Then a rattle of bolts and the door swung open.
"Now," Antipater whispered, "are you of the same mind ?" "I am." "And again you swear secrecy ?" "I do." Without more delay they entered a room walled with white marble and lighted by candles.

A bearded Jew, in a scarlet cloak embroidered with gold, rose to greet them.
"To John ben Joreb I present the noble Manius," said Antipater.
"Blessings of the one God be upon thee," said Ben Joreb, bowing low.
"And the favor of many gods on thee," said the assessor.

"From Jerusalem ?" "Nay, from Damascus." Antipater stirred the fire in iron braziers on either side of the room, and then bade them recline beside him at a small table whereon a supper waited.
"Ben Joreb has good news of our plan," said he, turning to Manius.
"It prospers," said the priest.

"Our council is now in thirty cities." "And the king is better," said Manius.

"He will not soon perish of infirmity." "But you tell me that my father suffers ?" Antipater started nervously.