Ben Hur by Lew Wallace

claimed all their minds.
    At the edge of the rug, to which they advanced uninvited, they
prostrated themselves. The king touched a bell. An attendant
came in, and placed three stools before the throne.
    "Seat yourselves," said the monarch, graciously.
    "From the North Gate," he continued, when they were at rest,
"I had this afternoon report of the arrival of three strangers,
curiously mounted, and appearing as if from far countries. Are you
the men?"
    The Egyptian took the sign from the Greek and the Hindoo,
and answered, with the profoundest salaam, "Were we other
than we are, the mighty Herod, whose fame is as incense to the
whole world, would not have sent for us. We may not doubt that
we are the strangers."
    Herod acknowledged the speech with a wave of the hand.
    "Who are you? Whence do you come?" he asked, adding significantly,
"Let each speak for himself."
    In turn they gave him account, referring simply to the cities and
lands of their birth, and the routes by which they came to Jerusalem.
Somewhat disappointed, Herod plied them more directly.
    "What was the question you put to the officer at the gate?"
    "We asked him, Where is he that is born King of the Jews."
    "I see now why the people were so curious. You excite me no less.
Is there another King of the Jews?"
    The Egyptian did not blanch.
    "There is one newly born."
    An expression of pain knit the dark face of the monarch, as if
his mind were swept by a harrowing recollection.
    "Not to me, not to me!" he exclaimed.
    Possibly the accusing images of his murdered children flitted
before him; recovering from the emotion, whatever it was,
he asked, steadily, "Where is the new king?"
    "That, O king, is what we would ask."
    "You bring me a wonder—a riddle surpassing any of Solomon's,"
the inquisitor said next. "As you see, I am in the time of life when
curiosity is as ungovernable as it was in childhood, when to trifle
with it is cruelty. Tell me further, and I will honor you as kings
honor each other. Give me all you know about the newly born, and I
will join you in the search for him; and when we have found him,
I will do what you wish; I will bring him to Jerusalem, and train
him in kingcraft; I will use my grace with Caesar for his promotion
and glory. Jealousy shall not come between us, so I swear. But tell
me first how, so widely separated by seas and deserts, you all came
to hear of him."
    "I will tell you truly, O king."
    "Speak on," said Herod.
    Balthasar raised himself erect, and said, solemnly,
    "There is an Almighty God."
    Herod was visibly startled.
    "He bade us come hither, promising that we should find the Redeemer
of the World; that we should see and worship him, and bear witness
that he was come; and, as a sign, we were each given to see a star.
His Spirit stayed with us. O king, his Spirit is with us now!"
    An overpowering feeling seized the three. The Greek with difficulty
restrained an outcry. Herod's gaze darted quickly from one to the other;
he was more suspicious and dissatisfied than before.
    "You are mocking me," he said. "If not, tell me more. What is to
follow the coming of the new king?"
    "The salvation of men."
    "From what?"
    "Their wickedness."
    "How?"
    "By the divine agencies—Faith, Love, and Good Works."
    "Then"—Herod paused, and from his look no man could have said
with what feeling he continued—"you are the heralds of the Christ.
Is that all?"
    Balthasar bowed low.
    "We are your servants, O king."
    The monarch touched a bell, and the attendant appeared.
    "Bring the gifts," the master said.
    The attendant went out, but in a little while returned, and,
kneeling before the guests, gave to each one an outer robe or
mantle of scarlet and blue, and a girdle of gold. They acknowledged
the honors with Eastern prostrations.
    "A word further," said Herod, when the ceremony was ended. "To the
officer of the gate, and but now to me, you spoke of seeing a star
in the east."
    "Yes," said Balthasar, "his star, the star of the newly born."
    "What