That moment a stranger made his appearance, coming, apparently, from the city.
"I am looking for Sheik Ilderim, surnamed the Generous," the stranger said.
His language and attire bespoke him a Roman.
What he could not read, he yet could speak; so the old Arab answered, with dignity, "I am Sheik Ilderim." The man's eyes fell; he raised them again, and said, with forced composure, "I heard you had need of a driver for the games." Ilderim's lip under the white mustache curled contemptuously.
"Go thy way," he said.

"I have a driver." He turned to ride away, but the man, lingering, spoke again.
"Sheik, I am a lover of horses, and they say you have the most beautiful in the world." The old man was touched; he drew rein, as if on the point of yielding to the flattery, but finally replied, "Not to-day, not to-day; some other time I will show them to you.

I am too busy just now." He rode to the field, while the stranger betook himself to town again with a smiling countenance.

He had accomplished his mission.
And every day thereafter, down to the great day of the games, a man--sometimes two or three men--came to the sheik at the Orchard, pretending to seek an engagement as driver.
In such manner Messala kept watch over Ben-Hur..