"Betrayal of self is at times as base as the betrayal of a tribe." "Thanks, thanks, good sheik!" Ben-Hur exclaimed.
"Never answer became thee better.

Now I know thou cost but seek assurance to justify the trust I have come to ask, and that such assurance is of more interest to thee than the affairs of my poor life." The sheik in his turn bowed, and Ben-Hur hastened to pursue his advantage.
"So it please thee then," he said, "first, I am not a Roman, as the name given thee as mine implieth." Ilderim clasped the beard overflowing his breast, and gazed at the speaker with eyes faintly twinkling through the shade of the heavy close-drawn brows.
"In the next place," Ben-Hur continued, "I am an Israelite of the tribe of Judah." The sheik raised his brows a little.
"Nor that merely.

Sheik, I am a Jew with a grievance against Rome compared with which thine is not more than a child's trouble." The old man combed his beard with nervous haste, and let fall his brows until even the twinkle of the eyes went out.
"Still further: I swear to thee, Sheik Ilderim--I swear by the covenant the Lord made with my fathers--so thou but give me the revenge I seek, the money and the glory of the race shall be thine." Ilderim's brows relaxed; his head arose; his face began to beam; and it was almost possible to see the satisfaction taking possession of him.
"Enough!" he said.

"If at the roots of thy tongue there is a lie in coil, Solomon himself had not been safe against thee.

That thou art not a Roman--that as a Jew thou hast a grievance against Rome, and revenge to compass, I believe; and on that score enough.