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it did not strike home. Well, so much for international intrigue. Why did Pilate even bring up the man’s name? “With respect for you and your office, no one can say what the circumstances were before our king took his new bride. I never served the king’s half brother so I cannot say whether this, who did you say…Archelaus?…Certainly not him, I should think. I have no knowledge of who may have come or gone to Caesarea Philippi.”
    “Of course not. Very well. I only ask because the Prefect tells me he heard the man in question may be in Jerusalem now and the logical conclusion would be that he would be here with his uncle and if so, he suggested, it could help solve this mystery.”
    “Could it indeed? I am afraid the Prefect is mistaken. He is not one of us, and certainly not native to the area, so he could not know. It is, after all, my responsibility to know who comes and goes and when they do so in the palace. There is no Archelaus here, prince or otherwise, not now, not ever.”
    “Yes, I see. Well then, is it remotely possible this girl met her end because she knew of the king and queen’s illicit liaison and possession of this knowledge, if shared with the wrong people, could someday embarrass the king?”
    “Surely you are not implying the king had anything to do with—”
    “I am only speculating, Steward.”
    “Of course. I suppose anything is possible, but who would credit the gossip of a servant girl?”
    “Who indeed? But that works both ways, does it not?”
    “Sir?”
    “If she did in fact possess this sordid knowledge and were killed because of it, who, as you indicated in your own reaction to her death, would care? And then there would be an end of even the possibility of a threat to the throne.”
    “I see. Put that way, it is possible. That assumes there was such knowledge to be had and I do not think there was.”
    “Really? Very well, that brings us back to the royal couple and their marriage. Steward, I believe you are not a fool. Therefore, do not assume others are. It takes no perceptive skills to put the truth together in the matter of the king and queen and how they came to be married.”
    “Truth is sometimes difficult to discern.”
    “Nonsense. Balaam’s ass discerned the truth. Any person with his eyes open and his ears clear of wax can tell you the truth of the matter. No, Steward, truth is not difficult to discern. Falsehood, on the other hand, can be very confusing. So why are you attempting to confuse me?”
    “Rabban,” Chuzas fluttered, “I am not…you do not think that I—”
    “Enough. You have things to sort, it appears. Details you wish to present to me in a different light perhaps, after you have thought them through. I will end this interview and ask you to return here tomorrow. In the meantime, please send to me at intervals any and all of the serving staff, musicians, and so on, who might have been party to the events of last night beginning with the dining. I wish particularly to speak with anyone who may have ended their evening in this bath. When I am finished with them I will ask you to introduce me to the king, the queen, the Princess Salome, this Menahem person thought to be the king’s foster brother, and anyone else staying in the palace as the king’s guest.”
    “Yes, sir. Will there be anything else?”
    “No…yes, I want the dead girl’s things gathered together and placed in safekeeping until I have a chance to go through them.”
    “That may be difficult. They will have been rifled and expropriated by the other servants by now.”
    “Then you will take one or more of the palace guards and retrieve all of them. I must have everything as it was if I am to unravel this snarl.”
    Gamaliel sent Chuzas away and turned back to the physician.
    “What have you for me so far, Loukas?”
    “Ah, it is most interesting. Tell me, Honorable Sir, what is the left hand used for?”
    “The left hand? It is the dirty hand, of course. It is used