I— ”
“Dost thou admit thy guilt?” asked Arrius, sternly.
The change that came upon Ben-Hur was wonderful to see, it was so instant and extreme.
The voice sharpened; the hands arose tight-clenched; every fibre thrilled; his eyes inflamed.
“Thou hast heard of the God of my fathers,” he said; “of the infinite Jehovah.
By his truth and almightiness, and by the love with which he hath followed Israel from the beginning, I swear I am innocent!”
The tribune was much moved.
“O noble Roman!” continued Ben-Hur, “give me a little faith, and, into my darkness, deeper darkening every day, send a light!”
Arrius turned away, and walked the deck.
“Didst thou not have a trial?” he asked, stopping suddenly.
“No!”
The Roman raised his head, surprised.
“No trial— no witnesses!
Who passed judgment upon thee?”
Romans, it should be remembered, were at no time such lovers of the law and its forms as in the ages of their decay.
“They bound me with cords, and dragged me to a vault in the Tower.
I saw no one.
No one spoke to me.
Next day soldiers took me to the seaside.
I have been a galley-slave ever since.”
“What couldst thou have proven?”
“I was a boy, too young to be a conspirator.
Gratus was a stranger to me.
If I had meant to kill him, that was not the time or the place.
He was riding in the midst of a legion, and it was broad day.
I could not have escaped.
I was of a class most friendly to Rome.
My father had been distinguished for his services to the emperor.
We had a great estate to lose.
Ruin was certain to myself, my mother, my sister.
I had no cause for malice, while every consideration— property, family, life, conscience, the Law— to a son of Israel as the breath of his nostrils— would have stayed my hand, though the foul intent had been ever so strong.
I was not mad.
Death was preferable to shame; and, believe me, I pray, it is so yet.”
“Who was with thee when the blow was struck?”
“I was on the house-top— my father’s house.
Tirzah was with me— at my side— the soul of gentleness.
Together we leaned over the parapet to see the legion pass.
A tile gave way under my hand, and fell upon Gratus.
I thought I had killed him.
Ah, what horror I felt!”
“Where was thy mother?”
“In her chamber below.”
“What became of her?”
Ben-Hur clenched his hands, and drew a breath like a gasp.
“I do not know.
I saw them drag her away— that is all I know.
Out of the house they drove every living thing, even the dumb cattle, and they sealed the gates. The purpose was that she should not return.
I, too, ask for her.
Oh for one word! She, at least, was innocent.
I can forgive— but I pray thy pardon, noble tribune!