And one night the three wise men saw in the heavens an extraordinary constellation, a group of stars hitherto unknown to any of them.

[Illustration:  Diagram of constellation of stars, using asterisks for the stars, spelling out “Inri".]

They looked at the constellation for a long while, and Balthasar thought it was like writing.  They brought all their wisdom to bear on it, but could not explain it, for all it shone so brightly.  Did the gods mean to write some message?  Who could understand it?  An uncanny appearance, which no knowledge or faith could explain!  The next night they did not see it, but the guiding star still went before them and yielded to no sun.

One morning, just as day began to dawn, they rode through the streets of Jericho.  A man was lying on his face in the road, and the Moor asked him why he lay in the dust.

“I lie in the dust,” answered the man of Judah, “because I must practise myself in humility in order not to become too proud.  We have become great beyond measure these last days.  The King of the Jews is born, the Messiah promised of God.”

Then the wise man from India remembered how the Jews had been expecting their Messiah for ages, the royal deliverer from bondage.

“I thought you had King Herod,” he said.

“He’s not the right king,” answered the man in the dust.  “Herod is a heathen, and cringes to the Romans.”

And now clouds from Lebanon hid the star, and the travellers knew not which way to go.  Balthasar, perplexed, went towards the neighbouring city of Jerusalem; there surely he would be able to learn more.  He asked at the royal palace about the new-born king.  Such a question was news to King Herod.  A son born to him?  He knew nothing about it.  He would see the strangers who asked such a question.

“Sire,” said the Moor, “something is in the air.  Your people are whispering of the Messiah.”

“I’ll have them beheaded!” shouted Herod angrily; then, more gently:  “I’ll have them beheaded if they don’t kneel before the Messiah.  I myself will bow before him.  If only I knew where to find him!”

“I’ll go and look round a little,” said the complacent Balthasar, “and if I find him I’ll come and tell you.”

“Do, do, noble stranger,” said Herod, “And then, pray take your ease at my palace as long as you like.  Are you fond of golden wine?”

“I drink red wine,” answered the Moor.

“Or of the fair women of the west?” asked the king.

“I love dark-skinned women,” said Balthasar.

“Good!  Then come, my friend, and bring me news of the new-born king.”

Balthasar rode on farther with his companions, and directly he left the town the star again shone in front of him.  It hung high up in the heavens, and after they had followed it for some hours it slowly turned its course eastwards, and stopped above a cave in the rocks.  And there the strangers who had ridden out of the east to seek for truth, there they found truth and life, there they found a child, a child who was as tender and beautiful as a rosebud in the moonlight, a little child born to poor people, and other poor folk stood round and offered the very last of their possessions, and were full of joy.