His will is my will; therefore what he gave is thine.
"All the Parthians took from him in the great battle in which they slew him I have retaken--this writing, with other things, and vengeance, and all the brood of that Mira who in his time was mother of so many stars.
"Peace be to you and all yours.
"This voice out of the desert is the voice of "Ilderim, Shiek." Ben-Hur next unrolled a scrap of papyrus yellow as a withered mulberry leaf.

It required the daintiest handling.

Proceeding, he read: "Ilderim, surnamed the Generous, sheik of the tribe of Ilderim, to the son who succeeds me.
"All I have, O son, shall be thine in the day of thy succession, except that property by Antioch known as the Orchard of Palms; and it shall be to the son of Hur who brought us such glory in the Circus--to him and his forever.
"Dishonor not thy father.

ILDERIM THE GENEROUS, Sheik." "What say you ?" asked Ben-Hur, of Simonides.
Esther took the papers pleased, and read them to herself.

Simonides remained silent.