While the diversion of the incident With Felix, and of Shimei's parrying, passed, The soldier, so released to cast about At leisure, thought of Stephen standing up, In that so Sphinx-like silence, startlingly, Beside him, in the darkness on the deck, At just the fatal point of his own poise For the returnless plunge in the abyss; That Hebrew youth would doubtless testify To Shimei's damning;--to his own as well? That were to think of! What would Stephen say? Must it not cloud his own clear truth and faith, To have it told how he abode so long A hearkener to temptation; how he took Gold as for bribe, and greedy seemed of more? Why had he not been first to speak of that? Wisest it looked to him not to invoke A witness of so much uncertain power To bring his own behavior into doubt. And Shimei showed such master of his part, Equal to shifting all appearances This way or that, as best would serve himself, Promised so fair to make his side prevail, Were it not well to choose the chance with _him_? The soldier fixed to stake on Stephen naught. Shimei meantime had otherwise bethought Himself of Stephen--fearing, yet with hope Prevailing over fear: hardly would he, The soldier, risk to call such witness in. Those twain diversely so with the same thought Secretly busy, the centurion-- Whether by some unconscious sympathy His mind drawn into current following theirs, Like idle sea-drift in the wake of ships-- Startled them both alike with his next word: "That Hebrew lad, Stephen they call him, go Fetch him; say, 'Come with me,' and no word more." This to the soldier, who soon brought the youth. "Some kin thou to the prisoner Paul, I think?" Said the centurion. "Sister's son," said he. "I had thee well reported of, my lad; Belie not thy good fame, but answer true," Julius to Stephen spoke, adjuring him. "Knowest thou aught, of thine own eye or ear, How Paul thy kinsman was bestead last night?" Now Stephen had not yet to Paul declared Aught of the strange disclosures of the night. Seeing here the plotter of that nameless deed Demoniac, in the part of one accused, Witnessed against with damning testimony, The soldier's, all-sufficing for his doom, Before a judge as Roman sure to be Swift in his sentence upon such a crime-- Prompt in his secret mind Stephen resolved, As likeliest best to please his kinsman Paul, Not to go further than compelled, to add Superfluous proof against the wretched man.