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〃But they found some proofs； surely；〃 said Ben…Hur； eagerly。
〃Yes； proofs written in blooda village in mourning； mothers yet crying for their little ones。 You must know； when Herod heard of our flight； he sent down and slew the youngest…born of the children of Bethlehem。 Not one escaped。 The faith of my messengers was confirmed； but they came to me saying the Child was dead； slain with the other innocents。〃
〃Dead！〃 exclaimed Ben…Hur； aghast。 〃Dead； sayest thou？〃
〃Nay； my son； I did not say so。 I said they； my messengers； told me the Child was dead。 I did not believe the report then； I do not believe it now。〃
〃I seethou hast some special knowledge。〃
〃Not so； not so；〃 said Balthasar； dropping his gaze。 〃The Spirit was to go with us no farther than to the Child。 When we came out of the cave； after our presents were given and we had seen the babe； we looked first thing for the star； but it was gone； and we knew we were left to ourselves。 The last inspiration of the Holy Onethe last I can recallwas that which sent us to Ilderim for safety。〃
〃Yes；〃 said the sheik； fingering his beard nervously。 〃You told me you were sent to me by a SpiritI remember it。〃
〃I have no special knowledge；〃 Balthasar continued； observing the dejection which had fallen upon Ben…Hur； 〃but； my son； I have given the matter much thoughtthought continuing through years； inspired by faith； which； I assure you； calling God for witness； is as strong in me now as in the hour I heard the voice of the Spirit calling me by the shore of the lake。 If you will listen； I will tell you why I believe the Child is living。〃
Both Ilderim and Ben…Hur looked assent； and appeared to summon their faculties that they might understand as well as hear。 The interest reached the servants； who drew near to the divan； and stood listening。 Throughout the tent there was the profoundest silence。
〃We three believe in God。〃
Balthasar bowed his head as he spoke。
〃And he is the Truth；〃 he resumed。 〃His word is God。 The hills may turn to dust； and the seas be drunk dry by south winds； but his word shall stand； because it is the Truth。〃
The utterance was in a manner inexpressibly solemn。
〃The voice； which was his； speaking to me by the lake； said； 'Blessed art thou； O son of Mizraim！ The Redemption cometh。 With two others from the remotenesses of the earth； thou shalt see the Savior。' I have seen the Saviorblessed be his name！but the Redemption； which was the second part of the promise； is yet to come。 Seest thou now？ If the Child be dead； there is no agent to bring the Redemption about； and the word is naught； and Godnay； I dare not say it！〃
He threw up both hands in horror。
〃The Redemption was the work for which the Child was born； and so long as the promise abides； not even death can separate him from his work until it is fulfilled； or at least in the way of fulfilment。 Take you that now as one reason for my belief； then give me further attention。〃
The good man paused。
〃Wilt thou not taste the wine？ It is at thy handsee；〃 said Ilderim； respectfully。
Balthasar drank； and； seeming refreshed； continued：
〃The Savior I saw was born of woman； in nature like us； and subject to all our illseven death。 Let that stand as the first proposition。 Consider next the work set apart to him。 Was it not a performance for which only a man is fitted？a man wise； firm； discreeta man； not a child？ To become such he had to grow as we grow。 Bethink you now of the dangers his life was subject to in the intervalthe long interval between childhood and maturity。 The existing powers were his enemies； Herod was his enemy； and what would Rome have been？ And as for Israelthat he should not be accepted by Israel was the motive for cutting him off。 See you now。 What better way was there to take care of his life in the helpless growing time than by passing him into obscurity？ Wherefore I say to myself； and to my listening faith； which is never moved except by yearning of loveI say he is not dead； but lost； and； his work remaining undone； he will come again。 There you have the reasons for my belief。 Are they not good？〃
Ilderim's small Arab eyes were bright with understanding； and Ben…Hur； lifted from his dejection； said heartily； 〃I； at least； may not gainsay them。 What further； pray？〃
〃Hast thou not enough； my son？ Well；〃 he began； in calmer tone； 〃seeing that the reasons were goodmore plainly； seeing it was God's will that the Child should not be foundI settled my faith into the keeping of patience； and took to waiting。〃 He raised his eyes； full of holy trust； and broke off abstractedly〃I am waiting now。 He lives； keeping well his mighty secret。 What though I cannot go to him； or name the hill or the vale of his abiding…place？ He livesit may be as the fruit in blossom； it may be as the fruit just ripening； but by the certainty there is in the promise and reason of God； I know he lives。〃
A thrill of awe struck Ben…Hura thrill which was but the dying of his half…formed doubt。
〃Where thinkest thou he is？〃 he asked； in a low voice； and hesitating； like one who feels upon his lips the pressure of a sacred silence。
Balthasar looked at him kindly； and replied； his mind not entirely freed from its abstraction；
〃In my house on the Nile； so close to the river that the passers…by in boats see it and its reflection in the water at the same timein my house； a few weeks ago； I sat thinking。 A man thirty years old； I said to myself； should have his fields of life all ploughed； and his planting well done； for after that it is summer…time； with space scarce enough to ripen his sowing。 The Child； I said further； is now twenty…sevenhis time to plant must be at hand。 I asked myself； as you here asked me； my son； and answered by coming hither； as to a good resting…place close by the land thy fathers had from God。 Where else should he appear； if not in Judea？ In what city should he begin his work； if not in Jerusalem？ Who should be first to receive the blessings he is to bring； if not the children of Abraham； Isaac； and Jacob； in love； at least； the children of the Lord？ If I were bidden go seek him； I would search well the hamlets and villages on the slopes of the mountains of Judea and Galilee falling eastwardly into the valley of the Jordan。 He is there now。 Standing in a door or on a hill…top； only this evening he saw the sun set one day nearer the time when he himself shall become the light of the world。〃
Balthasar ceased； with his hand raised and finger pointing as if at Judea。 All the listeners； even the dull servants outside the divan； affected by his fervor； were startled as if by a majestic presence suddenly apparent within the tent。 Nor did the sensation die away at once： of those at the table； each sat awhile thinking。 The spell was finally broken by Ben…Hur。
〃I see； good Balthasar；〃 he said； 〃that thou hast been much and strangely favored。 I see； also； that thou art a wise man indeed。 It is not in my power to tell how grateful I am for the things thou hast told me。 I am warned of the coming of great events； and borrow somewhat from thy faith。 Complete the obligation； I pray thee； by telling further of the mission of him for whom thou art waiting； and for whom f