Part 39 (1/2)
”I wonder you did not strike him,” said Malluch, yielding to a touch of pa.s.sion.
”That would have been to put him past serving me forever. I would have had to kill him, and Death, you know, keeps secrets better even than a guilty Roman.”
The man who, with so much to avenge, could so calmly put such an opportunity aside must be confident of his future or have ready some better design, and Malluch's interest changed with the thought; it ceased to be that of an emissary in duty bound to another. Ben-Hur was actually a.s.serting a claim upon him for his own sake. In other words, Malluch was preparing to serve him with good heart and from downright admiration.
After brief pause, Ben-Hur resumed speaking.
”I would not take his life, good Malluch; against that extreme the possession of the secret is for the present, at least, his safeguard; yet I may punish him, and so you give me help, I will try.”
”He is a Roman,” said Malluch, without hesitation; ”and I am of the tribe of Judah. I will help you. If you choose, put me under oath--under the most solemn oath.”
”Give me your hand, that will suffice.”
As their hands fell apart, Ben-Hur said, with lightened feeling, ”That I would charge you with is not difficult, good friend; neither is it dreadful to conscience. Let us move on.”
They took the road which led to the right across the meadow spoken of in the description of the coming to the fountain. Ben-Hur was first to break the silence.
”Do you know Sheik Ilderim the Generous?”
”Yes.”
”Where is his Orchard of Palms? or, rather, Malluch, how far is it beyond the village of Daphne?”
Malluch was touched by a doubt; he recalled the prettiness of the favor shown him by the woman at the fountain, and wondered if he who had the sorrows of a mother in mind was about to forget them for a lure of love; yet he replied, ”The Orchard of Palms lies beyond the village two hours by horse, and one by swift camel.”
”Thank you; and to your knowledge once more. Have the games of which you told me been widely published? and when will they take place?”
The questions were suggestive; and if they did not restore Malluch his confidence, they at least stimulated his curiosity.
”Oh yes, they will be of ample splendor. The prefect is rich, and could afford to lose his place; yet, as is the way with successful men, his love of riches is nowise diminished; and to gain a friend at court, if nothing more, he must make ado for the Consul Maxentius, who is coming hither to make final preparations for a campaign against the Parthians. The money there is in the preparations the citizens of Antioch know from experience; so they have had permission to join the prefect in the honors intended for the great man. A month ago heralds went to the four quarters to proclaim the opening of the Circus for the celebration. The name of the prefect would be of itself good guarantee of variety and magnificence, particularly throughout the East; but when to his promises Antioch joins hers, all the islands and the cities by the sea stand a.s.sured of the extraordinary, and will be here in person or by their most famous professionals. The fees offered are royal.”
”And the Circus--I have heard it is second only to the Maximus.”
”At Rome, you mean. Well, ours seats two hundred thousand people, yours seats seventy-five thousand more; yours is of marble, so is ours; in arrangement they are exactly the same.”
”Are the rules the same?”
Malluch smiled.
”If Antioch dared be original, son of Arrius, Rome would not be the mistress she is. The laws of the Circus Maximus govern except in one particular: there but four chariots may start at once, here all start without reference to number.”
”That is the practise of the Greeks,” said Ben-Hur.
”Yes, Antioch is more Greek than Roman.”
”So then, Malluch, I may choose my own chariot?”
”Your own chariot and horses. There is no restriction upon either.”
While replying, Malluch observed the thoughtful look on Ben-Hur's face give place to one of satisfaction.