"Here in the East, I thought they aspired to nothing better than the two; but they are ambitious, and play with royal fours.

Let us study their performance." Eight of the fours passed the stand, some walking, others on the trot, and all unexceptionably handled; then the ninth one came on the gallop.

Ben-Hur burst into exclamation.
"I have been in the stables of the emperor, Malluch, but, by our father Abraham of blessed memory! I never saw the like of these." The last four was then sweeping past.

All at once they fell into confusion.

Some one on the stand uttered a sharp cry.
Ben-Hur turned, and saw an old man half-risen from an upper seat, his hands clenched and raised, his eyes fiercely bright, his long white beard fairly quivering.