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〃The Nazarene is on the way also。 With him； though without his knowledge； I am bringing a full legion of mine。 A second legion follows。 The Passover will excuse the multitude。 He said upon setting out； 'We will go up to Jerusalem； and all things that are written by the prophets concerning me shall be accomplished。'
〃Our waiting draws to an end。
〃In haste。
〃Peace to thee； Simonides。
〃BEN…HUR。〃
Esther returned the letter to her father； while a choking sensation gathered in her throat。 There was not a word in the missive for hernot even in the salutation had she a shareand it would have been so easy to have written 〃and to thine； peace。〃 For the first time in her life she felt the smart of a jealous sting。
〃The eighth day；〃 said Simonides； 〃the eighth day； and this； Esther； this is the〃
〃The ninth；〃 she replied。
〃Ah； then； they may be in Bethany now。〃
〃And possibly we may see him to…night；〃 she added； pleased into momentary forgetfulness。
〃It may be； it may be！ To…morrow is the Feast of Unleavened Bread； and he may wish to celebrate it； so may the Nazarene； and we may see himwe may see both of them； Esther。〃
At this point the servant appeared with the wine and water。 Esther helped her father； and in the midst of the service Iras came upon the roof。
To the Jewess the Egyptian never appeared so very； very beautiful as at that moment。 Her gauzy garments fluttered about her like a little cloud of mist； her forehead； neck； and arms glittered with the massive jewelry so affected by her people。 Her countenance was suffused with pleasure。 She moved with buoyant steps； and self…conscious； though without affectation。 Esther at the sight shrank within herself； and nestled closer to her father。
〃Peace to you； Simonides； and to the pretty Esther peace；〃 said Iras； inclining her head to the latter。 〃You remind me； good masterif I may say it without offence…you remind me of the priests in Persia who climb their temples at the decline of day to send prayers after the departing sun。 Is there anything in the worship you do not know； let me call my father。 He is Magian…bred。〃
〃Fair Egyptian；〃 the merchant replied； nodding with grave politeness； 〃your father is a good man who would not be offended if he knew I told you his Persian lore is the least part of his wisdom。〃
Iras's lip curled slightly。
〃To speak like a philosopher； as you invite me；〃 she said； 〃the least part always implies a greater。 Let me ask what you esteem the greater part of the rare quality you are pleased to attribute to him。〃
Simonides turned upon her somewhat sternly。
〃Pure wisdom always directs itself towards God； the purest wisdom is knowledge of God； and no man of my acquaintance has it in higher degree； or makes it more manifest in speech and act； than the good Balthasar。〃
To end the parley； he raised the cup and drank。
The Egyptian turned to Esther a little testily。
〃A man who has millions in store； and fleets of ships at sea； cannot discern in what simple women like us find amusement。 Let us leave him。 By the wall yonder we can talk。〃
They went to the parapet then； stopping at the place where； years before； Ben…Hur loosed the broken tile upon the head of Gratus。
〃You have not been to Rome？〃 Iras began； toying the while with one of her unclasped bracelets。
〃No；〃 said Esther； demurely。
〃Have you not wished to go？〃
〃No。〃
〃Ah； how little there has been of your life！〃
The sigh that succeeded the exclamation could not have been more piteously expressive had the loss been the Egyptian's own。 Next moment her laugh might have been heard in the street below； and she said 〃Oh； oh； my pretty simpleton！ The half…fledged birds nested in the ear of the great bust out on the Memphian sands know nearly as much as you。〃
Then； seeing Esther's confusion； she changed her manner； and said in a confiding tone； 〃You must not take offence。 Oh no！ I was playing。 Let me kiss the hurt； and tell you what I would not to any othernot if Simbel himself asked it of me； offering a lotus…cup of the spray of the Nile！〃
Another laugh； masking excellently the look she turned sharply upon the Jewess； and she said； 〃The King is coming。〃
Esther gazed at her in innocent surprise。
〃The Nazarene；〃 Iras continued〃he whom our fathers have been talking about so much； whom Ben…Hur has been serving and toiling for so long〃her voice dropped several tones lower〃the Nazarene will be here to…morrow； and Ben…Hur to…night。〃
Esther struggled to maintain her composure； but failed： her eyes fell； the tell…tale blood surged to her cheek and forehead； and she was saved sight of the triumphant smile that passed； like a gleam； over the face of the Egyptian。
〃See； here is his promise。〃
And from her girdle she took a roll。
〃Rejoice with me； O my friend！ He will be here tonight！ On the Tiber there is a house； a royal property； which he has pledged to me； and to be its mistress is to be〃
A sound of some one walking swiftly along the street below interrupted the speech； and she leaned over the parapet to see。 Then she drew back； and cried； with hands clasped above her head； 〃Now blessed be Isis！ 'Tis heBen…Hur himself！ That he should appear while I had such thought of him！ There are no gods if it be not a good omen。 Put your arms about me； Estherand a kiss！〃
The Jewess looked up。 Upon each cheek there was a glow； her eyes sparkled with a light more nearly of anger than ever her nature emitted before。 Her gentleness had been too roughly overridden。 It was not enough for her to be forbidden more than fugitive dreams of the man she loved； a boastful rival must tell her in confidence of her better success； and of the brilliant promises which were its rewards。 Of her； the servant of a servant； there had been no hint of remembrance； this other could show his letter； leaving her to imagine all it breathed。 So she said；
〃Dost thou love him so much； then； or Rome so much better？〃
The Egyptian drew back a step； then she bent her haughty head quite near her questioner。
〃What is he to thee； daughter of Simonides？〃
Esther； all thrilling； began； 〃He is my〃
A thought blasting as lightning stayed the words： she paled； trembled； recovered； and answered；
〃He is my father's friend。〃
Her tongue had refused to admit her servile condition。
Iras laughed more lightly than before。
〃Not more than that？〃 she said。 〃Ah； by the lover…gods of Egypt； thou mayst keep thy kisseskeep them。 Thou hast taught me but now that there are others vastly more estimable waiting me here in Judea； and〃she turned away； looking back over her shoulder 〃I will go get them。 Peace to thee。〃
Esther saw her disappear down the steps； when； putting her hands over her face； she burst into tears so they ran scalding through her fingerstears of shame and choking passion。 And； to deepen the paroxysm to her even temper so strange； up with a new meaning of withering force rose her father's words〃Thy love might not have been vainly given had I kept fast hold of all I had； as I might have done。〃
And all the stars were out； burning low above the city and the dark wall of mountains about it； before she recovered enough to go back to the summer…house； and in sil