A great burst of hoarse laughter from the watch followed, as they shouted, "An exalted position between heaven and earth!" "Look out, you fellows!" cried Selpha, "there through the hall of Pilate's lies our nearest way to the palace of Caiaphas. There, station yourselves in the courtyard until further orders." The soldiers answered, "Thy command shall be fully obeyed!" Hardly had the noisy soldiery passed with their prisoner out of the street than Peter and John appeared before the house of Annas. Then said Peter, "How will it fare here with our good master? Oh, John, how anxious I am about him!" John answered, "He is certain to have to suffer here scorn and ill treatment. I am very much afraid of approaching the house." Peter said, "But it is so silent about here." John replied, "One hears not a sound in the place. Could they have taken him away again?" As they were talking Esdras came out from the house of Annas and asked, "What do you want at the palace at this time of night?" John answered, "Forgive us; we saw a number of people from afar come hither from the Kedron Gate, and we came here in order to see what had happened." Esdras answered, "They have brought in a prisoner, but he has already been sent to Caiaphas." "To Caiaphas," said the disciples, "then we will go away at once." "You had better, otherwise I will have you taken, up as night brawlers," said Esdras. "We will go away quietly and make no disturbance," said Peter, meekly. As they went the priest, looking after them, said, "Perhaps they are followers of the Galilean. If I only knew. However, they will not escape our people if they go to the palace of Caiaphas. The whole of his following must be destroyed. Otherwise the people will never be brought into obedience." He then returned into the house. CHAPTER V. PETER COMMITS PERJURY. How bleeds my heart! The Holiest stands before the judgement seat. The malice of sinners he must bear, Betrayed and outraged, bound and beaten there. O, sons of men, your faces veil this day!-- The scarred form is touched by impious hands, From Annas dragged to Caiaphas away, What's here foreshadowed, see, fulfilled it stands. See Jesus, how in silence he Bears outrage, blows and mockery! O! what a man! Oh, hearts of men who now draw near, Melt with compassion when you see Bowed down in deepest misery! O! what a man! Caiaphas, in his bed chamber, wearing a dressing gown, surrounded by priests, exulted over the news which had been brought him of the arrest of Jesus. "This happy capture," said he, "promises us a fortunate realization of our wishes. I thank you, noble members of the Sanhedrin, for zealous and prudent co-operation." But the priests with one voice cried, "The greatest share of praise belongs to our high priest!"