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ng all consideration of political consequences； what unspeakable personal glory there would then be to him as a man？ It was not in the nature of any mere mortal to refuse such a career。
Meantime down the Cedron； and in towards Bezetha； especially on the roadsides quite up to the Damascus Gate； the country filled rapidly with all kinds of temporary shelters for pilgrims to the Passover。 Ben…Hur visited the strangers； and talked with them； and returning to his tents； he was each time more and more astonished at the vastness of their numbers。 And when he further discovered that every part of the world was represented among themcities upon both shores of the Mediterranean far off as the Pillars of the West； river…towns in distant India； provinces in northernmost Europe； and that； though they frequently saluted him with tongues unacquainted with a syllable of the old Hebrew of the fathers； these representatives had all the same objectcelebration of the notable feastan idea tinged mistily with superstitious fancy forced itself upon him。 Might he not after all have misunderstood the Nazarene？ Might not that person by patient waiting be covering silent preparation； and proving his fitness for the glorious task before him？ How much better this time for the movement than that other when； by Gennesaret； the Galileans would have forced assumption of the crown？ Then the support would have been limited to a few thousands； now his proclamation would be responded to by millionswho could say how many？ Pursuing this theory to its conclusions； Ben…Hur moved amidst brilliant promises； and glowed with the thought that the melancholy man； under gentle seeming and wondrous self…denial； was in fact carrying in disguise the subtlety of a politician and the genius of a soldier。
Several times also； in the meanwhile； low…set； brawny men； bareheaded and black…bearded； came and asked for Ben…Hur at the tent； his interviews with them were always apart； and to his mother's question who they were he answered；
〃Some good friends of mine from Galilee。〃
Through them he kept informed of the movements of the Nazarene； and of the schemes of the Nazarene's enemies； Rabbinical and Roman。 That the good man's life was in danger； he knew； but that there were any bold enough to attempt to take it at that time； he could not believe。 It seemed too securely intrenched in a great fame and an assured popularity。 The very vastness of the attendance in and about the city brought with it a seeming guaranty of safety。 And yet； to say truth； Ben…Hur's confidence rested most certainly upon the miraculous power of the Christ。 Pondering the subject in the purely human view； that the master of such authority over life and death； used so frequently for the good of others； would not exert it in care of himself was simply as much past belief as it was past understanding。
Nor should it be forgotten that all these were incidents of occurrence between the twenty…first day of Marchcounting by the modern calendarand the twenty…fifth。 The evening of the latter day Ben…Hur yielded to his impatience； and rode to the city； leaving behind him a promise to return in the night。
The horse was fresh； and choosing his own gait； sped swiftly。 The eyes of the clambering vines winked at the rider from the garden fences on the way； there was nothing else to see him； nor child nor woman nor man。 Through the rocky float in the hollows of the road the agate hoofs drummed； ringing like cups of steel； but without notice from any stranger。 In the houses passed there were no tenants； the fires by the tent…doors were out； the road was deserted； for this was the first Passover eve； and the hour 〃between the evenings〃 when the visiting millions crowded the city； and the slaughter of lambs in offering reeked the fore…courts of the Temple； and the priests in ordered lines caught the flowing blood and carried it swiftly to the dripping altarswhen all was haste and hurry； racing with the stars fast coming with the signal after which the roasting and the eating and the singing might go on； but not the preparation more。
Through the great northern gate the rider rode； and lo！ Jerusalem before the fall； in ripeness of glory； illuminated for the Lord。
CHAPTER VI
Ben…Hur alighted at the gate of the khan from which the three Wise Men more than thirty years before departed； going down to Bethlehem。 There； in keeping of his Arab followers； he left the horse； and shortly after was at the wicket of his father's house； and in a yet briefer space in the great chamber。 He called for Malluch first； that worthy being out； he sent a salutation to his friends the merchant and the Egyptian。 They were being carried abroad to see the celebration。 The latter； he was informed； was very feeble； and in a state of deep dejection。
Young people of that time who were supposed hardly to know their own hearts indulged the habit of politic indirection quite as much as young people in the same condition indulge it in this time； so when Ben…Hur inquired for the good Balthasar； and with grave courtesy desired to know if he would be pleased to see him； he really addressed the daughter a notice of his arrival。 While the servant was answering for the elder； the curtain of the doorway was drawn aside； and the younger Egyptian came in； and walkedor floated； upborne in a white cloud of the gauzy raiment she so loved and lived into the centre of the chamber； where the light cast by lamps from the seven…armed brazen stick planted upon the floor was the strongest。 With her there was no fear of light。
The servant left the two alone。
In the excitement occasioned by the events of the few days past Ben…Hur had scarcely given a thought to the fair Egyptian。 If she came to his mind at all； it was merely as a briefest pleasure； a suggestion of a delight which could wait for him； and was waiting。
But now the influence of the woman revived with all its force the instant Ben…Hur beheld her。 He advanced to her eagerly； but stopped and gazed。 Such a change he had never seen！
Theretofore she had been a lover studious to win himin manner all warmth； each glance an admission； each action an avowal。 She had showered him with incense of flattery。 While he was present； she had impressed him with her admiration； going away； he carried the impression with him to remain a delicious expectancy hastening his return。 It was for him the painted eyelids drooped lowest over the lustrous almond eyes； for him the love…stories caught from the professionals abounding in the streets of Alexandria were repeated with emphasis and lavishment of poetry； for him endless exclamations of sympathy； and smiles； and little privileges with hand and hair and cheek and lips； and songs of the Nile； and displays of jewelry； and subtleties of lace in veils and scarfs； and other subtleties not less exquisite in flosses of Indian silk。 The idea； old as the oldest of peoples； that beauty is the reward of the hero had never such realism as she contrived for his pleasure； insomuch that he could not doubt he was her hero； she avouched it in a thousand artful ways as natural with her as her beautywinsome ways reserved； it would seem； by the passionate genius of old Egyp