"And Syria, Phœnicia, Cœle-Syria also," rejoined Simon, "until Solomon's empire, 'from the river to the end of the earth,' from the Euphrates to the Great Sea, shall have been restored. Judas must found a family to whom this work shall be committed." "It will be possible to make alliance by marriage with one of the great powers," suggested Jonathan. "I would not despair of a princess of Egypt even." "It were a sin to think of such a thing," replied Simon, indignantly. "Did not the Lord rebuke Solomon for his foreign wives? The men who sit upon the Maccabæan throne must be of blood as pure as that of Judas himself, untainted, as we know, in a thousand years. There is but one woman for Queen of Jerusalem, the daughter of Elkiah. The glory of the High Priests' house has departed. What house comes next? Is it not that of the last Nasi, Elkiah the martyr? Besides, Judas has already set his heart upon the maiden." "She will never be the wife of Judas," said Jonathan. "Deborah not the wife of Judas? What woman in Jewry would refuse such honor?" "One woman." "To utter such suspicion is treason," cried Simon, in a towering rage. "Not to speak as one sees would be treason far worse." "And you have seen--what?" cried both Simon and Eliezar. "I have seen--well, I have seen a cat play with a dog, and both forget that they were made to tear each other." "This is no matter for mirth, nor for silly parables, in which Jonathan is given to hiding his thoughts. What have you seen?" "Well, then, I have seen a Jewess and a Greek. Ask me no more," and Jonathan turned away. For a while neither of the remaining men spoke. At length Simon said: "Do you believe this?" "I have heard it on the street," replied Eliezar. "And it is said that, since the taking of that Dion in the very act of treachery, Deborah has not been beyond her house. She certainly has had no part in any public rejoicing over our great victory. Not a scrap of color has been hung from her parapet." "Does Judas suspect such a thing?" "He has not been within the house of Elkiah since the battle. And that is strange. He was always there." "It is well," added Simon, "that the Greek must die. Whatever favor the daughter of Elkiah has shown him, the clear evidence we have of his villainy will open her eyes. But Jonathan's thought is beyond credulity. It is a trick of him they well call the Wily. Jonathan is bent upon our making alliance with the heathen, and would divert us from the course which patriotism and religion demand; aye, and that which Judas' own inclination would favor. Did you not notice his manner when Jonathan mentioned the name of the Greek in connection with Deborah? I tell you, Judas will make a quick end of this proselyte when he learns what men are saying of the traitor's friendship for the maiden." "And I shall see to it that he hears it," replied Eliezar. XLV THE TRIAL