The procession then went off, leading Jesus to the palace of Annas. The Temple Watch formed behind Jesus, who with his hands bound before him, was thrown violently forward by Malchus and Balbus, who held the other ends of the cords which bound him, and marched behind him. They cried, "On with thee! In Jerusalem they will settle your affair!" Selpha, who marched at the head of his band, cried, "Let us hasten; lead him away carefully." And all the band shouted, "Ha, run now as thou hast hitherto run to and fro about the land of Judea." "Spare him not!" said Selpha, "drive him on!" "Forward," shouted the soldiers, shouting together; "otherwise thou shalt be driven on with staves." And as they marched away, driving Jesus before them the traders derided him, saying, "Doth Beelzebub, then, aid thee no longer?" * * * * * * It was dark night and there was silence in the street before the house of Annas, the high priest, when his door opened and Annas, attended by Esdras, Sidrach and Missel, came upon the balcony. "I can find no rest this night," said Annas, looking impatiently down the street, "until I know that this disturber of the peace is in our hands. Oh, if he were only safe, and in fetters. Full of longing and anxiety I await the arrival of my servants with the joyful news." Then said Esdras, "They cannot be much longer, for it is a good while since they went away." "In vain has my troubled gaze looked up and down the street of Kedron. But nothing can I see and nothing hear. Go, my Esdras, go toward the Kedron gate and see." "I will hasten out," said Esdras, hurrying away as quickly as his short, squat figure would allow. Annas, walking about impatiently, tormented by misgivings as to the success of the enterprise, began: "It would be a blow to the Sanhedrin if this time the work should not succeed." Sidrach said, "Do not give away to anxiety, high priest," and Missel added, "There is no doubt of our success." Annas, heeding not the consolation of his priests, said, "They may have altered their way and returned through the Siola Gate. I must send to see also on that side." Sidrach said, "If the high priest wishes it I will go to the Siola Gate." "Yes, do," said Annas, "but first see whether anyone comes through the street of the Sanhedrin." "I will not loiter, my lord," said Sidrach, as he disappeared in the darkness. Annas resumed his troubled thoughts. "The night is going by, and still the old uncertainty. Every minute of this weary waiting time is as an hour to me. Hark, I think some one comes running! Yes, he comes. Surely there will be good tidings." Sidrach, bursting into the presence of the high priest, exclaimed, "My lord, Esdras comes in haste. I saw him just now running down the street with rapid foot." Then said Annas, "Surely it is joyful news that he brings since he hastens so. Truly, I long for nothing now but the death of this malefactor."