He knows the broad sea as one may know his own vineyard." "Bring him to me." When Tepas came, Antipater took him aside and spread before him a chart of the vast, purple sea which beat upon the shores of Hellas.

He put his finger on a little spot some leagues from the coast of Africa.
"Know you the Isle of Doom ?" said he.
"Ay, 'tis a lonely heap of rocks." "A roost of sea-birds," said the prince of Judea.

"Know you who am I ?" "You are the son of Herod." "And I go to be king of the Jews." Antipater took from a bag many pieces of gold and heaped them on the chart above the Isle of Doom.
"Would you earn this money, and much more ?" he whispered.
"If you will but show me how," said Tepas, the fire of greed now burning in his heart.
"Sail close to the Isle of Doom.

There your trireme shall be leaking and you shall desert her and seek refuge on the isle and wait for me.
You shall have ample store of provisions, and this treasure, and when I come you shall have, also, three talents more and a home in Jerusalem, and my favor as long as you live." "But how long must I wait ?" "Not beyond, the ides of January, good man." "Then I agree," said Tepas.
So was it with an evil man those days.

If he were armed with power he halted not between his plan and his purpose.