another question into his father’s mouth; he would not commit himself to a rank lie, and to tell that he had gone to Egypt could not do else than lead him into an intricate story which would indispose his father to listen to Pilate’s projects, or at least estrange Dan’s mind from a calm judgment of them; so he resolved to omit all mention of Banu, Jesus and Egypt and to begin his narrative with an account of his meeting with the camel-driver Gaddi.  But the camel-driver seemed to be the last person that Dan was interested in.  But he’s my partner!  Joseph exclaimed, and it was he who sent me to Pilate.  I’ll tell thee about the Essenes afterwards.  And feeling that he had at last succeeded in fixing his father’s attention on that part of the story which he wished to tell him, Joseph said:  an excellent governor, one who is ready to listen to all schemes for the furtherance of commercial enterprise in Judea:  he has ridded the hills of the robbers; and his account of the summer in the desert with the Roman soldiers, smoking out nest after nest and putting on crosses those that were taken alive interested the old man.  I wish he would start on Samaria, Dan mentioned casually; and Joseph replied, and he will as soon as he is certain that he can rely on the help of men like thee.  Pilate’s favour is worth winning, Father, and it can be won.  I doubt thee not, but wilt tell how it may be won, my boy?  By falling in with his projects, Joseph answered, and began his relation.  And when he had finished, Dan sat meditating, casting up the account:  Pilate’s good will is desirable, he said, but a large sum of money will have to be advanced.  But, Father, the carrying trade has been a great success.  Well, let us go into figures, Joseph.  And they balanced the profits against the losses.  Without doubt thou hast done well this last half year, Dan said, and if business don’t fall away——­ But, Father, Joseph interrupted, think of the profit my account would have shown if we had not lost two convoys.  The loss has already been very nearly paid off.  There are no more robbers and the demand for figs is steady in Jerusalem.  Figs ripen much earlier——­ Say no more, Joseph.  My money is thy money, and if fifty camels be wanted, thou shalt have them.  ’Tis the least I can do for thee, for thou hast ever been a frugal son, Joseph, and art deserving of all I have.  So Pilate has heard of my fish-salting and maybe that was why he met thee on such fair terms.  That has much to do with it, Joseph replied, and he watched the look of satisfaction that came into his father’s face.  But tell me, Joseph, has all this long time been spent smoking out robbers?  Tell me again of their caves.  Well, Father, the caves often opened on to ledges, and we had to lower the soldiers in baskets.