"
"And if I refuse these things?" asked Benoni.
"Then you see the lady Miriam for the first and last time," answered
the President boldly, while the others nodded approval. "We are men
of peace, but, merchant, you must not, therefore, think us men without
power. We must part with the lady Miriam, who to every one of us is as
a daughter, because the unbreakable rule of our order ordains that she,
who is now a woman grown, can no longer remain among us. But wherever
she dwells, to the last day of her life our love shall go with her
and the whole strength of our Order shall protect her. If any harm is
attempted to her, we shall be swift to hear and swifter to avenge. If
you refuse our conditions, she will vanish from your sight, and then,
merchant, go, search the world, the coasts of Syria, the banks of Egypt,
and the cities of Italy--and find her if you can. We have spoken."
Benoni stroked his white beard before he answered.
"You talk proudly," he said. "Did I shut my eyes I might fancy that this
voice was the voice of a Roman procurator speaking the decrees of Caesar.
Still, I am ready to believe that what you promise you can perform,
since I for one am sure that you Essenes are not mere harmless heretics
who worship angels and demons, see visions, prophesy things to come by
the help of your familiars, and adore the sun in huts upon the desert.
Pages:
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191