And again silence.

“Allow me to remain.  But perhaps Thou canst not?  Or darest not?  Or wilt not?”

And again silence, stupendous, like the eyes of eternity.

“But indeed Thou knowest that I love Thee.  Thou knowest all things.  Why lookest Thou thus at Judas?  Great is the mystery of Thy beautiful eyes, but is mine less?  Order me to remain!  But Thou art silent.  Thou art ever silent.  Lord, Lord, is it for this that in grief and pains have I sought Thee all my life, sought and found!  Free me!  Remove the weight; it is heavier than even mountains of lead.  Dost Thou hear how the bosom of Judas Iscariot is cracking under it?”

And the last silence was abysmal, like the last glance of eternity.

“I go.”

But the evening stillness woke not, neither uttered cry nor plaint, nor did its subtle air vibrate with the slightest tinkle—­so soft was the fall of the retreating steps.  They sounded for a time, and then were silent.  And the evening stillness became pensive, stretched itself out in long shadows, and then grew dark;—­and suddenly night, coming to meet it, all atremble with the rustle of sadly brushed-up leaves, heaved a last sigh and was still.

There was a bustle, a jostle, a rattle of other voices, as though some one had untied a bag of lively resonant voices, and they were falling out on the ground, by one and two, and whole heaps.  It was the disciples talking.  And drowning them all, reverberating from the trees and walls, and tripping up over itself, thundered the determined, powerful voice of Peter—­he was swearing that never would he desert his Master.

“Lord,” said he, half in anger, half in grief:  “Lord!  I am ready to go with Thee to prison and to death.”

And quietly, like the soft echo of retiring footsteps, came the inexorable answer: 

“I tell thee, Peter, the cock will not crow this day before thou dost deny Me thrice.”

CHAPTER VII

The moon had already risen when Jesus prepared to go to the Mount of Olives, where He had spent all His last nights.  But He tarried, for some inexplicable reason, and the disciples, ready to start, were hurrying Him.  Then He said suddenly: 

“He that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip; and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.  For I say unto you that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me:  ‘And he was reckoned among the transgressors.’”

The disciples were surprised and looked at one another in confusion.  Peter replied: 

“Lord, we have two swords here.”

He looked searchingly into their kind faces, lowered His head, and said softly: 

“It is enough.”