“Of all the rebels who fought against us in Galilee that man was the most valiant. When he was taken prisoner I had much ado at first to keep our soldiers from killing him.” “I deemed him to be more of a scholar than a warrior.” “He can handle both pen and sword, and he hath also prophetical gifts.” Crispus was naturally somewhat surprised at this last observation. “What prophecy hath he made?” “Why, this. Though he so bravely defended Jotapata against us, he nevertheless told its inhabitants that the city was destined to be taken on the forty-seventh day of the siege, and so it came to pass. Oh!” he continued in answer to Crispus’ look of skepticism, “I know it to be true, for I made careful inquiry among the captives, and all testified that from the very beginning Josephus had foretold that Jotapata would fall on the forty-seventh day.” What was very wonderful to Vespasian seemed simple enough to Crispus. If Josephus, as was very likely, had formed the secret purpose of going over to the Roman side, it would not be difficult for him to prolong the defense of such a rock-fortress as Jotapata till the forty-seventh day. The character gained as prophet on this occasion might stand him in good stead with the Roman general; in point of fact it had already so served him. Crispus could not help thinking that the man to whom he had so much reason to be grateful, was, nevertheless, a somewhat ambiguous character. Glancing along the shore, Crispus saw that the “prophet” had halted in his walk by the chariot of Berenice, and was now conversing both with that princess and with Titus. As the three were holding their heads close together it may be inferred that the conversation was a very important one. Its purport became apparent to Crispus ere many hours were past. CHAPTER XVII THE MAKING OF AN EMPEROR Crispus had the high honor of dining that night in the tent of Vespasian with a select company of tribunes, Terentius Rufus being of the number. Titus was, of course, present. His office of second in command, added to the glory gained by him in the Galilæan campaign, had disposed him to adopt a somewhat lofty air towards his former friends and acquaintances; but Crispus had acquired the Christian grace of humility, and the patronage that he might have resented in his pagan days now afforded him matter only for a little quiet amusement. Let Titus receive his just due, however; though Berenice had earnestly pressed him to persuade Vespasian to exclude Crispus from the army intended to act against Jerusalem, he had declined the task as an ungenerous one. “If Crispus wishes to play the soldier, I am not the man to prevent him,” he said, an answer that considerably mortified the proud princess, as showing that Titus was not quite the plastic clay she had thought him. The fare provided by Vespasian for his guests was simple, as became the tastes of the general, and they sat to it.