He looks down in disgust and fear, and sees a great squirming body, a strangely twofold face, and two immense eyes so queerly diverse from one another that, as it were, not one being but a number of them clung to his hands and feet.

He heard a broken, burning whisper: "O wise and noble...

wise and noble." And with such a truly satanic joy did that wild face blaze, that, with a cry, Pilate kicked him away, and Judas fell backwards.

And there he lay upon the stone flags like an overthrown demon, still stretching out his hand to the departing Pilate, and crying as one passionately enamoured: "O wise, O wise and noble...." Then he gathered himself up with agility, and ran away followed by the laughter of the soldiery.

Evidently there was yet hope.