"Did I not tell ye from the beginning that it would be so?" he thought he heard himself saying. "Did I not tell ye so? Ye would not believe. But ye have set at naught all my counsel and would none of my reproof. I also will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when your fear cometh." Oh, how delicious would be the return of that fawning, cringing people! What sacrifices and oblations he would exact; what tyrannies he would enact to punish them for daring to oppose their will to that of Caiaphas! It was a consoling dream of vengeance and triumph and requital. The great priest leaned his head against the wall and smiled to himself a cold, triumphant smile that had a diabolical imprint upon it.
The door was flung open and a servant announced Nicodemus.
"Methinks he takes too much upon himself in seeking me thus early, and all because last night I walked some paces with him," said Caiaphas to himself; but, when Nicodemus entered, his face assumed a pleasanter expression.
"Welcome, Nicodemus. Hast thou forgiven me?"
"Forgiven thee?" The simple Nicodemus regarded the High Priest with wonder.
With that fascinating Jewish familiarity that had bewitched so many, Caiaphas rose from his couch and placed his hand on Nicodemus's shoulder.
"Now, friend Nicodemus, I will tell thee the truth, but thou must not be angry. Last night I fooled thee; I hoped to catch the Messiah, as ye call Him. Ha! ha! The Messiah indeed! And I
