The Master and Margarita. Here the guest looked at the procurator's cheek with that peculiar stare of his

you any concern? "

Here the guest looked at the procurator's cheek with that peculiar stare of his. But the procurator was gazing off into the distance with a bored expression, frowning with distaste and contemplating that part of the city which lay at his feet and was fading into the dusk. The guest's stare also faded, and his eyelids drooped.

" One must assume that Bar is now as harmless as a lamb, " began the guest, wrinkles appearing on his round face. " It's awkward for him to rebel now."

" Because he's too famous? " asked Pilate with a laugh.

" As always, the Procurator shows a subtle grasp of the issue! "

" But, in any case, " the procurator noted with concern, raising a long, slender finger that bore a ring with a black stone, " it will be necessary to..."

" Oh, the Procurator can rest assured that so long as I am in Judea, Bar will not take a step without me being at his heels."

" Now I am calm, as, by the way, I always am when you are here."

" The Procurator is too kindl"

" And now please tell me about the execution, " said the procurator.

" What is it precisely that interests the Procurator? "

" Were there no attempts by the crowd to express their outrage? That's the main thing, of course."

" None, " replied the guest.

" Very good. Did you yourself establish that death had occurred? "

" The Procurator can be sure ofthat."

" And tell me... were they given a drink before being hanged on the posts? "

" Yes. But he, " here the guest closed his eyes, " refused to drink anything."

" Whom do you mean? " asked Pilate.

" Forgive me, Hegemonl" exclaimed the guest. " Did I not give his name? Ha-Notsri."

" Madman! " said Pilate, grimacing for some reason. A vein twitched under his left eye. " Dying from exposure to the sun! Why refuse what is allowed by the law? How did he express his refusal? "

" He said, " replied the guest, again closing his eyes, " that he was grateful and cast no blame for the taking of his life."

" On whom? " asked Pilate in a hollow voice.

" That he did not say, Hegemon."

" Did he try to preach anything in front of the soldiers? "

" No, Hegemon, he was not talkative on this occasion. The only thing he said was that he considered cowardice one of the worst of all human vices."

" What made him say that? " the guest heard a suddenly cracked voice say.

How the Procurator Tried to Save Judas of Kerioth 261