"Answer! Dost thou promise to provide the Herod with three hundred thousand drachmæ which shall be paid unto Cæsar's treasury?"
"I promise to place the prince where he will provide himself with three hundred thousand drachmæ. If he pay it not unto Cæsar, the fault shall be his, not mine."
"It shall be done," Marsyas replied, his composure unshaken by the menace implied in the questioning.
"Capito, what thinkest thou?" Vitellius demanded.
The old collector shuffled his slippered feet, and his antique treble took on an argumentative tone.
"Cæsar wants his money, not a slave; I want the emperor's commendation, not his blame. But let us bind this young Jew to this."
Vitellius motioned to an orderly. "Send hither a notary; and let us take down this Jew's promise. Now, Herod, speak up. There are no rules of an order to bind you. Where shall you get this money?"
"Of two sources," Agrippa declared, unblushing. "From the young man himself and from the Essenes."
"If you had so many moneyers, why have you not paid your debt long ago?"
"I had not the indorsement of this young Essenic doctor to validate my note, O Vitellius," the Herod responded with equanimity.
The two Romans frowned; the clerk finished his transcription.
"Sign!" Vitellius ordered Marsyas threateningly.
Marsyas calmly wrote his name in Greek under the voucher. After him Agrippa signed the document.
"Now, listen," Vitellius began conclusively. "I believe neither of you. But for the fact that Cæsar would be burdened with a useless chattel I should let Capito foreclose upon you, Agrippa. But there is a chance that this rigid youth may be telling the truth; if he is not--" the legate closed his thin lips and let the menace of his hard eyes complete the sentence. Marsyas contemplated him, unmoved, undismayed, no less inflexible and determined.
"The punishment for his offense against you, Agrippa, is remitted. Get you gone. Capito! Follow them!"
Totally undisturbed by this sudden entanglement in a supposedly clear skein, Agrippa waved his hand and smiled.
"Many thanks, Vitellius," he said. "Would I could get my debts paid if only to deserve thy respect once more. But thy hospitality must be a little longer strained. The wolves of Jonathan wait without to lay hands on this young man. He must be passed the gates in disguise. I provided for that last night. Admit my servants, I pray thee."