Jesus Christ -- Fiction; Religious fiction; United States -- Social life and customs -- 20th century -- Fiction
"Thirty dollars!" said Mr. Inkerman; but Bishop Caiaphas held up his
hand and the lawyer was silent.
"I'll give you thirty dollars, my man," he said, "the day that your
Master is apprehended."
"Thankee, sir," said the man. Still he stood for a while irresolutely.
"Well," said the bishop, "what is it?"
"Why, sir," said the man, "if you'll excuse me so far as to say--that
is, I mean I didn't take what this here gentleman"--indicating
Inspector Dolan again--"said just to mean that I was to help arrest
Him. He asked me if I knew where He was at night. I told him yes. He
says that if I'd show where He was there was money in it for me. I said
I was willing to show him or any man where He was. But I didn't look to
have any hand in arresting Him, though."
"But, my good fellow," said the bishop, "I can't pay you the money
unless you do your part. Just as soon as He is arrested, then you shall
have your money. Isn't that satisfactory to you?"
"Oh yes; I suppose so," said the other, doubtfully. But he still stood,
turning his hat about in his hands.
"Well," said the bishop, "is there anything else?"
"Only, if I might make so bold, sir, who's to pay me, sir?"
"Oh, that's it, is it?" said the bishop. "Well, I'll put the money
in the hands of Inspector Dolan here, and as soon as the arrest is
made he'll see that you are paid. Will that be satisfactory to you,
inspector?" and the bishop turned to the police officer.
"Oh yes; it'll suit me well enough," said the inspector.
"Very well," said the bishop, "we'll arrange it that way. That is all
we need of you now. You may go. Mr. Dolan will settle everything with
you after the arrest is duly made."
After the clergymen had gone, Gilderman and the lawyer lingered for a
while. "How do you suppose," said Gilderman, "that that man could bring
himself to do such a thing as that? How do you suppose he thinks and
feels?"
"Why, bless your soul, Mr. Gilderman," said the lawyer, "we can't
possibly enter into the mind of a man like that to understand why he
does a certain thing. Those people neither think nor feel as a man
in our position thinks and feels. They don't have the same sort of
logical or moral ballast to keep them steady. Any puff of prejudice or
self-interest is enough to swerve them aside from their course to some
altogether different objective point."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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