But, Hazael, all may be as thou sayest, the Jews will welcome me, Jesus answered.  I am no longer the enemy; Paul is the enemy of Judaism and I am become the testimony.  Judaism, he says, is the root that bears the branches, and if I go to Jerusalem and tell the Jews that the Nazarene whom Pilate put upon the cross still lives in the flesh, they will rejoice exceedingly, and send agents and emissaries after him wherever he goes.  Paul persecuted me and my disciples, and now it would seem that my hand is turned against him.  Remain with us, Hazael cried.  Forget the world, leave it to itself and fear not; one lie more will make no difference in a world that has lived upon lies from the beginning of time.  A counsel that tempts me, for I would begin no persecution against Paul, but the lie has spread and will run all over the world even as a single mustard seed, and the seed is of my sowing; all returns to me; that Paul was able to follow the path is certain testimony that he was sent by God to me, and that I am called to be about my Father’s work.  As thou sayest, things repeat themselves.  Farewell, Hazael.  Farewell, my father in the faith.  So there is no detaining thee, my dear son, and, rising from his seat, Hazael put a staff in Jesus’ hand and hung a scrip about his neck.  If thy business be done perhaps——­ But no, let us indulge in no false hopes.  Neither will look upon the other’s face again.  Jesus did not answer, and returning to the balcony Hazael said:  I will sit here and watch thee for the last time.

But Jesus did not raise his eyes until he reached the bridge, and then he took the path that led by the cenobies of other days, and walked hastily, for he was too agitated to think.  A little in front of him, some hundred yards, a great rock overhung the path, and when he came there he stopped, for it was the last point from which he could have sight of the balcony.  As he stood looking back, shading his eyes with his hand, he saw two of the brethren come and touch Hazael on the shoulder.  As he did not raise his head to answer, they consulted together, and Jesus hurried away lest some sudden and impetuous emotion should call him back from his errand.

CHAP.  XXXVIII.

A small black bird with yellow wings, usually met with along the brook flitting from stone to stone, diverted his thoughts from Jerusalem and set him wondering what instinct had brought the bird up from the brook on to a dry hill-top.  The bird must have sensed the coming rain, he said, and he came up here to escape the torrent.  On looking round the sky for confirmation of the bird’s instinct, he saw dark clouds gathering everywhere and in a manner that to his shepherd’s eye betokened rain.  The bird seems a little impatient with the clouds for not breaking, he continued, and at that moment the bird turned sharply from the rock on which he was about to alight, and Jesus, divining a cause for the change of intention, sought behind