At length the cause came on, and after some few minutes of talk was adjourned, being but a petty matter.

That same evening Ithiel was informed by an intermediary that if his Order would pay a certain large sum of money to Albinus, nothing more would be heard of the question.

This the Essenes refused to do, as it was against their principles, saying that they demanded nothing but justice, which they were not prepared to buy.

So they spoke, being ignorant that one of their neophytes, Caleb, had in fact aimed the fatal arrow.
Then Albinus, wearying of the business and finding that there was no profit to be made out of the Essenes, commanded them to be gone, saying that he would send an officer to make inquiry on the spot.
Another two months went by, and at length this officer arrived, attended by an escort of twenty soldiers.
As it chanced, on a certain morning in the winter season, Miriam with Nehushta was walking on the Jericho road, when suddenly they saw approaching towards them this little body of armed men.

Perceiving that they were Romans, they turned out of the path to hide themselves among the thorns of the desert.