, they for the -first time returned to the city—each drawn by a mysterious feeling that -he was wanted and _must_ not stay away. They are in this room now; can -be identified by persons here present who formerly knew them well; will -testify to their own signatures, and anew to the well-remembered fact -that Malus received his money in their presence.” - -Turning again to Malus, Piso said, “You say that this receipt is a -forgery—to whom do you attribute the forgery?” - -“Of course to those who could hope for advantage from it—to Shaphan and -Nathan.” - -“The honorable judges and all here present will please notice,” exclaimed -Piso, “that Malus has publicly charged my clients with the crime of -forgery; a charge which I deny in their name, against which their general -repute testifies, and for which I propose to bring suit against him at -fitting opportunity. He shall _prove_ what he now asserts, or suffer the -penalty prescribed by law to false accusers. Meanwhile, my clients are -held innocent by the law as not yet having been proved guilty; and this -case must be decided on the assumption that they have _not_ committed a -forgery.” - -Of course the advocate on the other side was voluble and shrewd. He had -not practiced in the school of Malus many years in vain; but had his ways -of making the worse appear the better—pushing some things to the front, -others to the rear; throwing a shadow here and a glare there; slurring -over this and dwelling on that; magnifying little things and dwarfing -great ones—all after the manner of unscrupulous advocates in every age -The result was that the four judges were equally divided—the Diapleuston -pair deciding for the brothers, the others for Malus. So the case went -the next day to the Roman Court held in another room of the same Basilica. - -Malus was not discouraged by this. He counted on the Flaccan influence -being in his favor; and, quite as much, on his reputation of being on -good terms with the Roman authorities. He hoped to see some Romans of -standing, who might be supposed inspired by Flaccus, occupying seats on -his side of the house; also to get from the judges, as they came in and -took their seats, some furtive glances of recognition and encouragement. -He was disappointed. Still, official people have to be prudent in showing -their favoritism; and he still hoped that the powerful magnates at -Bruchium were surely, though secretly, at work for him. - -The case was reviewed, the arguments for and against were repeated -without material change, the same testimonies were given as before—save -that Piso was now able to bring forward witnesses to show that, when his -clients informed Malus of the loss of the receipt and asked for another, -he did not deny having given one, but deferred giving a duplicate just -then because of press of business. - -The verdict was against the plaintiff. - -Malus was astonished at this unusual experience. It was a blow at his -prestige. There was no telling but that other victims of his craft and -greed, encouraged by this defeat, might turn upon him. Also, it looked as -though his Roman friends were beginning to fail him. Still, he was a man -of audacity; had grown into a vast confidence in himself and his star; -believed more in Simon Magus and his pleasing predictions than in God and -eternal justice: moreover, he said to himself that the Romans in this -small matter were trying to appear impartial, so as to break the force of -public criticism and suspicion when they should come to decide for him in -the larger matters pending. So he managed to keep up heart. Does not many -a bright day begin in clouds? Has not many a victory been introduced by a -check? - -The next day brought on his suit against Cimon the Greek—to be tried in -the same place, before the same Judges and Prætor. He was on the ground -very early, with an enlarged body of sympathizers and a cheerful aspect. -His friends copied his example, and beat the copy. They were almost -hilarious. They thought that it would help to gain a battle, to assume -it to be already gained. The real object of Malus, however, in being at -the Basilica considerably in advance of time, was to get, if possible, -an opportunity to convey a note, or a word, through some sub-official of -the court, to one or more of the judges before they took their seats. -This he was able to do; for he made it worth the while for janitors and -pursuivants to oblige him. - -When the Prætor and Judges came in he watched their faces for some -auspicious sign. But they were still very prudent—unnecessarily so, he -thought. In his heart he cursed them for it. It was carrying matters -quite too far. They might at least give him a glance that would mean much -to him while not compromising them. But they did not even look his way. -He would make them sweat for it some day. - -Cimon, whom we have not seen for too many days, had come in escorted -by two officers; whom, however, he seemed escorting. Seated near him -were, not only Seti and Aleph, but also Alexander, who had arrived from -Rome during the last night, together with a large delegation from the -Diapleuston Seventy. This was not a pleasant sight to Malus: but it was a -relief, as he looked about from under his bushy eyebrows, to see seated -with his own company several Roman officers well known as the intimates -of Sextus Flaccus. “It is all right,” said he to himself. “It is all -wrong,” said the thoughts on the other side of the house—with a few -exceptions. These exceptions said, “_The Lord reigneth_; I will not fear -what man can do to me.” - -According to custom, the court opened with an outline-statement from -the advocate of the plaintiff. The defendant had visited the warehouse -of Malus, was shown by his conductor through the department of eastern -goods, was observed to notice particularly the jewels. Soon after he -left, and before any other person had come in, the young man who had -conducted him, becoming disturbed as he thought of the suspicious -appearance of the stranger, returned to the jewelry room and found a -certain casket, containing gems worth fifty thousand _aurei_, to be -missing. Whereupon Malus set inquiries on foot, found out where the -stranger lodged, obtained a search warrant, found the casket hidden in -his room but empty, and had him arrested for theft. His client would say -whether this statement was correct. - -According to custom, Malus made oath that the facts were as stated—made -oath “by Him who reigns in Heaven”; for such was the blanket oath that -could be taken alike by the man who believed in Jupiter, or in Zeus, or -in Osiris, or in Jehovah. - -Then Piso outlined his defense. “Some facts had been correctly stated. -Cimon did visit the warehouse, was conducted through the jewelry -department, did notice the cabinet of jewels in passing. Also, the casket -was seemingly found in his room. But _he_ did not carry it there. That -was done by the agent of Malus who conducted the searching party, in -order to make out a case against Cimon, whom Malus had reason to fear and -wished to discredit and remove. His client would say whether the facts -had been correctly stated.” - -Cimon made oath that, to the best of his belief, the facts were as stated. - -Omitting the plea for the plaintiff which came next, the witness-bearing -on both sides, the questionings and cross-questionings by the advocates, -I will give a summary of Piso’s plea, which came last. - -He began with gravely ridiculing the idea that anything in the appearance -of Cimon should have suggested to his conductor that he was a thief. -“The Judges can see for themselves that the story is incredible. So far -as appearances go, there is not a man here less likely to do what has -been charged upon him than Cimon, the Greek. Further, it appears from -the testimony of the Alabarch that this man, whose face is written all -over with the natural marks of honesty and high character, has a credit -with him for 200,000 gold staters; and so is a very unlikely person to -steal what might be, as everybody knows, a box of sham jewels, or even -an empty box. Further, the Superintendent of the jewelry department has -testified that he saw the casket in its place after Cimon had left; and -it cannot be claimed that he gave this testimony in revenge for his -dismissal from his post, because he brought me the information before the -dismissal took place. Further, the young man called Aleph the Chaldean, -and a much esteemed member of the University, has testified that he was -present when the search was made, and actually saw the Cretan agent of -Malus furtively slip the casket from the bosom of his own tunic as he -pretended to grope for it on his knees in the dimmer part of the room: -and the Cretan himself, at last tired of the wickedness he has been set -to do, and fearing the avenging heavens and his own awaking conscience, -has confessed that such was the fact—that Malus had employed him to play -that part, and, lest he should be tempted to run away with the casket, -had opened it in his presence and showed that it was empty, instead of -containing gems to the value of 50,000 staters. - -“The advocate on the other side has asked what possible motive could -Malus have for attacking maliciously a stranger who had never crossed -his plans, or even his path, till a few days ago. That point was well -taken. People do not act without motive, and what seems to them a -sufficient motive: and it is incredible that so shrewd a man as Malus -should lay a plot to brand Cimon as a thief, and shut him up in prison, -and, in default of 50,000 staters, sell him into slavery, without some -powerful reason for doing it. And such reason exists. The plaintiff had -become aware that Cimon had unearthed a gigantic system of embezzlement -on his part which threatened to destroy his reputation, subject him to -heavy punishments, and sacrifice a large part, if not the whole, of his -fortune. To prevent this ruin he contrived this plan to smutch Cimon as a -low criminal whose accusation was unworthy of notice—also to remove him -from view and possibility of action, first by incarceration, and then by -sale into some distant servitude, as our laws permit in case of insolvent -debtors. All this will be proved when the next suit in order shall come -before the court. - -“As this last is evidently a vital point, the Prætor and Judges, might do -well to consider whether it would not be well to reserve their decision -of this case until after the suit of Cimon against Malus has been tried. -They can safely be promised great additional light.” - -Such, for substance, was what Piso said in a much enlarged form. Strong -opposition was made to his proposal for postponement by the Malus party; -but, after a good deal of mutual consultation on the part of the Prætor -and Judges, and, as the day was already far spent, it was at length -decided to reserve the decision in hope of additional light on the morrow. - -Malus was now thoroughly roused. Under the stolid and uninterpretable -exterior with which he retired from the Basilica everything was -ablaze—all his shrewdness, all his determination, all his wrath, all his -daring. He was a born gambler, and could coolly stake everything on a -last throw. To-morrow he _must_ conquer. To-morrow he _would_ conquer. -The stars should fulfill themselves by fighting for him. Simon should -weave his spells and summon his mightiest spirits all the live-long night -in his behalf. But he would not neglect to supplement magic with all the -human expedients for winning success. He had prospered so long that he -had come to feel that prosperity was both his destiny and his due. He had -made people his prey so long that they seemed _made_ to be victimized: -he had the right of a fisherman to draw into his net as many fishes as -possible by all possible ways and means. He had used the right freely, -made many captures, and hitherto had not found a captive large enough to -break through his net. He determined that his steady run of good luck -should not fail him. He spent the whole night with his lawyer—trying to -forecast the course of accusation and evidence which the other party -would take, and the best ways of resisting the same. Among these ways -he decided should be a more decided and potent invoking of his Roman -friends to come to his aid. He thoroughly believed in the venality of -every Roman, from the governor downward or upward. Some could be bought -for less than others—but all could be bought. Perhaps his hints had not -been sufficiently broad: perhaps he had not hinted at sums sufficiently -large in the case of some. Now he would mend all that. The governor -should have an offer that he could not misunderstand; and one that even a -governor would find it worth his while to accept. So of the city Prætor -and Judges. Each should have his gratification, and a large one. It would -be costly work: but then he could easily and swiftly reimburse himself -if his situation could be made secure. Such was his confidence, after -all, in the sympathy of the authorities and in the power of money that he -was able to face the new day with untrembling nerves, despite the vigils -of the night. Had not trusty messengers gone in all directions with -instructions to make all sure, _sure_—regardless of expense? - -The Basilica was crowded long before the hour. Malus had with him all -his friends of the day before, and, in addition, the leading men of -his synagogue. On the other side, besides those of the day before, was -a large delegation from the University, with Philo and Cornelius at -their head—also a large number of by no means showy people, apparently -small traders and shop-keepers, whose “moral support” the students -seemed at first inclined to laugh at, but, at a hint from Piso, ended in -making much of. Among these last was the Phenician of Chapter Second, -sitting between his Cretan oppressor and Malus’s discharged clerk. It is -doubtful whether Malus recognized these persons—they were well in the -rear; and besides he deigned only a glance at the nobodies, being on the -lookout for only somebodies, for people of station and weight and large -consideration. Of this class he as yet saw no addition to the other side, -save the students; and them he was prepared to see. - -It was now almost time for the court to open, when an unusual stir was -heard at the main door of the Basilica; and shortly the Governor made -his appearance, attended by several sub-officials and supporting his -son Sextus. The young man was very pale, leaned hard on his father, -and, before he had advanced far, became faint and motioned toward the -first vacant seats they came to—which chanced to be on Malus’s side of -the house. Accordingly, the party fell in there, and busied themselves -in trying most officiously to help the invalid—offering this and that -restorative, making this and that inquiry, and generally making him as -miserable as they could well do by shutting off from him air and light -and quiet. - -Malus was overjoyed. Plainly his last move had been a successful one. The -powers had at last shown their hand. Now he was _sure_ what the result of -the trial would be. He shot a glance of triumph at Piso; and was in the -act of rising to go and pay his respects to his excellency and offer his -services toward making the sick man still more uncomfortable, when the -voice of the crier was heard, loudly demanding order and announcing the -opening of the court. He looked at the tribunal. The Prætor and Judges -were already in their places. So the best he could do was to throw toward -his Roman friends, so opportunely arrived, as much of a mingled look of -concern and sympathy and welcome as his wooden face would permit. - -According to Roman forms, the advocate of the plaintiff first stated -briefly his accusation. Some thirty years ago a merchant from Chaldea -visited the city; made Malus his agent for the sale of certain costly -goods to be sent to him from time to time; and, from that time to this, -made frequent and heavy consignments—at first satisfactorily, but with -growing dissatisfaction as the years went on, on account of the smallness -of the returns; this smallness being ascribed by Malus partly to losses -in transit from shipwreck and robberies, partly to enormous custom-house -exactions, and partly to poor markets. Finally, the suspicions of the -merchant became so strong that he sent his friend Cimon to Alexandria to -make inquiries and to take such action as his representative as should -seem fitting. Inquiries had shown that the statements of Malus were false -at all points—the receipts which he had given as harbor-master show that -all the goods sent have been received in good condition; the registers -of the custom house, which his excellency the Governor has allowed to be -examined, show that only a part of the goods received have been entered -for duty, and that the duty actually paid on the part entered has been -far less than reported (as also appears from the testimony of the chief -of the custom house): finally, the testimony of the leading houses -engaged in the eastern trade, including that of Malus himself, shows that -the market price for nearly all the thirty years has been far higher than -Malus has reported. Proof of all these statements would be submitted at -the proper time. In view of them it appears that Malus is indebted to -Cimon, the agent, in the sum of one million gold staters, exclusive of -the interest which the law allows in such cases. The Judges could now -see why Malus could wish to discredit Cimon as a low criminal and remove -both him and his companion from the scene. It was to discredit and, if -possible, prevent a suit that threatened him with ruin of both fortune -and reputation. - -Did the plaintiff accept these statements as correct? Cimon accepted. - -Then the advocate of Malus briefly denied the charge, and stated as -chief points of the defense—that the harbor-receipts, beyond those for -goods actually found registered at the custom house, are forgeries; -that what purported to be Malus’s accounts to his Chaldean principal -of exorbitant duties and poor markets were also forgeries; that very -many of his accounts and remittances had been ignored; that, instead -of owing the Chaldean anything, he had dealt with him on a principle -of large liberality, and had paid him considerably more than he could -equitably claim. He expected to show that his client was the object of -a great conspiracy—that people whom nobody knew, whose very names were -fictitious, and who certainly had no visible standing and reliability, -had conspired to rob and ruin a man of the first standing; and had -craftily taken advantage of old feuds and religious differences to secure -abettors. The case was really one between the allegations of nobodies -and those of a prominent and honored citizen. - -Did the defendant accept these statements? Malus accepted. - -Here Sextus Flaccus struggled to his feet, and with the help of his -father and the well-meant hindrance of the other Romans about him, feebly -and slowly made his way to the opposite benches. Malus was yet standing -and saw every movement. He had just finished one oath—and he felt like -taking another. It was with difficulty that he commanded himself enough -to sink quietly into his seat. What could this mean? Had his agents -betrayed him? Had the stars, and the magic spells, and the mighty demons, -and even Avilleus Flaccus at last failed him? He was almost stunned -by the sudden fall from the heights of confidence to the depths of -discouragement. - -As soon as the room was again quiet, Piso produced his documents and -witnesses. After these had been canvassed by both parties, Piso proceeded -to sum up for Cimon somewhat after this manner: - -“It is a very easy thing to cry ‘forgery’ and ‘conspiracy.’ Anybody -can do that, provided he has no conscience. I demand that my client be -_proved_ a forger and conspirator. Until that is done he has a legal -right to be considered innocent. - -“I happened to foresee what course the defense would take, and so was -very glad to meet, yesterday, in the city, the Superintendent of Customs -at Myos Hermos. This man, who has held his post for more than forty -years, and is well known to the authorities here as reliable beyond -question, has testified that all the parcels of goods which we claim -to have been sent from the East were duly received and recorded at his -port, and thence forwarded to Alexandria, and acknowledged by Malus -as harbor-master. This settles the matter. Malus has received in good -condition all the goods sent him—his sworn denials and charges of forgery -to the contrary notwithstanding. - -“Just here I call the attention of the Judges to a noteworthy fact: -we did not send for this venerable witness from Myos Hermos. Though -we thought of him and wanted him, we knew that we could not bring -him in time for the trial. How, then, does it happen that he is here -so opportunely? You have heard his explanation. He had no particular -business of his own to draw him to the city, nor was he aware of the -present suit; only he felt pressed and drawn to be here on a certain day -by a mysterious influence which he was afraid to resist. It looks as if -the very Heavens themselves were concerned to have justice done in this -case. - -“We have seen that Malus received, in good condition, all the goods sent. -Only one question remains: Has he duly accounted for them all to his -principal? The accounts which have been submitted to the Court—accounts -apparently in his own handwriting, and which leading experts pronounce to -be genuine—say No. They say that many parcels have never been received; -that others came to hand in a damaged condition; that the duties on -almost all received were much larger and the market-prices much smaller -than the actual. But Malus declares that these accounts are not genuine: -they are clever counterfeits, gotten up for the purpose of robbing and -ruining him. The accounts which he actually sent were very different, -and correctly represent duties and prices and everything. All this he -simply asserts. He makes no attempt to _prove_ his assertion: and I -might well content myself with a simple counter-assertion. But I will -not do this. He says that he has sent to the East, accounts correct in -every particular, which have been suppressed. To this I answer that all -such accounts, with remittances, imply as many acknowledgments from the -receiver. No merchant here, least of all Malus, would go on sending -accounts with moneys, year after year for thirty years, without getting -acknowledgments for the same in the handwriting of the receiver or his -authorized proxy. Let Malus produce such acknowledgments. He cannot do -it. He has none to present. - -“But Malus alleges that the case is one of contest of reputations. It is -the assertion of a Nobody against the denial of a Somebody. The word of -an unknown foreigner ought not to have any weight against the word of -that eminent citizen and saint whom everybody in Alexandria knows, and -knows to be full of riches and honors and virtues—the man who has never -wronged anybody; has never ground the faces of the poor; has never sought -to take advantage of Shaphan the Jew, or Athon the Phenician, or Epimetes -the Greek, or Plautus the Roman, or anybody else under the wide heaven. -Here, behind me, are a few of the people he has dealt with, ready to -testify that Malus is not the sort of man to commit smuggling, to swear -falsely, or even to be less than most merciful to those in his power! -Would Malus like to hear from some of his victims?” - -On this Sextus Flaccus rose, and slowly, with feeble voice and many a -pause, proceeded to say that _he_ was a victim, though not an innocent -one. No doubt many were surprised to see him there, and still more -surprised to see him in that part of the room. All Alexandria knew -that he had long been intimate with Malus, and must know not a little -of his principles and practices. Indeed he had, he was ashamed to say, -to a certain extent shared in them. What sort of life he had lived, -disgraceful to himself and his friends, was notorious. It was not -necessary for him to specify—he would spare himself that pain. But this -he must say, that in all his follies and sins he was always encouraged -and often prompted by Malus. His intemperance, his violence, his -enmities, had always been fanned by that man to the utmost. - -Without any help from Malus, he had been very hostile to Cimon the Greek, -and Aleph the Chaldean. The latter had hurt his pride, and so humbled him -in the presence of others that he burned for revenge. Malus whetted his -passion, and prompted him to measures for gratifying it which, bad as he -was, he would not otherwise have thought of. - -“Malus proposed,” continued Sextus, after pausing to recover breath, -“that we make common cause against the two men. He told me frankly what -reason he had to fear them, and dwelt artfully on the reasons I had for -being revenged upon them. He tried to make me feel that we had a common -interest in humbling and suppressing them. He plied me with wine. This -and the violence of my passions for a while carried me away and made me a -ready tool in his hands. - -“But I have changed my mind. I have been at death’s door; and the light -that came to me from behind it has shown me three things: my own folly -and guilt, the utterly unscrupulous character of my tempter, and the -thorough goodness of at least one of the men (and presumably of his -friend and preceptor) whom we had been seeking to injure—may Heaven -forgive me, as he has done! To him I owe my life and an opportunity to -mend my ways. We had sought to dishonor him, and he knew it. We had -done our worst to give him a felon’s name and fate, and he knew it. And -yet he delivered me from my enemies, rescued me from death, nursed back -my flickering life with the carefulness of a mother. I will tell the -whole painful story, if Malus chooses to have me; but it would be to his -disadvantage as well as to my shame. I propose, Heaven helping me, to -mend my ways after thus publicly confessing the sin of them. I advise -Malus to do the same.” - -Sextus sank into his seat exhausted. The silence that followed for a few -moments thundered. What eyes were not turned on Aleph were fastened on -Malus. But the wooden face said nothing; only the wood was several shades -darker than usual. - -Piso resumed: “The testimony we have just heard is as weighty as it was -unexpected. What Sextus Flaccus has now said about the principles and -practices of Malus has long been said under breath by great numbers who -have dealt with him. It is well understood in the city that Malus is not -a man to stop at any safe way of accomplishing his purposes of gain, or -any other purposes. A whole army of victims would appear against him, if -it could be understood that it would be safe to do so—would have appeared -long ago but for the conviction that the monster that devours them is -too big a monster and too well fenced by his scales to be successfully -attacked, or even complained of. He is the successor of the Lernean -Hydra, from whom all but Hercules felt compelled to hide. - -“This is the eminent citizen who thinks that nameless Nobodies ought not -to have their testimony taken as against him. I admit that Cimon the -Greek and Aleph the Chaldean were strangers here a few days ago, and are -still strangers to most of our people. And yet they have found means so -to introduce themselves to the confidence of some of our most honorable -citizens that these citizens are willing to vouch for them: in which case -they stand before the law and the public with all the prestige of their -sponsors. - -“But I am unwilling to have my clients rest their claim to respectability -and consideration on the dignity of any other people, however high, who -are willing to vouch for them. It is unnecessary. They have an honorable -standing of their own. It is written in their very faces and bearing. Who -is Cimon the Greek? It appears from this certified copy of the records of -the University that thirty years ago a young man with that name and of -illustrious Athenian descent greatly distinguished himself above all his -companions in all branches of learning and gentlemanly accomplishment. -This young man is Cimon the Greek—as two of the older teachers in the -University have been able to recognize and are here to testify. - -“And who is Aleph the Chaldean? You have only to look upon him to know -that he is _Somebody_: how much of a body, so far as social standing is -concerned, this packet which I now take up from the table ought to tell. -Those of you who sit near me can see that the seal is yet unbroken. I -now break it; and, on removing certain wraps, come to this” (he held -up to view a roll of vellum richly blazoned and bearing a broad seal). -“This document is bordered with many jewels, the value of which some of -you can judge of better than myself, but which yet my limited knowledge -of such matters assures me to be quite great enough to authenticate the -written contents. So costly a credential as this is beyond the reach -of an impostor, and was doubtless chosen for this reason. What are the -contents?” - -He paused, and read in silence. Then, holding up the vellum so as to -display the seal, he resumed: - -“This seal bears on it the figure of a crown. The script is in three -languages—Latin, Greek, and Chaldean. I will read the Greek: - - “TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: - - “‘I, Jasper Daniel Atropates, King of Median Atropatene and - pontiff of the Most High God, foreseeing that occasion may - arise for such a document as this, do hereby certify that the - bearer is my only son, Prince Aleph Daniel, whom I send with - his Greek preceptor and my chief counsellor into Egypt for - purposes altogether peaceful, viz.: to study the institutions - and learning of the West, to enlarge his knowledge of life and - man, and to act for me, in conjunction with his companion, in - all my business affairs in that land. - - “‘To this I affix the seal of my kingdom.’ - -“Such is the document,” said Piso, handing it to the Judges for -inspection. After a few moments he resumed: - -“In explanation of this document, I would remind the Court that -Atropatene is a Chaldean kingdom of great beauty and fertility, -unassailably entrenched among the mountains of Media, where for five -hundred years have ruled the descendants of the Hebrew prophet Daniel, -to whom it was given by Cyrus the Persian, and to whose descendant -Atropates it was confirmed by Alexander the Macedonian. The monarchs -of this dynasty have not thought it beneath themselves to do as did -Solomon the Magnificent—to engage in commerce with foreign countries and -make the superfluities of one land supply the deficiencies of another. -Accordingly, when, thirty years ago, Jasper with two other princes passed -through the land, he arranged with Malus, then not so well known as he -is now, to receive and dispose of such eastern goods as might be sent -him by way of the Red Sea, Myos Hermos, and Coptus. Malus did not know -that his employer was a sovereign: probably has never known it till now. -This is the man whom he has defrauded—trusting that the remoteness of his -principal would secure him from detection. But the Heavens have decreed -against him—the Heavens which he seems to have forgotten.” - -The advocate of Malus made only a brief reply. He dealt in generalities. -He asserted and reasserted in many forms, and with much strength of -voice, the innocence of his client. Whatever the appearances against -him, they were deceptive. To get at real facts we often have to go below -the seemings. Wise men have to be on their guard against even their -own senses. He would not condemn the notable citizens and officials -who had given their support to the other side: at the same time, he -must be allowed to say that they have made a grave mistake. They have -been misled by circumstantial evidence, as many other intelligent and -upright men have been. He had no doubt but that they would some day see -their mistake, and be sorry for it. How would they like to have their -own reputations and fortunes fall a prey to some plausible adventurer? -He hoped that they would never come to that; but it now looked as if no -man’s fortune, or even life, would henceforth be safe in Alexandria. He -trusted that the eminent Judges would see the peril to which they and all -people of consideration are exposed, and, by their verdict, discourage -attacks on prominent men, to which envy and cupidity so strongly tempt. - -It would not be surprising if his client, amid the pressure and anxieties -of so large and varied business, had sometimes made mistakes, sometimes -been forgetful, and even sometimes been overborne and distracted to the -point of irresponsible insanity. In such circumstances he may have done -things which, in his right mind, he never would have done. In the conduct -of great and complicated affairs the strain on the mind is often very -great; and, for his part, he wondered that it did not give way oftener -than it did. He hoped that the Judges would take these considerations -into account in making up their verdict; and would not ruin one of their -own citizens for the sake of a foreigner, whether prince or peasant. A -verdict against Malus would send a large sum out of the country, never to -return. Alexandria would be impoverished for the sake of Chaldea. - -So the case was submitted. The Judges conferred among themselves for a -few moments, and then one of them spoke in a low tone to the Prætor. - -The public crier summoned attention, and the Prætor announced: - -“I. The Judges have decided that the suit of Malus against Cimon is -unsustained, and order that the defendant, discharged from custody, -receive damages to the amount of 50,000 staters, the estimated value of -the jewels said to have been stolen. - -“II. Also, the Judges have decided that the suit of Cimon against Malus -is sustained; and order that the latter pay to the former the arrears for -thirty years as determined by certain dealers in eastern goods, hereafter -to be designated, in view of the actual duties and prices during that -period, and counting as genuine both the harbor receipts of Malus and his -accounts to his principal as they have been shown here. - -“III. Also, it is ordered that Malus be taken into custody until the -payment now decreed has been made, and until it has been legally -determined whether he is guilty of the crime of smuggling. LICITUM EST -DECEDERE.” - -Aleph and Cimon were overwhelmed with congratulations. The Governor -pressed them to become his guests and occupy a vacant palace at Bruchium; -but they excused themselves, and begged to be allowed to return -unceremoniously with Seti to the Serapeum. They were unable, however, to -return as inconspicuously as they wished: for the delegation of students, -with Cornelius at their head, insisted on escorting them, and cheering -crowds gradually gathered about them, and before they reached the temple -they met nearly the whole enthusiastic membership of the University, whom -nothing could prevent from rending the air and shaking the city with -cries of “LONG LIVE ALEPH THE PRINCE!” - -Who were they who said that poetical justice is _always_ done in this -world? Ah, I remember—they were the friends of Job. Who were they who -said that poetical justice is _never_ done in actual life? No matter: -whoever said it smote facts in the face. I mean such facts as are -recorded in this chapter: also such as are recorded in the Bible history -of Joseph, but especially of Daniel the prophet, the great ancestor of -our Aleph, against whose fortunes the floods of wrong not only surged in -vain, but floated them up to higher levels. - -Under the sun, the race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to -the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, -nor favor to men of skill. Sometimes good men have to wait long for -their due—sometimes even into the next world. Of course, sooner or later -justice will be done. As sure as there is a God in Heaven, justice _must_ -be done, sooner or later. But we are always thankful when it is done -_sooner_—when a good man does not have to wait for his due till he is -dead; when some Daniels and Aleph-Daniels are not only recompensed in the -earth, but find the feet of justice not so heavily weighted but that they -can reach their goal within a few days of the starting. The weak in faith -then thank God and take courage. - - - - -XVII. - -THE CONCLUSION. - - Οταν εὺτυχήσωμεν τότε χαίρειν παρέσταὶ. - - SOPHOCLES, _Electr._ 1299. - - _When we shall succeed, then is the time to rejoice._ - - 1. Neither impotent nor lame. - 2. Each to his own place. - 3. By way of Jesus. - 4. Home. - - - - -XVII. - -THE CONCLUSION. - - -Were it not for a most conspicuous example, now and then, of large -success in committing an enterprise to God and then mightily trusting His -Providence, faith would lack a very desirable inspiration. - -In the case of our Chaldean friends, the success was very large indeed. -As we all soon come to know, many good enterprises end in complete -failure. Only a few attain complete success, and realize all they -proposed to themselves. Still fewer _surpass_ their aim, and accomplish -far more than they expected or ventured to hope. Yet such was the -enterprise of Cimon and Aleph in Alexandria. - -What had they proposed to themselves? To investigate Malus, and bring him -to justice; to gather reliable information concerning Him who was born -king of the Jews and to whom the miraculous star had guided the Magian -sovereigns; to broaden and enrich the education of Aleph, not only by -giving him a wider outlook on the world and humanity, but by throwing -him, divested of all the insignia and glamour of his rank, entirely on -his own resources for guidance and help in dealing with men in new and -difficult circumstances. All these objects had been accomplished. - -Within a few days from the close of the trial the authorities had placed -in the hands of Cimon the full amount of his claim against Malus, -together with interest on all delayed payments. This, in itself, was -not sufficient to ruin the rogue financially. But he had already drawn -considerably on his resources in his attempt to bribe the judges and -secure the countenance of other influential people: for they had not -hesitated to take silently his gifts though no equivalent was rendered. -But the greatest drain upon him came from another quarter. Other victims -of his rapacity, encouraged by the result of Cimon’s suit, attacked him -successfully; and before long it seemed as if there would be no end to -the suits. Under these circumstances, Alexandria was not much surprised, -one fine morning, to hear that Malus (latterly they had fallen into the -way of calling him Pessimus) was nowhere to be found—nor any of his -remaining assets. The guard set upon him was not incorruptible, and he -had disappeared between two days. No one knew where he had gone. Some -said to Ethiopia; some said to Spain; some said to Marseilles in Gaul; -and some would have it that he had taken to the desert with Draco. A few -declared that he had committed suicide. This last supposition, however, -was considered extremely improbable, on the ground that so shrewd a -person would not take the trouble to carry away with him goods which he -did not mean to use. There is no use for current money of the merchant in -Hades. Whatever supposition was correct, it is certain that Malus never -reappeared in Alexandria. - -But our friends had a still more important object in coming to the -commercial metropolis of the West. It was to learn about Him who was -born king of the Jews. Some things they already knew from the Magi—that -his coming was divinely heralded and accompanied by supernatural events, -that his mission was a great and glorious one, having significance for -all nations. What had they learned in addition? That the life which -had opened so grandly amid the ministries and songs of angels, and the -worship and gifts of star-led pilgrims, had come to a still grander -sequel—that into the glowing dawn had at length come the sun in his -strength; a mingled glory of miracles and character and teaching such -as never before gathered about a single life—that Jesus is surely the -Messiah of the Sacred Books and their sufficient credential—that this -Messiah is not, as has been commonly supposed, a secular warrior, -conqueror, and king; but a spiritual monarch ruling over willing hearts -in the interest of truth and righteousness, and whose victories are -salvations—that his mission in the world is one of humiliation instead of -exaltation, of suffering instead of pleasure, of death instead of life; -and that in dying he completed a vicarious sacrifice for the sins of the -world—also, that to express the dignity of his being both the prophets -and himself use language which exalts him far above angels and claims for -him a Divine nature. To know all this was a great gain, more than they -had ventured to hope. And if, on their way home, they should be able to -see the Messiah with their own eyes, witness personally some wonderful -work, and obtain for themselves and theirs his personal benediction, they -would feel that their way had been wonderfully prospered. - -And then the educational object which the father of Aleph distinctly -proposed to himself—was that object well secured? How well Aleph carried -himself when thrown on his own resources for guidance we have seen; and -my belief is that when his parents come to see him and to hear the report -of Cimon, they will be quite satisfied with their experiment. They will -realize that the promising bud has beautifully flowered, that the rare -plant which had started and grown so thriftily in their sheltered and -sunny conservatory was now hardy enough to be transplanted into the open -field, and even to the windy summits of life. - -So all the ends proposed in the visit of our friends to Alexandria -were accomplished—and more. For these unknown men had been the means -of introducing not only a loftier moral element into the student life -of Alexandria, but had so drawn upon Cornelius and Metellus, who had -specially attached themselves to them, that they had begun to study the -Septuagint, to frequent the services at the Diapleuston, to admire the -sublime monotheism and hopes of the Jew, and finally to give sure token -of becoming, the one the devout Cornelius of the Acts of the Apostle -and the other one of those Christians saluted by Paul as belonging to -“Aristobulus’ household.” - -But the influence of Aleph on Sextus Flaccus was still more remarkable. -His frequent interviews with that penitent man ended not only in his -thorough reform, and in his renouncing idolatry, but also in his -accepting Jesus as a Divine sacrifice for sin. - -And it was on this wise. The young Roman at first was terribly oppressed -with a sense of sin. He could hardly say too much against himself. His -misdeeds and follies haunted him like ghosts, and hunted him like the -Eumenides. Their horrible faces scowled at him, their serpent-hair hissed -and leaped at him, their clenched hands shook themselves at him from -behind almost every object he saw. Sometimes in his sleep he would see a -mountain, traced all over in fiery characters with the names of his sins, -moving swiftly toward him; and he would wake drenched in sweat and terror -as the ponderous masses came rushing in upon him and buried him thousands -of feet beneath their munitions of rocks. At other times he dreamed that, -like Andromeda, he was chained to a rock at the ocean’s edge, and that -great storm-billows in long succession were sweeping in upon him, and -that on the crested summit of each a great sea-monster with lurid eyes -and open jaws came rushing and shrieking _Sin_, SIN, SIN. He shrieked as -loudly—and awoke in despair. - -It was in this state that he first sent for Aleph. His first sense of -relief came when Aleph told him the story of Jesus, and suggested the -idea of a Divine incarnation and atonement for sin. The wretched man -clutched the idea as a drowning man does a plank. Here was something -solid to rest upon. Here was a sufficient sacrifice for even his -enormities. The weight began to lift from his oppressed breast. At last -one day as Aleph was reading to him the sublime description which Isaiah -gives in his 53d chapter of Him on whom “were laid the iniquities of -us all,” a mighty deliverance came. Suddenly all his doors and windows -sprang open musically to welcome Jesus as the Lamb of God. The sense -of need opened them. From that day the sick body mended wonderfully; -and soon the streets of Alexandria saw a new man under an old name. The -name continued to be Sextus Flaccus, but it stood for a very different -person. It stood for the first Roman Christian of rank who dared to avow -himself. Paul on his arrival at Rome some years later found him a member -of Cæsar’s household, and ready to help him with all his influence in -founding the first Roman church. - -This was a great and unexpected success. But, in addition, our eastern -pilgrims, with nothing but their cultured manhood to show, had found -other friends such as they had never counted on finding—friends well -worth the having, even by a prince; friends whose friendship was for -themselves and not for their rank; friends among whom was one—but I must -not anticipate. Nay, I must go back a little. - -Though Alexander had reached home early in the evening before the last -trial, it was very late before he could get to his rest—he had so much -to tell and so much to hear. And this was what he had to tell. He had -succeeded in both the objects for which he had hastened to Rome. Of -course, one of these objects was to prevent the disturbance at the -Diapleuston from being misrepresented to the emperor as a personal -affront. It was not reported at all. For some reason Flaccus had not -thought it best to say anything about the matter in his dispatches. -Probably he thought that some of the circumstances would not bear -telling; and then the presence of Alexander at the ear of the emperor was -in itself a caution to be prudent. So Flaccus was dumb. - -The other object which Alexander had in view was really to find out some -safe way of declining the marriage proposals in behalf of the Cæsar. - -Notwithstanding the fears of his daughter, he had never been so much -attracted by the offer of an imperial alliance as were some of his Jewish -friends. He had been too much behind the scenes at the Palatine. He knew -too much of Tiberius and Cæsarism. He knew nothing to the disadvantage of -Germanicus and much to his advantage; but he also knew that Tiberius as a -young man had won golden opinions; also, that to be the nephew and heir -apparent of the jealous and capricious emperor was very far from being -foreordained to empire. So one of his objects in going to Rome was, not -to see whether the proposals were desirable, but to see how they might -safely be declined. That was a hard problem. But Providence favored him. -He found that Germanicus, who had never seen Rachel, had many times seen -Agrippina, the granddaughter of Augustus, and to very good purpose. The -growing intimacy and attachment between the young people which he was not -slow to discover he promoted to the utmost. And when the matter was ripe -he found means of bringing it to the knowledge of Sejanus, the emperor’s -favorite, and of so enlisting him in its support that under his influence -Tiberius began to regret his Egyptian proposals, and to seek some excuse -for recalling them. “He did not know, when they were made, of the -situation at home. It had only just come to his knowledge. He was sorry; -but he hated to break young hearts.” Alexander allowed that it would be -a pity. The emperor also thought that, inasmuch as Germanicus and Rachel -had never met, it might not, after all, be a very hard matter for the -fair Alexandrian to have the matter dropped in such a quiet and honorable -way as could easily be devised. Alexander candidly allowed that the fact -which his majesty had stated was a weighty one. In short, Tiberius -receded from his proposals; and, to soften the supposed disappointment to -the mighty banker for whom his treasury had so much use, he sent him home -in the imperial galley with new guaranties and privileges for the Jewish -community in Egypt, and with a broad hint to Flaccus to let it be known -that the honor of the imperial alliance had been declined from religious -considerations which the emperor felt bound to respect. The Alabarch -expected nothing less than that early the next morning all Alexandria -would be in possession of the news, and would be wondering how he could -so rebuff the emperor and yet stand higher in his favor than ever. - -This, for substance, was what Alexander had to tell. Of course Rachel was -vastly delighted at her escape; and showed that she was by flinging her -arms about her father’s neck and rapturously kissing him. - -But the father wanted to hear as well as to tell. Something of what had -transpired had reached him by letter; but he wanted to know all. And -Seti rehearsed all that had happened since that memorable Sabbath at -the Diapleuston. Rachel sat uneasily silent, leaning against her father -and toying with the splendid jewelled badge of the Order of the Golden -Eagle which Tiberius at parting had, with his own hands, fastened on his -breast—listening with burning cheeks as her grandfather in his graphic -way reproduced the events and expressed the confidence and admiration -with which Aleph had inspired him. Every now and then she stole an -anxious look at her father’s face; not quite sure how the shrewd man of -affairs, professionally accustomed to deal with men on a principle of -suspicion and abundant caution, would view the eulogiums of the priest -and philosopher, founded on so brief an acquaintance. When Alexander had -heard all, he said slowly: - -“If I had never seen the young man, nor known Seti so well, I might have -challenged the sobriety of the account I have just heard. But, having -seen him twice, and you a thousand times, I have nothing to say, save -that I wish he was emperor of the West, or at least the Cæsar. In that -case, perhaps, I would not take so much trouble to keep the Cæsar at -arm’s-length, as I have been lately taking in another quarter”—and he -nodded smilingly at Rachel. “But who can he be?” - -“No matter who he is,” returned Seti with emphasis, “since he is a _Man_, -a sovereign man. He has a broader empire within him than Tiberius sees -without him; an empire of which no caprice of fortune can rob him. And -his body is as sovereign as his soul. He needs no herald to go before him -and cry, _Make way, for the king is coming_. Men know it as soon as they -see him.” - -To such words Rachel could have listened all night. But she wondered -whether they would have been spoken had father and grandfather known -what she knew. She had not yet mustered courage to speak to Seti of her -new relation to Aleph; in fact had about made up her mind to leave all -explanations to Providence and Aleph. So both Seti and Alexander remained -ignorant of that wonderful conversation between the young people which I -have lately recorded till Aleph the Chaldean had become Aleph the Prince, -and had asked leave to substitute for the proposals of Tiberius certain -proposals of his own. Then the whole matter came out. The Alabarch found -that his daughter had no serious objection to being a princess provided -the prince was of the right sort. He was in very much the same mood -himself. Indeed, he went so far as to say that he would not have refused -his daughter to Aleph had he always remained simply Aleph the Chaldean, -of unknown birth and fortunes: how much less could he do it now that the -young man stood revealed a Hebrew of the Hebrews, a descendant of Daniel -the illustrious statesman and prophet, and the heir of the stablest and -choicest, though not the largest, sovereignty of the age! - -So, before many days (but not until the arrival of Rachel’s mother from -Jerusalem, and her express sanction, and even her joyful confession -that Aleph was a very welcome substitute for even so good a Cæsar as -Germanicus) a formal betrothal took place; and all Alexandria took -to busily talking over the gracious ceremonial. Now they understood -why Germanicus had been respectfully declined. The ground had been -pre-empted. Another prince had spoken, and spoken in person. “And no -wonder,” said they, “that he was successful; for never did we set eyes -on a goodlier person or a princelier.” So Alexandria was in excellent -humor; and for once all the five quarters of the city ceased their mutual -wrangling and railing and consented to say the same complimentary things. -Even the elders of the Diapleuston who so much wanted to see a second -Esther on the imperial throne were by this time ready to allow that -Rachel had chosen very happily for herself, if not for the Jewish public. -They offered congratulations. They sent in rich presents—especially -Ben Simeon, who, from the first, had been so drawn to Aleph, and was -now in charge as consignee in the place of Malus. But the richest and -most valued presents that Rachel received on that auspicious day were -two—from opposite quarters. One was a copy from the Septuagint of all -the Messianic prophecies in their order, beautifully done on vellum -margined with jewels—this came from Aleph. The other came from Flaccus, -in the name of his son Sextus, and was no less than the Setian palace -on the Nile which has had so conspicuous a place in this narrative. -Some damage had been done to it by Draco and his band in their orgies -and final rummage for concealed treasure: but he had been so thoroughly -frightened by what he had done to Sextus, as well as by the escape of -Aleph and the numerous foot-prints found about the premises early the -next morning, that his search was very hasty and ended in the whole gang -betaking themselves precipitately to the desert—to the great misfortune -of the desert and travelers, but without much damage to the stronghold -they had left. It was soon put in prime condition by Flaccus, and then, -in an elaborate communication, presented to Seti for Rachel and Aleph as -an “Egyptian home to which his excellency hoped they would very often -return.” It was a question in the mind of Seti whether a man could give -what does not belong to him; but this question, wise man that he was, he -kept to himself, and was very glad to have the ancient heirloom come back -in any way into his family. - -And these were the ulterior arrangements. Cimon and Aleph would return -home at once by way of Palestine, with the hope of falling in with the -Messiah ere his return heavenward. Then, as soon as possible, Aleph -would come again with his father’s formal sanction to claim his bride; -and then her father and mother and dear mother-father would take a long -vacation and accompany her and Miriam (henceforth inseparable) to their -new home. Alexander even went so far as to intimate that, mindful of -the uncertainty of the imperial favor and of the Jewish position in -Alexandria, he was thinking seriously of transferring the bulk of his -fortune to a safer region; and to facilitate this had already arranged -to open a branch banking house at Ecbatana, where converged many routes -of commercial travel. By all means do this, O great financier, and -tarry not in the doing; for the times in the west are threatening, and -Rome is a volcano that may at any moment send streams of lava farther -than Alexandria. Plant thy family and fortunes amid the safe Chaldean -mountains, hard by the tombs of Daniel and Esther in Eden; and, looking -calmly forth from your impregnable observatory, see distant Cæsars rise -and fall, see distant legions march and counter-march, and, above all, -see the friendly star that offers to guide your faith and gifts to Jesus -the King. Then push out the antennæ of commerce vigorously into all -lands, and gather the spoils of peace wherewith to decorate the Prince of -peace. It is your mission. You have a genius for honorable money-making. -Use it vigorously. It is as sacred as a genius for eloquence, or a genius -for science. - - * * * * * - -A brilliant caravan files through the gate of Canopus. Our friends are -moving homeward. They came by the way the Magian fathers returned; -they are returning by the way those fathers came. They have just said -farewells to Shaphan and Nathan: a little before they had said still more -tender ones at the palace of Alexander. Flaccus had insisted on sending -with them an escort of cavalry as far as the frontier; and Alexander, -and Seti, and Cornelius at the head of a large delegation from the -University, will go with them a day’s journey. - -_We_ will not go with them even that distance, though we would be glad -to do so; but will say our farewells and godspeeds just here before the -khan where Shaphan and Nathan once reluctantly parted with the Divine -Child. Our parting, too, is reluctant. We are vastly sorry, O wise men -of the East, to say good-bye to you, though it be for only a few moons. -It is not often that such as you have crossed our path, or any path. But -partings must be; and so, comforting ourselves with the expectation of -seeing you again when all Alexandria is ablaze with that rare thing, a -royal marriage made in Heaven, we gather courage to say ADIEU! May the -Father above prosper your way to the father below. We foresee that He -will. You and yours are well mounted; and though only Aleph has a Parthia -beneath him, there can be but a few days of travel between you and the -Messiah. The longings of your hearts will be gratified. You will reach -Galilee in season. There, on a certain mountain, with more than five -hundred fellow disciples, you will see with your own eyes Him in whom you -have blessedly believed without seeing; will be welcomed by Him for the -fathers’ sake as well as for your own; will perhaps see some of the “many -other signs which are not written in this book”; and, finally, in the -early morning, as you resume your journey and are taking a look backward -on the city of so many sacred memories, you will see over the Mount of -Olives a human form slowly rising through the air with outstretched hands -of benediction. The son of Daniel will need no interpreter. Behold the -Heavenly King going to his home even as you are going to yours! And you -will worship and go on your way rejoicing; bearing to your Chaldean home -such news that all its silver trumpets will sound as it exclaims: - -THANK GOD! YE, TOO, HAVE BEEN STAR-LED PILGRIMS. - - When forth the Tribes to Canaan went, - In travel long and sore, - What guide had they along the way, - Save cloud that went before— - Save cloud that _goes_ before, - And goeth evermore? - - And when the Wise Men of the East - A pilgrim banner bore, - What guide had they along the way, - Save star that shone before— - Save star that _shines_ before, - And shineth evermore? - - And when the Wise Men of the West, - Wise in a saving lore, - Set forth through wilds to find the Child - And win the Golden Shore, - That shineth evermore, - And moveth nevermore; - - Some cloud from God will surely go - Their doubtful steps before, - All through the light—and through the night - Some star its beams shall pour, - Some star their path explore— - Guide faileth nevermore. - - Who to the Lord his way commends - Shall never lose his way, - But ever find the Lord is kind - To lead from dark to day: - - Shall even find the Lord doth know - A way so kind that e’en the blind - Straight to his mark can go— - At least _His_ mark, which, kinder far, - The daily cloud and nightly star - Go seeking evermore, - And missing nevermore. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALEPH, THE CHALDEAN; OR, THE MESSIAH -AS SEEN FROM ALEXANDRIA*** - - -******* This file should be named 61041-0.txt or 61041-0.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/6/1/0/4/61041 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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