He found that she was dead, but her son lived, a man of kind
heart and given to hospitality, who had heard his story and sheltered
him for his mother's sake. When his hand was healed and he procured some
good clothes and a little money from his friend, without saying anything
of his purpose, Caleb attended the court of Gessius Florus, the Roman
procurator, at his palace, seeking an opportunity to speak with him.
Thrice did he wait thus for hours at a time, on each occasion to be
driven away at last by the guards. On his fourth visit he was more
fortunate, for Florus, who had noted him before, asked why he stood
there so patiently. An officer replied that the man had a petition to
make.
"Let me hear it then," said the governor. "I sit in this place to
administer justice by the grace and in the name of Caesar."
Accordingly, Caleb was summoned and found himself in the presence of a
small, dark-eyed, beetle-browed Roman with cropped hair, who looked what
he was--one of the most evil rulers that ever held power in Judaea.
"What do you seek, Jew?" he asked in a harsh voice.
"What I am assured I shall find at your hands, O most noble Florus,
justice against the Jews--pure justice"; words at which the courtiers
and guards tittered, and even Florus smiled.
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