The diplomatic play between Dion and Deborah was like the sword play of two expert fencers whose blades cling together. Glaucon unwittingly relieved the tension by inquiring:
"As a soldier, do you advise my leaving the city, Captain Dion?"
"I as a soldier, or you as a soldier? Which do you mean?" laughed the Captain.
"I am not a soldier," said Glaucon. "My position of influence is too great for me to take such risks."
"If you were a soldier," said Dion, "I would advise you to make your house a castle, and die behind your parapets. But no, I think that one with so many other interests had better take refuge in the citadel or at Antioch. The fact is, our forces have been utterly overthrown. The Jews are in pursuit through the plain. Judas, I think, camped in our camps at Lydda last night. But he will return; and if he strikes us here we have not sufficient soldiers to guard the entire walls. We can hold no more than the citadel."
"Then I will gather up all I can, and to-morrow have it removed to the Tower of David," replied the frightened man.
"I commend your discretion," said the soldier, as Glaucon, summoning his steward, left the apartment.