"How, Marsyas? Harkened unto the heretics?"
"I have heard their creed," he persisted in his calm way. "It differs little from the teachings of mine own order, the Essenes, except that they believe in the divinity of Jesus of Nazareth and the receptiveness of the Gentile."
"And thou callest that a little difference?"
"Not so great that one going astray after the Nazarenes could not be satisfied with the Essenes, if he were obliged to give up his apostasy. I seek a remedy."
"Moses supplied the remedy," Saul averred with meaning.
"The Essenes are not inflicters of punishment," was the even reply.
The Pharisee made a conciliatory gesture. "It is then only a discussion of the practices of my class and of thine."
But Marsyas was not satisfied.
"Thou knowest Stephen?" he asked after a pause.
"Stephen of Galilee? Only by report."