Joseph thanked her inwardly for her reticence, and he nailed up the fine linen cloth before the window, saying:  now he is secure from the flies.  But one or two have got in already, Esora answered, and one or two will trouble the sick man as much as a hundred.  We can’t leave him alone; one of us must watch by his side; for he is still delirious and knows not yet what has befallen him nor where he is.  If he were to return to clear reason and find the door locked he might lose his reason for good and all, and if we left the door open he might run out into the garden.  It isn’t safe to leave him.

And perceiving all she said to be sound sense, Joseph took counsel with her, and his resolve was that the two men-servants should remain in their house till the sunset That I should send them away to Jericho on my own horses will surprise them, he said to himself, but that can’t be altered.  A long, weary day lies before us, Esora, and we shall have to take it in turns, and neither can be away for more than two hours at a time from the house.  Matred will be asking for instructions whether she is to feed the poultry or to kill a chicken.  Though it be the Sabbath, she’ll find reasons to be about because we would have her indoors.  And when I’m watching by the sick man, Esora returned, she’ll be asking:  where, Master, is Esora?  Thou’lt have to invent excuses.  We’ve forgotten the servants, Esora.  Give me the key.  I must run with it and unlock the door of the passage.  Do you wait here till I return.

He hoped to find his servants asleep, and his hopes were fulfilled; and after rousing them with vigorous reproof for their laziness, he descended the stairs, thinking of the letter he would devise for them to carry to Jericho.  These men, Sarea and Asiel, were his peril.  Once they were away on their journey to Jericho he would feel easier.  But all these hours I shall suffer, he said.  But, Master, they know the cottage to be empty.  One never can think, my good Esora, whither idle men will be wandering, and the risk is great.  Having gone so far we must have courage, Esora answered.  Now give me the key, and I’ll lock myself in with him; we’ll take it in turns, and the day will not be as long passing as you think for.  It is now six o’clock, he answered:  twelve hours will have to pass away before the men start for Jericho.  And then the night will be before us, replied Esora.  I hadn’t thought of the night, Joseph answered, and she reminded him that it might be days before his friend, who had been scourged, could recover sufficiently for him to leave.  For he won’t always remain here, she added.  No! no!  Joseph replied, and gave her the key of the cottage, and returned to the house to tell Sarea and Asiel that he hoped they would remain indoors during the Sabbath, for he wished them to start for Jericho as soon as the Sabbath was over.  They shall ride my horses, he said to himself, and bear letters that will detain them in Jericho for some weeks, and if Jesus be not well enough to leave me, another letter will delay their return.  It can be so arranged, with a little luck on our side!