"I am weak-hearted." "I take it for a sign," the other answered, gravely.

"It is written, 'Thy spirit shall be as the candle of the Lord,' and, again, 'Thou shall hearken to the cry of anguish.'" In a few moments Antipater returned.
"I have summoned the carnifex," said he, bolting the door and resuming his place at the table.

"I was saying to you, good Manius, that my friend here, Ben Joreb, would think it a great mercy to remove him." "A great mercy!" Ben Joreb answered; "a man's mercy to him; a God's mercy to his people." "And what think you ?" said Antipater, turning to Manius.
"I agree; 'twould be a mercy, but a risky enterprise," said the Roman.
"I would risk my head to save him a day of pain," said the treacherous son of Herod.

"You love him not as I do or you would brave all to end his misery." There was now half a moment filled with a long, piercing cry from beyond the walls of the palace until Antipater spoke, a tiger look in his face again.

"Put the lance into him, my good carnifex," he growled, striking with clinched fist.