When the Maccabee had returned to the spot in the sedgy valley where

he and Julian had halted, he found the Ephesian white to the lips and

with ignited eyes awaiting him.

"How much longer?" the Ephesian demanded.

"What! Fast and slow!" the Maccabee said calmly. "Last night you

wasted hours to spite me. To-day you begrudge me a moment's talk with

a lovely wayfarer. Or is it because she prefers me? You have ordered

our progress long enough. I shall move when it pleases me."

He sat down by the fire, clasping his hands back of his head, and

half-closed his eyes. The Ephesian rose and tramped restlessly about.

As he glanced down at the reposeful attitude of the man whom he could

not exasperate he saw the sun glitter on the Maccabaean signet on the

hand clasped back of Philadelphus' head. The sight of it in a way

collected Julian's purposes. He knew that by some misadventure he had

missed Aquila whom he had hoped to meet in Emmaus, bearing treasure

stolen from the daughter of Costobarus. By this time, then, the

Maccabee's emissary had doubtless arrived in Jerusalem--the last

possible point for the two conspirators to meet.

To proceed to

Jerusalem without the Maccabee, with whatever excuse he could invent,

would not deliver the dowry of the bride into his hands, in the event

that Aquila had not succeeded in his instructions to make way with

Laodice before he reached Jerusalem. Nothing occurred to Julian at

that moment but to impersonate the Maccabee until it was possible to

get possession of the two hundred talents from those friends in

Jerusalem who were interested in his cousin's welfare. No one in

Jerusalem knew Philadelphus Maccabaeus. Aquila, as fellow-conspirator,

would not dare to expose him if Julian appeared as his cousin.

Perilous at best, it seemed the only plan by which he was to get

possession of a fortune which even Cæsar would be glad to have.

The resolution formed itself in a brain turbulent with passion and

desperation. He halted silently back of his cousin and with a sudden

flare of intent on his dead white face snatched a dagger from his

girdle and drove it between the shoulders of the Maccabee. Without a

word, Philadelphus turned upon his assailant and started to his feet.

But Julian, catching a glimpse of the dire purpose in his cousin's

darkened eyes, struck again. The knife, blindly wielded, glanced on

the Maccabee's head with wild force. Under a veil of scarlet

Philadelphus sank to the earth.

Julian with a sob of terror sprang out of range of his victim's gaze.

After a time he took courage and looked. The lids were fallen and the

breast was still.

Julian bent hastily and snatched the signet from the nerveless hand

and fumbling in the bosom drew forth the wallet there. He opened it,

finding within ancient parchments with heavy seals, new writings,

rolls of notes and a packet of letters. He rose, trembling violently,

and backed away. After a moment's fascinated gaze at the roadway to

see if the pilgrims passing had seen what he had done, he whirled

about, mounted his horse and galloped frantically toward Jerusalem.




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