。 I saw the satrap of Teheran once； and he wore a turban of silk and a cloak of cloth of gold； and the hilt and scabbard of his sword made me dizzy with their splendor of precious stones。 I thought Osiris had lent him a glory from the sun。 I fear you have not entered upon your kingdomthe kingdom I was to share with you。〃
〃The daughter of my wise guest is kinder than she imagines herself； she is teaching me that Isis may kiss a heart without making it better。〃
Ben…Hur spoke with cold courtesy； and Iras； after playing with the pendent solitaire of her necklace of coins； rejoined； 〃For a Jew； the son of Hur is clever。 I saw your dreaming Caesar make his entry into Jerusalem。 You told us he would that day proclaim himself King of the Jews from the steps of the Temple。 I beheld the procession descend the mountain bringing him。 I heard their singing。 They were beautiful with palms in motion。 I looked everywhere among them for a figure with a promise of royaltya horseman in purple； a chariot with a driver in shining brass； a stately warrior behind an orbed shield； rivalling his spear in stature。 I looked for his guard。 It would have been pleasant to have seen a prince of Jerusalem and a cohort of the legions of Galilee。〃
She flung her listener a glance of provoking disdain； then laughed heartily； as if the ludicrousness of the picture in her mind were too strong for contempt。
〃Instead of a Sesostris returning in triumph or a Caesar helmed and swordedha； ha； ha！I saw a man with a woman's face and hair； riding an ass's colt； and in tears。 The King！ the Son of God！ the Redeemer of the world！ Ha； ha； ha！〃
In spite of himself； Ben…Hur winced。
〃I did not quit my place； O prince of Jerusalem；〃 she said； before he could recover。 〃I did not laugh。 I said to myself； 'Wait。 In the Temple he will glorify himself as becomes a hero about to take possession of the world。' I saw him enter the Gate of Shushan and the Court of the Women。 I saw him stop and stand before the Gate Beautiful。 There were people with me on the porch and in the courts； and on the cloisters and on the steps of the three sides of the Temple there were other peopleI will say a million of people； all waiting breathlessly to hear his proclamation。 The pillars were not more still than we。 Ha； ha； ha！ I fancied I heard the axles of the mighty Roman machine begin to crack。 Ha； ha； ha！ O prince； by the soul of Solomon； your King of the World drew his gown about him and walked away； and out by the farthest gate； nor opened his mouth to say a word； andthe Roman machine is running yet！〃
In simple homage to a hope that instant losta hope which； as it began to fall and while it was falling； he unconsciously followed with a parting look down to its disappearanceBen…Hur lowered his eyes。
At no previous time； whether when Balthasar was plying him with arguments； or when miracles were being done before his face； had the disputed nature of the Nazarene been so plainly set before him。 The best way； after all； to reach an understanding of the divine is by study of the human。 In the things superior to men we may always look to find God。 So with the picture given by the Egyptian of the scene when the Nazarene turned from the Gate Beautiful； its central theme was an act utterly beyond performance by a man under control of merely human inspirations。 A parable to a parable…loving people； it taught what the Christ had so often assertedthat his mission was not political。 There was not much more time for thought of all this than that allowed for a common respiration； yet the idea took fast hold of Ben…Hur； and in the same instant he followed his hope of vengeance out of sight； and the man with the woman's face and hair； and in tears； came near to himnear enough to leave something of his spirit behind。
〃Daughter of Balthasar；〃 he said； with dignity； 〃if this be the game of which you spoke to me； take the chapletI accord it yours。 Only let us make an end of words。 That you have a purpose I am sure。 To it； I pray； and I will answer you； then let us go our several ways； and forget we ever met。 Say on； I will listen； but not to more of that which you have given me。〃
She regarded him intently a moment； as if determining what to dopossibly she might have been measuring his willthen she said； coldly； 〃You have my leavego。〃
〃Peace to you；〃 he responded； and walked away。
As he was about passing out of the door； she called to him。
〃A word。〃
He stopped where he was； and looked back。
〃Consider all I know about you。〃
〃O most fair Egyptian；〃 he said； returning； 〃what all do you know about me？〃
She looked at him absently。
〃You are more of a Roman； son of Hur； then any of your Hebrew brethren。〃
〃Am I so unlike my countrymen？〃 he asked； indifferently。
〃The demi…gods are all Roman now；〃 she rejoined。
〃And therefore you will tell me what more you know about me？〃
〃The likeness is not lost upon me。 It might induce me to save you。〃
〃Save me！〃
The pink…stained fingers toyed daintily with the lustrous pendant at the throat； and her voice was exceeding low and soft； only a tapping on the floor with her silken sandal admonished him to have a care。
〃There was a Jew； an escaped galley…slave； who killed a man in the Palace of Idernee；〃 she began； slowly。
Ben…Hur was startled。
〃The same Jew slew a Roman soldier before the Market…place here in Jerusalem； the same Jew has three trained legions from Galilee to seize the Roman governor to…night； the same Jew has alliances perfected for war upon Rome； and Ilderim the Sheik is one of his partners。〃
Drawing nearer him； she almost whispered；
〃You have lived in Rome。 Suppose these things repeated in ears we know of。 Ah！ you change color。〃
He drew back from her with somewhat of the look which may be imagined upon the face of a man who； thinking to play with a kitten； has run upon a tiger； and she proceeded：
〃You are acquainted in the antechamber； and know the Lord Sejanus。 Suppose it were told him with the proofs in handor without the proofsthat the same Jew is the richest man in the Eastnay； in all the empire。 The fishes of the Tiber would have fattening other than that they dig out of its ooze； would they not？ And while they were feedingha！ son of Hur！what splendor there would be on exhibition in the Circus！ Amusing the Roman people is a fine art； getting the money to keep them amused is another art even finer； and was there ever an artist the equal of the Lord Sejanus？〃
Ben…Hur was not too much stirred by the evident baseness of the woman for recollection。 Not unfrequently when all the other faculties are numb and failing memory does its offices with the greatest fidelity。 The scene at the spring on the way to the Jordan reproduced itself； and he remembered thinking then that Esther had betrayed him； and thinking so now； he said calmly as he could；
〃To give you pleasure； daughter of Egypt； I acknowledge your cunning； and that I am at your mercy。 It may also please you to hear me acknowledge I have no hope of your favor。 I could kill you； but you are a woman。 The Desert is open to receive me； and though Rome is a good hunter of men； there she would follow long and far before she caught me； for in its heart there are wildernesses of spears as well as wildernesses of sand； and it is not unlovely to the unconquered Parthian。 In the toils as I amdupe that I have beenyet there is one thing my due： who told you all you know about me？ In flight or captivity； dying even； there will be consolation in leaving the traitor the curse of a man who has lived knowing nothing but wretchedness。 Who told you all you know about me？〃
It might have been a touch of art； or might have been sincerethat as it maythe expression of the Egyptian's face became sympathetic。
〃There are in my country； O son of Hur；〃 she said； presently； 〃workmen who make pictures by gathering vari…colored shells here and there on the sea…shore after storms； and cutting them up； and patching the pieces as inlaying on marble slabs。 Can you not see the hint there is in the practice to such as go searching for secrets？ Enough that from this person I gathered a handful of little circumstances； and from that other yet another handful； and that afterwhile I put them together； and was happy as a woman can be who has at disposal the fortune and life of a man whom〃she stopped； and beat the floor with her foot； and looked away as if to hide a sudden emotion from him； with an air of even painful resolution she presently finished the sentence〃whom she is at loss what to do with。〃
〃No； it is not enough；〃 Ben…Hur said； unmoved by the play〃it is not enough。 To…morrow you will determine what to do with me。 I may die。〃
〃True；〃 she rejoined quickly and with emphasis； 〃I had something from Sheik Ilderim as he lay with my father in a grove out in the Desert。 The night was still； very still； and the walls of the tent； sooth to say； were poor ward against ears outside listening tobirds and beetles flying through the air。〃
She smiled at the conceit； but proceeded：
〃Some other thingsbits of shell for the pictureI had from〃
〃Whom？〃
〃The son of Hur himself。〃
〃Was there no other who contributed？〃
〃No； not one。〃
Hur drew a breath of relief； and said； lightly； 〃Thanks。 It were not well to keep the Lord Sejanus waiting for you。 The Desert is not so sensitive。 Again； O Egypt； peace！〃
To this time he had been standing uncovered； now he took the handkerchief from his arm where it had been hanging； and adjusting it upon his head； turned to depart。 But she arrested him； in her eagerness； she even reached a hand to him。
〃Stay；〃 she said。
He looked back at her； but without taking the hand； though it was very noticeable for its sparkling of jewels； and he knew by her manner that the reserved point of the scene which was so surprising to him was now to come。
〃Stay； and do not distrust me； O son of Hur； if I declare I know why the noble Arrius took you for his heir。 And； by Isis！ by all the gods of Egypt！ I swear I tremble to think of you； so brave and generous； under the hand of the remorseless minister。 You have left a portion of your youth in the atria of the great capital； consider； as I do； what the Desert will be to you in contrast of life。 Oh； I gi