Chapter 17 - Page 2

A moment she seemed to dwell upon the awful picture. Then, turning to
Manius; "Give the password to my father and let him go and listen. I
promise you their names shall not be long a secret. He must hear all.
Give him plans of that chamber so he may guard the exits."

"I will do my part, dear and wonderful daughter of Herod! To-morrow I
shall begin the good work." So saying the Roman embraced Salome and
spoke his farewell.

Having left her, he went to his own palace and sat awhile pondering.

"But if Herod is there," said he to himself, "and the soldiers come in
with lights and the council members see me, they will learn that I have
betrayed them. And some may be there who know of my part in other
enterprises. By showing proof--Jupiter! they would bring confusion or
death upon me. I must not be there, and yet--and yet I must. They
wait for the shrill voice to declare the fulness of time. Unless I be
there the king may be no wiser for his coming. I will go, but I will
not tell Herod of the long way underground to the street of tombs. I
will announce the fulness of time and quit the council before its
proclamation is made. Then the old lion may spring his trap, and who,
save Ben Joreb, will know that I ever sat with traitors. And as for
the priest, I shall warn him. I know that he is weary of Antipater and
will take a share in the new enterprise."