The herald called for silence, an unnecessary order, seeing that a death-like stillness had fallen upon the occupants both of Gabbatha and the public square. Florus’ mood was shown by his first question to the Sanhedrim. “Is it true that my person has been mocked by the youth of this city, who have gone about, basket on arm, and crying aloud, ‘Give an obolus for Florus the Pauper?’” The members of the Sanhedrim looked at one another in alarm. Finally they glanced at Ananias as if inviting him to be their spokesman. Hiding both hands within the folds of his robe--an Oriental way of showing respect and humility--and making a profound obeisance, Ananias spoke: “O Florus, live forever----” (“Now heaven preserve us from that calamity!” muttered Eleazar.) “That certain youth _have_ behaved ill is but too true, and we cannot deny it. But----” Florus cut him short. “Ye see in me the representative of Cæsar----” “None more worthy to represent him, O Florus,” said Eleazar, caustically. “And he who mocks me, mocks Cæsar,” continued the procurator with a side glance at Eleazar. “I therefore demand of you, the Sanhedrim, who are responsible for the due maintenance of order in this city, that the youths who have affronted me be handed over here and now to be dealt with as their misdeeds deserve. And if ye fail to produce these malefactors, know that for many days to come ye shall have a tale of sorrow to tell.” Miserable Sanhedrim! Among the elder of them were some who, thirty years before, on an occasion never to be forgotten as long as time shall last, had said, and that, too, on the very spot where they were now standing, “We have no king but Cæsar.” Thus had they made their choice. Verily, then, let them not repine if Cæsar, or his representative, should treat them in a manner not according to their liking! The hapless Ananias, collecting with difficulty his wits, which had been somewhat scattered by Florus’ fierce air, stammered out a deprecatory speech. What he said amounted to this: that the people were as a whole peaceably disposed; some few had done amiss, and for these let pardon be granted, for it was no wonder that in so great a multitude there should be some more daring than they ought to be, and by reason of their youth foolish also. It was, too, a very difficult matter to distinguish the innocent from the guilty; and seeing that all alike, those who had offended as well as those who had not, were sorry for what had happened, it would become the clemency of Florus to overlook the affair, lest a too stern application of justice should bring about disorders even more grave than those that had already taken place.