She knew that he was alluding to Crispus, and her heart almost ceased beating. “To be more plain, doth not Crispus the Roman abide here?” In defiance of the teaching of Simeon the bishop, that a falsehood is never justifiable even when its purpose is to save human life, Vashti was tempted to deny all knowledge of Crispus. “Why should you think that?” she replied in a trembling voice. “You do not deny it? Take me to him.” Vashti did not stir. “Come, girl,” exclaimed Simon, growing impatient, “delay not, or I summon my Zealots to search the house, and if these patriots once enter,” he continued with a grim smile, “they’ll leave little of value behind. I seek the Roman to do him not evil but good. I swear it.” “_You_ swear!” flashed out Vashti, her indignation getting the better of her fear. “You, who broke your oath and massacred the Roman garrison! What is _your_ word worth?” The Zealot laughed unashamedly. “When a man, desirous of hanging a dog, lures the creature to him by a tempting bait, do you call him wicked? And what are the Romans but dogs, unfit to live.” “Then Crispus, being a Roman, is a dog?” “He is; but he is the best of the dogs, and therefore am I minded to do him a service.” Compelled to yield, Vashti led the way, wondering what Crispus would think of her action in bringing the Zealot upon him. She found him in an upper chamber, sitting at a table, reading a Greek scroll of one of the gospels, and frowning at what he considered its bizarre style. Upon the same table lay a drawn sword. “‘_And they shall lay thee even with the ground_,’” read Crispus. “Now, I trust that this man may prove a true prophet, for--ah! who comes here?” His eye, lifting, had caught sight of Simon. Familiarized with sudden perils, Crispus kept an unmoved countenance. “How fares the noble patient?” said Simon, sardonically. “Why, as to that, you may test his strength, if you will,” replied Crispus, laying his hand upon the sword. But though he spoke thus boldly, and longed to slay the man who had helped to massacre his fellow-Romans, he felt himself, in his present state of convalescence, to be as weak as a babe. It was all over with him if the Zealot took him at his word. “Tush!” responded Simon, with folded arms. “Do you not see that I am unarmed. I come as a friend. Were I thy enemy and desired thy death should I have sought to save thee from the hand of Eleazar?” “And why that attempted grace on your part?” asked Crispus, laying down his weapon. “Were you not the first to rise at my trial and condemn the dastardly Florus?” “My condemnation of Florus was not meant as the justification of Simon.” “Be that as it may. Let me state my errand. You are surrounded by enemies, who, if they did but know that you are abiding here, would break in and slay you. Be it mine to save you. I am here secretly to offer you a safe conduct to your Roman friends at Antipatris.” “’Tis scarcely credible,” said Crispus.