Then we are placed in the dreamy village of Bethany.

We hear of its elders, its diseases, its flowers, its herbs and gums, of the insects which may help medicine-- There is a spider here Weaves no web, watches on the ledge of tombs, Sprinkled with mottles on an ash-grey back; and then, how the countryside is all on fire with news of Vespasian marching into Judaea.

So we have the place, the village, the hills, the animals, and the time, all clear, and half of the character of Karshish.
The inner character of the man emerges as clearly when he comes to deal with Lazarus.

This is not a case of the body, he thinks, but of the soul.

"The Syrian," he tells his master, "has had catalepsy, and a learned leech of his nation, slain soon afterwards, healed him and brought him back to life after three days.