The Master and Margarita

" You mean you have all their seals? " asked Pilate, laughing.

" How could it be otherwise, " replied Afranius dryly, with no trace of laughter.

" I can just imagine Kaifa's reaction! "

" Yes, Procurator, it caused quite a stir. I was summoned immediately."

Even in the semidarkness, Pilate's eyes could be seen glittering.

" That's interesting, interesting..."

" I beg to differ, Procurator. It was not interesting at all. It was a supremely tedious and wearisome business. When I questioned them as to whether money had been paid out to anyone in Kaifa's palace, they told me categorically that it had not."

" Is that so? Well, then, if the money wasn't paid, it wasn't paid. It will be that much harder to find the murderers."

" Quite true, Procurator."

" You know, Afranius, something just occurred to me: couldn't he have killed himself? "

" Oh, no, Procurator, " replied Afranius, leaning back in his chair in surprise. " That is, if you will pardon me, highly unlikely! "

" Ah, in this city anything is possible! I would argue, in fact, that in no time at all rumors to that effect will be spreading throughout the city."

At this point Afranius gave Pilate that particular look of his, thought for a moment, and replied, " That may be, Procurator."

The procurator obviously could not relinquish the subject of the man from Kerioth's murder, even though it was already clear what had happened, and he commented wistfully, " I wish I could have seen how he was killed."

" He was killed with great artistry, Procurator, " replied Afranius, giving him a somewhat ironic look.

" How do you know that? "

" Just take a look at the bag, Procurator, " replied Afranius. " I can promise you that Judas's blood flowed freely. I've seen my share of murdered bodies, Procurator! "

" So, then, of course he will not arise? "

" No, Procurator, he will arise, " replied Afranius with a philosophic smile, " when the trumpet of the Messiah, whom they await here, sounds above him. But until that he will not arise."

" Enough, Afranius! This subject is clear. Let's go to the burial."

" The executed men have been buried, Procurator."

" Oh, Afranius, it would be a crime to prosecute you. You deserve the highest reward. How did it go? "

Afranius began an account of how, while he was busy with the Judas affair, a secret service team under the command of his assistant got to the hill before nightfall. One body was missing from the hilltop. Pilate shuddered and said hoarsely, " Ah, why didn't I foresee that! "

" It is not worth getting upset about, Procurator, " said Afranius and