The matchless audacity of the Roman then manifested itself。 Loosing the lines from his body； he tossed them to one side； dismounted； walked round the camel； looked at Ben…Hur； and spoke partly to the old man and partly to the woman。
〃Pardon； I pray youI pray you both。 I am Messala；〃 he said； 〃and； by the old Mother of the earth； I swear I did not see you or your camel！ As to these good peopleperhaps I trusted too much to my skill。 I sought a laugh at themthe laugh is theirs。 Good may it do them！〃
The good…natured； careless look and gesture he threw the bystanders accorded well with the speech。 To hear what more he had to say； they became quiet。 Assured of victory over the body of the offended； he signed his companion to take the chariot to a safer distance； and addressed himself boldly to the woman。
〃Thou hast interest in the good man here； whose pardon； if not granted now； I shall seek with the greater diligence hereafter； his daughter； I should say。〃
She made him no reply。
〃By Pallas； thou art beautiful！ Beware Apollo mistake thee not for his lost love。 I wonder what land can boast herself thy mother。 Turn not away。 A truce！ a truce！ There is the sun of India in thine eyes； in the corners of thy mouth； Egypt hath set her love…signs。 Perpol！ Turn not to that slave； fair mistress； before proving merciful to this one。 Tell me at least that I am pardoned。〃
At this point she broke in upon him。
〃Wilt thou come here？〃 she asked； smiling； and with gracious bend of the head to Ben…Hur。
〃Take the cup and fill it； I pray thee；〃 she said to the latter。 〃My father is thirsty。〃
〃I am thy most willing servant！〃
Ben…Hur turned about to do the favor； and was face to face with Messala。 Their glances met； the Jew's defiant； the Roman's sparkling with humor。
〃O stranger； beautiful as cruel！〃 Messala said； waving his hand to her。 〃If Apollo get thee not； thou shalt see me again。 Not knowing thy country； I cannot name a god to commend thee to； so； by all the gods； I will commend thee tomyself！〃
Seeing that Myrtilus had the four composed and ready； he returned to the chariot。 The woman looked after him as he moved away； and whatever else there was in her look； there was no displeasure。 Presently she received the water； her father drank； then she raised the cup to her lips； and； leaning down； gave it to Ben…Hur； never action more graceful and gracious。
〃Keep it； we pray of thee！ It is full of blessingsall thine！〃
Immediately the camel was aroused； and on his feet； and about to go； when the old man called；
〃Stand thou here。〃
Ben…Hur went to him respectfully。
〃Thou hast served the stranger well to…day。 There is but one God。 In his holy name I thank thee。 I am Balthasar； the Egyptian。 In the Great Orchard of Palms； beyond the village of Daphne； in the shade of the palms； Sheik Ilderim the Generous abideth in his tents； and we are his guests。 Seek us there。 Thou shalt have welcome sweet with the savor of the grateful。〃
Ben…Hur was left in wonder at the old man's clear voice and reverend manner。 As he gazed after the two departing； he caught sight of Messala going as he had come； joyous； indifferent； and with a mocking laugh。
CHAPTER IX
As a rule； there is no surer way to the dislike of men than to behave well where they have behaved badly。 In this instance； happily； Malluch was an exception to the rule。 The affair he had just witnessed raised Ben…Hur in his estimation； since he could not deny him courage and address； could he now get some insight into the young man's history； the results of the day would not be all unprofitable to good master Simonides。
On the latter point； referring to what he had as yet learned； two facts comprehended it allthe subject of his investigation was a Jew； and the adopted son of a famous Roman。 Another conclusion which might be of importance was beginning to formulate itself in the shrewd mind of the emissary； between Messala and the son of the duumvir there was a connection of some kind。 But what was it？and how could it be reduced to assurance？ With all his sounding； the ways and means of solution were not at call。 In the heat of the perplexity； Ben…Hur himself came to his help。 He laid his hand on Malluch's arm and drew him out of the crowd； which was already going back to its interest in the gray old priest and the mystic fountain。
〃Good Malluch；〃 he said； stopping； 〃may a man forget his mother？〃
The question was abrupt and without direction； and therefore of the kind which leaves the person addressed in a state of confusion。 Malluch looked into Ben…Hur's face for a hint of meaning； but saw； instead； two bright…red spots； one on each cheek； and in his eyes traces of what might have been repressed tears； then he answered； mechanically； 〃No！〃 adding； with fervor； 〃never；〃 and a moment after； when he began to recover himself； 〃If he is an Israelite； never！〃 And when at length he was completely recovered〃My first lesson in the synagogue was the Shema； my next was the saying of the son of Sirach； 'Honor thy father with thy whole soul； and forget not the sorrows of thy mother。'〃
The red spots on Ben…Hur's face deepened。
〃The words bring my childhood back again； and； Malluch； they prove you a genuine Jew。 I believe I can trust you。〃
Ben…Hur let go the arm he was holding； and caught the folds of the gown covering his own breast； and pressed them close； as if to smother a pain； or a feeling there as sharp as a pain。
〃My father；〃 he said； 〃bore a good name； and was not without honor in Jerusalem； where he dwelt。 My mother； at his death； was in the prime of womanhood； and it is not enough to say of her she was good and beautiful： in her tongue was the law of kindness； and her works were the praise of all in the gates； and she smiled at days to come。 I had a little sister； and she and I were the family； and we were so happy that I； at least； have never seen harm in the saying of the old rabbi； 'God could not be everywhere； and； therefore； he made mothers。' One day an accident happened to a Roman in authority as he was riding past our house at the head of a cohort； the legionaries burst the gate and rushed in and seized us。 I have not seen my mother or sister since。 I cannot say they are dead or living。 I do not know what became of them。 But； Malluch； the man in the chariot yonder was present at the separation； he gave us over to the captors； he heard my mother's prayer for her children； and he laughed when they dragged her away。 Hardly may one say which graves deepest in memory； love or hate。 To…day I knew him afarand； Malluch〃
He caught the listener's arm again。
〃And； Malluch； he knows and takes with him now the secret I would give my life for： he could tell if she lives； and where she is； and her condition； if sheno； THEYmuch sorrow has made the two as oneif they are dead； he could tell where they died； and of what； and where their bones await my finding。〃
〃And will he not？〃
〃No。〃
〃Why？〃
〃I am a Jew； and he is a Roman。〃
〃But Romans have tongues； and Jews； though ever so despised； have methods to beguile them。〃
〃For such as he？ No； and； besides； the secret is one of state。 All my father's property was confiscated and divided。〃
Malluch nodded his head slowly； much as to admit the argument； then he asked anew； 〃Did he not recognize you？〃
〃He could not。 I was sent to death in life； and have been long since accounted of the dead。〃
〃I wonder you did not strike him；〃 said Malluch； yielding to a touch of passion。
〃That would have been to put him past serving me forever。 I would have had to kill him； and Death； you know； keeps secrets better even than a guilty Roman。〃
The man who； with so much to avenge； could so calmly put such an opportunity aside must be confident of his future or have ready some better design； and Malluch's interest changed with the thought； it ceased to be that of an emissary in duty bound to another。 Ben…Hur was actually asserting a claim upon him for his own sake。 In other words； Malluch was preparing to serve him with good heart and from downright admiration。
After brief pause； Ben…Hur resumed speaking。
〃I would not take his life； good Malluch； against that extreme the possession of the secret is for the present； at least； his safeguard； yet I may punish him； and so you give me help； I will try。〃
〃He is a Roman；〃 said Malluch； without hesitation； 〃and I am of the tribe of Judah。 I will help you。 If you choose； put me under oathunder the most solemn oath。〃
〃Give me your hand； that will suffice。〃
As their hands fell apart； Ben…Hur said； with lightened feeling； 〃That I would charge you with is not difficult； good friend； neither is it dreadful to conscience。 Let us move on。〃
They took the road which led to the right across the meadow spoken of in the description of the coming to the fountain。 Ben…Hur was first to break the silence。
〃Do you know Sheik Ilderim the Generous？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Where is his Orchard of Palms？ or； rather； Malluch； how far is it beyond the village of Daphne？〃
Malluch was touched by a doubt； he recalled the prettiness of the favor shown him by the woman at the fountain； and wondered if he who had the sorrows of a mother in mind was about to forget them for a lure of love； yet he replied； 〃The Orchard of Palms lies beyond the village two hours by horse； and one by swift camel。〃
〃Thank you； and to your knowledge once more。 Have the games of which you told me been widely published？ and when will they take place？〃
The questions were suggestive； and if they did not restore Malluch his confidence； they at least stimulated his curiosity。
〃Oh yes； they will be of ample splendor。 The prefect is rich； and could afford to lose his place； yet； as is the way with successful men； his love of riches is nowise diminished； and to gain a friend at court； if nothing more； he must make ado for the Consul Maxentius； who is coming hither to make final preparations for a campaign against the Parthians。 The money there is in the preparations the citizens of Antioch know from experience； so they have had permission to join the prefect in the honors intended for the great man。 A month ago heralds went to the four quarters to proclaim the opening of the Circus for the celebrati