That Beautiful Blonde

'Say, Simon!' asks Judas Iscariot. 'Since you are a Judaean like me, tell me. That beautiful blonde in the Roman's lap, the one who stood up a few minutes ago, isn't she the sister of Lazarus of Bethany?' 'I don't know' is the sharp reply of Simon the Cananean. 'I came back amongst the living only a short while ago and she is a young woman... ' 'You are not going to tell me that you do not know Lazarus of Bethany, I hope! I know very well that you are his friend and that you have been there also with the Master.' 'And if it were so?' 'And since it is so, I say that you must know also the sinner who is Lazarus' sister. Even the dead know her! People have been talking about her for the last ten years. She began to be light-headed as soon as she reached puberty. But for over four years! You must be aware of the scandal, even if you were in the "valley of the dead". The whole of Jerusalem talked about her. And Lazarus shut himself up at Bethany... He did the right thing, after all. No one would have set foot in his magnificent house in Zion, where she also came and went. I mean: no holy living person. In the country... well!... In any case she is always around, but never at home... She is certainly at Magdala now... With a new lover... Are you not answering me? Can you give me the lie?' 'I am not giving you the lie. I am silent.' 'So it is she! You have recognized her, too! ' 'I saw her when she was a child and she was pure then. I have seen her again now... But I recognize her. Although lewd, she is the living image of her mother, a holy woman.' 'Well, then, why were you on the point of denying that she is your friend's sister?' 'We always endeavour to conceal our sores and those of the people we love. Particularly when one is honest.' Judas gives a forced laugh. 'You are quite right, Simon. And you are honest' remarks Peter. 'And did you recognize her? You certainly go to Magdala to sell your fish and I wonder how many times you have seen her!... ' 'My boy, you must know that when your back is broken after an honest day's work, you are not interested in women. You only love the honest bed of your wife.' 'Eh! Everybody likes beautiful things! At least, if for no other reason than to look at them.' 'Why? To say: "It is no food for my table"? No, certainly not. I have learned many things from the lake and from my job and this is one of them: a fish of fresh and calm water is not fit for salt water or a vorticose water course.' 'What do you mean? ' 'I mean that everybody should keep his place to avoid dying an evil death.' 'Did the Magdalene make you feel as if you were dying?' 'No, I am tough. But tell me: are you not feeling well, perhaps?' 'Me? Oh! I didn't even look at her!...' 'You liar! I am sure that you were consumed with envy because you were not on this boat, to be closer to her... you would have put up even with me to be nearer... So much so, that you honour me with your conversation because of her, after so many days of silence.' 'Me? She would not have even seen me! She was always looking at the Master!' 'Ah! Ah! Ah! And he says that he was not looking at her! How could you see where she was looking if you did not look at her?'