They ought to be here.... We must be many.... He is to pass through this street, under that window, on his way to Pilate.... NICODEMUS When?... MARY MAGDALENE To-night, before the second watch.... Which of you has arms? Where are they hidden?... NICODEMUS What do you wish to do?... MARY MAGDALENE To deliver him, if Verus does not deliver him.... It is easy, you shall see.... They will let us do as we please, I know they will.... The Romans do not want to judge him.... Appius told me so, they are perplexed.... When they took him to Caiaphas, there were only two soldiers to guard him and two sergeants from the Temple, armed with sticks.... If only there had been five or six men with me!... We would have hidden him, I know where; and he would have been saved!... But I was all alone!... JOSEPH OF ARIMATHÆA It is not so easy as you think, Magdalene.... All the populace was there, ready to stone him.... MARY MAGDALENE But the populace is on his side and the crowd adores him!... You have forgotten his triumphal entry!... JOSEPH OF ARIMATHÆA It is different now.... They were all shouting for his death outside Caiaphas’ palace.... MARY MAGDALENE It was a few servants of the Pharisees and Sadducees.... JOSEPH OF ARIMATHÆA A few servants would not have been enough to cover a public place to the very roofs.... It was indeed the same crowd as on the day of the triumph.... No, believe me, Magdalene, he knows what he wishes.... He is determined to be destroyed.... He has confessed everything.... MARY MAGDALENE What can he have confessed, when he has done no wrong?... JOSEPH OF ARIMATHÆA He admitted that he was the Son of God and the King of the Jews. MARY MAGDALENE Is it not the truth?... JOSEPH OF ARIMATHÆA No doubt, but it would have been better not to proclaim it to-night. In the eyes of the priests and Romans, it is a crime punishable by law.... AN INFIRM MAN He must be guilty, or they would not have arrested him.... NICODEMUS We cannot do more than he wishes and commands; and he renounces his defence. MARY MAGDALENE But you do not see that he does that to try your faith, your strength, your love!... NICODEMUS He foretold all this many times.... MARY MAGDALENE