Chapter 14

Among the orderlies at the castle was one David, a young Jew, whose
face and bearing had attracted the eye of Vergilius. There was in both
something admirable and familiar. Straightway the tribune chose the
young Jew for his own service, and soon held him in high esteem.
Together they set out one morning, with a troop of horse, bound for the
southern limit of Samaria. Thus quickly orders had arrived from the
emperor. They sent Vergilius on a journey to inspect roads and report
"as to hopes, plans, and theories of import to the king."

That morning as they left the old city, Vergilius and the young Jew
rode abreast.

"Tell me," said the former, presently, "what know you of the new king?"

"Of him I have thought much and know little," said David. "My mother
taught me to look for him. That was before the evil days."

"And you learned what of her?"

"Little save the long hope. She taught me an old chant of the coming.
If you wish, I will sing it."

Being bidden, he sang, as she had sung who hushed the revels of
Antipater, of signs and fears and of arrows to fly as the lightning.
Words, melody, emotion, the note of inveterate wrong, were those of the
slave-girl.

"The same nose and blue eyes, and fair, curly locks--the same feeling
and chant of faith," said Vergilius, thoughtfully. "Did you not live
in Galilee and suffer ill fortune?"

"We lived in Galilee, and, by-and-by, were as those hurled into
Gehenna."

"And have you a sister in Rome?"

"I have a sister, but know not where she may be. Cyran the Beloved, so
my mother called her."

Then Vergilius told his companion how he had won her from the son of
Herod and left her in the keeping of Arria. David wept as he listened.

When the tale was finished he spoke bitterly: "'Twas she--the Beloved.
My father was put to death, his property seized, his wife and children
dragged to captivity. My heart is faint with sorrow. God! I weary of
thy slowness.

"Send, quickly send the new king, whose arrows
shall fly as the lightning
Making the mighty afraid and the proud to bow
low and the wicked to tremble."

For a moment they rode in silence. David was first to speak.

"Forgive me," said he, with fear of his imprudence. "My tongue has
gone too far. I am true to Herod, being his debtor, for he gave me
freedom. But I am of the house of David."

"Fear not," said Vergilius. "Never shall I betray the broken hearted.
I give you friendship."

"And I give you gratitude," was the answer of the Jew.