ben-hur-第35部分

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proofs　could　have　been　his　father's　slave？　If　so；　to　what　class　had　he　belonged？　If　a　Jew；　was　he　the　son　of　a　servant？　Or　was　he　a　debtor　or　a　debtor's　son？　Or　had　he　been　sentenced　and　sold　for　theft？　These　thoughts；　as　they　passed；　in　nowise　disturbed　the　growing　respect　for　the　merchant　of　which　he　was　each　instant　more　and　more　conscious。　A　peculiarity　of　our　admiration　for　another　is　that　it　is　always　looking　for　circumstances　to　justify　itself。

At　length　a　man　approached　and　spoke　to　him。

〃What　would　you　have？〃

〃I　would　see　Simonides；　the　merchant。〃

〃Will　you　come　this　way？〃

By　a　number　of　paths　left　in　the　stowage；　they　finally　came　to　a　flight　of　steps；　ascending　which；　he　found　himself　on　the　roof　of　the　depot；　and　in　front　of　a　structure　which　cannot　be　better　described　than　as　a　lesser　stone　house　built　upon　another；　invisible　from　the　landing　below；　and　out　west　of　the　bridge　under　the　open　sky。　The　roof；　hemmed　in　by　a　low　wall；　seemed　like　a　terrace；　which；　to　his　astonishment；　was　brilliant　with　flowers；　in　the　rich　surrounding；　the　house　sat　squat；　a　plain　square　block；　unbroken　except　by　a　doorway　in　front。　A　dustless　path　led　to　the　door；　through　a　bordering　of　shrubs　of　Persian　rose　in　perfect　bloom。　Breathing　a　sweet　attar…perfume；　he　followed　the　guide。

At　the　end　of　a　darkened　passage　within；　they　stopped　before　a　curtain　half　parted。　The　man　called　out；

〃A　stranger　to　see　the　master。〃

A　clear　voice　replied；　〃In　God's　name；　let　him　enter。〃

A　Roman　might　have　called　the　apartment　into　which　the　visitor　was　ushered　his　atrium。　The　walls　were　paneled；　each　panel　was　comparted　like　a　modern　office…desk；　and　each　compartment　crowded　with　labelled　folios　all　filemot　with　age　and　use。　Between　the　panels；　and　above　and　below　them；　were　borders　of　wood　once　white；　now　tinted　like　cream；　and　carved　with　marvellous　intricacy　of　design。　Above　a　cornice　of　gilded　balls；　the　ceiling　rose　in　pavilion　style　until　it　broke　into　a　shallow　dome　set　with　hundreds　of　panes　of　violet　mica；　permitting　a　flood　of　light　deliciously　reposeful。　The　floor　was　carpeted　with　gray　rugs　so　thick　that　an　invading　foot　fell　half　buried　and　soundless。

In　the　midlight　of　the　room　were　two　personsa　man　resting　in　a　chair　high…backed；　broad…armed；　and　lined　with　pliant　cushions；　and　at　his　left；　leaning　against　the　back　of　the　chair；　a　girl　well　forward　into　womanhood。　At　sight　of　them　Ben…Hur　felt　the　blood　redden　his　forehead；　bowing；　as　much　to　recover　himself　as　in　respect；　he　lost　the　lifting　of　the　hands；　and　the　shiver　and　shrink　with　which　the　sitter　caught　sight　of　himan　emotion　as　swift　to　go　as　it　had　been　to　come。　When　he　raised　his　eyes　the　two　were　in　the　same　position；　except　the　girl's　hand　had　fallen　and　was　resting　lightly　upon　the　elder's　shoulder；　both　of　them　were　regarding　him　fixedly。

〃If　you　are　Simonides；　the　merchant；　and　a　Jew〃Ben…Hur　stopped　an　instant〃then　the　peace　of　the　God　of　our　father　Abraham　upon　you　andyours。〃

The　last　word　was　addressed　to　the　girl。

〃I　am　the　Simonides　of　whom　you　speak；　by　birthright　a　Jew；〃　the　man　made　answer；　in　a　voice　singularly　clear。　〃I　am　Simonides；　and　a　Jew；　and　I　return　you　your　salutation；　with　prayer　to　know　who　calls　upon　me。〃

Ben…Hur　looked　as　he　listened；　and　where　the　figure　of　the　man　should　have　been　in　healthful　roundness；　there　was　only　a　formless　heap　sunk　in　the　depths　of　the　cushions；　and　covered　by　a　quilted　robe　of　sombre　silk。　Over　the　heap　shone　a　head　royally　proportionedthe　ideal　head　of　a　statesman　and　conquerora　head　broad　of　base　and　domelike　in　front；　such　as　Angelo　would　have　modelled　for　Caesar。　White　hair　dropped　in　thin　locks　over　the　white　brows；　deepening　the　blackness　of　the　eyes　shining　through　them　like　sullen　lights。　The　face　was　bloodless；　and　much　puffed　with　folds；　especially　under　the　chin。　In　other　words；　the　head　and　face　were　those　of　a　man　who　might　move　the　world　more　readily　than　the　world　could　move　hima　man　to　be　twice　twelve　times　tortured　into　the　shapeless　cripple　he　was；　without　a　groan；　much　less　a　confession；　a　man　to　yield　his　life；　but　never　a　purpose　or　a　point；　a　man　born　in　armor；　and　assailable　only　through　his　loves。　To　him　Ben…Hur　stretched　his　hands；　open　and　palm　up；　as　he　would　offer　peace　at　the　same　time　he　asked　it。

〃I　am　Judah；　son　of　Ithamar；　late　head　of　the　House　of　Hur；　and　a　prince　of　Jerusalem。〃

The　merchant's　right　hand　lay　outside　the　robea　long；　thin　hand；　articulate　to　deformity　with　suffering。　It　closed　tightly；　otherwise　there　was　not　the　slightest　expression　of　feeling　of　any　kind　on　his　part；　nothing　to　warrant　an　inference　of　surprise　or　interest；　nothing　but　this　calm　answer；

〃The　princes　of　Jerusalem；　of　the　pure　blood；　are　always　welcome　in　my　house；　you　are　welcome。　Give　the　young　man　a　seat；　Esther。〃

The　girl　took　an　ottoman　near　by；　and　carried　it　to　Ben…Hur。　As　she　arose　from　placing　the　seat；　their　eyes　met。

〃The　peace　of　our　Lord　with　you；〃　she　said；　modestly。　〃Be　seated　and　at　rest。〃

When　she　resumed　her　place　by　the　chair；　she　had　not　divined　his　purpose。　The　powers　of　woman　go　not　so　far：　if　the　matter　is　of　finer　feeling；　such　as　pity；　mercy；　sympathy；　that　she　detects；　and　therein　is　a　difference　between　her　and　man　which　will　endure　as　long　as　she　remains；　by　nature；　alive　to　such　feelings。　She　was　simply　sure　he　brought　some　wound　of　life　for　healing。

Ben…Hur　did　not　take　the　offered　seat；　but　said；　deferentially；　〃I　pray　the　good　master　Simonides　that　he　will　not　hold　me　an　intruder。　Coming　up　the　river　yesterday；　I　heard　he　knew　my　father。〃

〃I　knew　the　Prince　Hur。　We　were　associated　in　some　enterprises　lawful　to　merchants　who　find　profit　in　lands　beyond　the　sea　and　the　desert。　But　sit；　I　pray　youand；　Esther；　some　wine　for　the　young　man。　Nehemiah　speaks　of　a　son　of　Hur　who　once　ruled　the　half　part　of　Jerusalem；　an　old　house；　very　old；　by　the　faith！　In　the　days　of　Moses　and　Joshua　even　some　of　them　found　favor　in　the　sight　of　the　Lord；　and　divided　honors　with　those　princes　among　men。　It　can　hardly　be　that　their　descendant；　lineally　come　to　us；　will　refuse　a　cup　of　wine…fat　of　the　genuine　vine　of　Sorek；　grown　on　the　south　hill…sides　of　Hebron。〃

By　the　time　of　the　conclusion　of　this　speech；　Esther　was　before　Ben…Hur　with　a　silver　cup　filled　from　a　vase　upon　a　table　a　little　removed　from　the　chair。　She　offered　the　drink　with　downcast　face。　He　touched　her　hand　gently　to　put　it　away。　Again　their　eyes　met；　whereat　he　noticed　that　she　was　small；　not　nearly　to　his　shoulder　in　height；　but　very　graceful；　and　fair　and　sweet　of　face；　with　eyes　black　and　inexpressibly　soft。　She　is　kind　and　pretty；　he　thought；　and　looks　as　Tirzah　would　were　she　living。　Poor　Tirzah！　Then　he　said　aloud；

〃No；　thy　fatherif　he　is　thy　father？〃he　paused。

〃I　am　Esther；　the　daughter　of　Simonides；〃　she　said；　with　dignity。

〃Then；　fair　Esther；　thy　father；　when　he　has　heard　my　further　speech；　will　not　think　worse　of　me　if　yet　I　am　slow　to　take　his　wine　of　famous　extract；　nor　less　I　hope　not　to　lose　grace　in　thy　sight。　Stand　thou　here　with　me　a　moment！〃

Both　of　them；　as　in　common　cause；　turned　to　the　merchant。　〃Simonides！〃　he　said；　firmly；　〃my　father；　at　his　death；　had　a　trusted　servant　of　thy　name；　and　it　has　been　told　me　that　thou　art　the　man！〃

There　was　a　sudden　start　of　the　wrenched　limbs　under　the　robe；　and　the　thin　hand　clenched。

〃Esther；　Esther！〃　the　man　called；　sternly；　〃here；　not　there；　as　thou　art　thy　mother's　child　and　minehere；　not　there；　I　say！〃

The　girl　looked　once　from　father　to　visitor；　then　she　replaced　the　cup　upon　the　table；　and　went　dutifully　to　the　chair。　Her　countenance　sufficiently　expressed　her　wonder　and　alarm。

Simonides　lifted　his　left　hand；　and　gave　it　into　hers；　lying　lovingly　upon　his　shoulder；　and　said；　dispassionately；　〃I　have　grown　old　in　dealing　with　menold　before　my　time。　If　he　who　told　thee　that　whereof　thou　speakest　was　a　friend　acquainted　with　my　history；　and　spoke　of　it　not　harshly；　he　must　have　persuaded　thee　that　I　could　not　be　else　than　a　man　distrustful　of　my　kind。　The　God　of　Israel　help　him　who；　at　the　end　of　life；　is　constrained　to　acknowledge　so　much！　My　loves　are　few；　but　they　are。　One　of　them　is　a　soul　which〃he　carried　the　hand　holding　his　to　his　lips；　in　manner　unmistakable〃a　soul　which　to　this　time　has　been　unselfishly　mine；　and　such　sweet　comfort　that；　were　it　taken　from　me；　I　would　die。〃

Esther's　head　drooped　until　her　cheek　touched　his。

〃The　other　love　is　but　a　memory；　of　which　I　will　say　further　that；　like　a　benison　of　the　Lord；　it　hath　a　compass　to　contain　a　whole　family；　if　only〃his　voice　lowered　and　trembled〃if　only　I　knew　where　they　were。〃

Ben…Hur's　face　suffused；　and；　advancing　a　step；　he　cried；　impulsively；　〃My　mother　and　sister！　Oh；　it　is　of　them　you　speak！〃

Esther；　as　if　spoken　to；　raised　her　head；　but　Simonides　returned　to　his　calm；　and　answered；　coldly；　〃Hear　me　to　the　end。　Because　I　am　that　I　am；　and　because　of　the　loves　of　which　I　have　spoken；　before　I　make　return　to　thy　demand　touching　my　relations　to　the　Prince　Hur；　and　as　something　which　of　right　should　come　first；　do　thou　show　me　proofs　of　who　thou　art。　Is　thy　witness　in　writing？　Or　cometh　it　in　person？〃

The　demand　was　plain；　and　the　right　of　it　indisputable。　Ben…Hur　blushed；　clasped　his　hands；　stammered；　and　turned　away　at　loss。　Simonides　pressed　him。

〃The　proofs；　the　proofs；　I　say！　Set　them　before　melay　them　in　my　hands！〃

Yet　Ben…Hur　had　no　answer。　He　had　not　anticipated　the　requirement；　and；　now　that　it　was　made；　to　him　as　never　before　came　the　awful　fact　that　the　three　years　in　the　galley　had　carried　away　all　the　proofs　of　his　identity；　mother　and　sister　gone；　he　did　not　live　in　the　knowledge　of　any　human　being。　Many　there　were　acquainted　with　him；　but　that　was　all。　Had　Quintus　Arrius　been　present；　what　could　he　have　said　more　than　where　he　found　him；　and　that　he　believed　the　pretender　to　be　the　son　of　Hur？　But；　as　will　presently　appear　in　full；　the　brave　Roman　sailor　was　dead。　Judah　had　felt　the　loneliness　before；　to　the　core　of　life　the　sense　struck　him　now。　He　stood；　hands　clasped；　face　averted；　in　stupefaction。　Simonides　respected　his　suffering；　and　waited　in　silence。

〃Master　Simonides；〃　he　said；　at