"I am sorry that you can't understand my position," said the governor, who had turned to Gilderman when he began speaking. "It is very plain to me, Mr. Gilderman. Suppose I should act hastily in this matter and make a mistake. All the blame of that mistake would fall upon me and upon no one else. It does not require any courage for you and those other gentlemen and ladies who write to me, to urge that I should at once act, and act violently, in this matter. To so advise does not take any courage; but it does take a great deal of courage for me to do such a thing upon my own responsibility. Consider the blame that would fall upon me if I should err in such a matter as this. I don't think I care over much for the opinion of other men, but even I do not care to take unnecessary blame." "But surely no blame can attach to you for merely putting a stop to rioting." "Perhaps no. Perhaps yes." "But," said the bishop, "even if blame is attached to you, you will have done your duty." Again the governor smiled faintly. "That, my dear bishop," he said, "is a higher plane of ethics than I am able to attain. I would rather be at ease in my mind than in my conscience." Then he began fingering among his papers, and the bishop saw he wanted him to go. Nevertheless, Bishop Caiaphas would not give up entirely. "You have no objection to my taking the matter in my own hands?" he said. "None whatever," said Pilate. "Then I shall go and consult my lawyer. I came to you, in the first instance, because it did not seem courteous to act without consulting you before taking any other steps. If I can have this man arrested upon my own responsibility I shall do so." "My dear bishop," said the governor, rising as the bishop arose, "if you will allow me to say so, the very best thing you can do is to go and consult with your lawyer. He will tell you just what to do. The law is open to you. If you choose to put it in operation against this Man, and if you can arrest Him and convict Him, I promise you I will not stretch out my hand to prevent His execution. Only, in doing what you do, you act upon your own responsibility." Then the bishop and Gilderman took their leave and the governor sat down, took up his book, and resumed his reading almost with a grunt of satisfaction. As Bishop Caiaphas was driven rapidly away from the governor's house he was very angry. He knew that it was very unbecoming in him, as a priest, to be so angry, but he did not care. Presently he burst out: "The idea of that man sitting there alone, debauching his own mind with a low and obscene novel, while this Man and His mob are allowed to overturn the religion of the world!" If Bishop Caiaphas had been a layman he would perhaps have added, "Damn him!" Gilderman did not say anything, but his heart went out in sympathy to his father-in-law. Presently the bishop burst out again, "I'll go down and see Inkerman this evening!" (Mr. Judah Inkerman was his lawyer.)