Pearl-Maiden: A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem

  CHAPTER X

  BENONI

  A while later Caleb, no longer a solitary wanderer with only his feetto carry him, his staff to protect him, and a wallet to supply him withfood, but a young and gallant gentleman, well-armed, clad in furs and apurple cloak, accompanied by servants and riding a splendid horse, oncemore passed the walls of Jerusalem. On the rising ground beyond theDamascus gate he halted and looked back at the glorious city with hercrowded streets, her mighty towers, her luxurious palaces, and herworld-famed temple that dominated all, which from here seemed as amountain covered with snow and crowned with glittering gold.

  "I will rule there when the Romans have been driven out," he said tohimself, for already Caleb had grown very ambitious. Indeed, the wealthand the place that had come to him so suddenly, with which many menwould have been satisfied, did but serve to increase his appetitefor power, fame, and all good things. To him this money was but astepping-stone to greater fortunes.

  Caleb was journeying to Tyre to take possession of his house there,which the Roman commander of the district had been bidden to hand overto him. Also he had another object. At Tyre dwelt the old Jew, Benoni,who was Miriam's grandfather, as he had discovered years before; forwhen they were still children together she had told him all her story.This Benoni, for reasons of his own, he desired to see.