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"So the telegraph clerk thought," returned Phil, "but when my City friend pointed out that Blastus was `the king's chamberlain' they were obliged to let the telegram go. `Blastus' stands for `superior quality, and `unholy' for `Offer is open for three days from time of despatch of telegram. Using the same code, if a merchant wants to ask a Calcutta friend the question `How is the coming crop as regards extent and appearance? he merely telegraphs the word `Hamlet. If he wishes to say `Bills of lading go forward by this mail, Invoices will follow, he has only to telegraph `Heretic. For the most part, the compilers of these codes seem to have used the words arbitrarily, for the word `Ellwood' has no visible connection with the words `Blue Velvet, which it represents; neither is there connection between `Doves' and `French Brandy, nor between `Collapse' and `Scotch Coals, though there does seem to have been a gleam of significance when they fixed on `Downward' to represent `Irish Whisky."
That high-priest was approaching, and more than a high-priest; for Herod Agrippa, the tetrarch of Judea had descended from Jerusalem to Cæsarea, for the celebration of warlike games in honour of the Emperor Claudius, and, on the completion of those festivities, the deputed sovereign had consented, at the intercession of Blastus, to receive a deputation of certain Phenician ambassadors who were solicitous for an assurance of his clemency.
Now Herod was fiercely bent on war against the Tyrians and Sidonians: but they presented themselves unanimously before him, and ingratiating themselves with Blastus who was over the king's bedchamber, they begged for peace; because their country received all their supply of provisions from the king's territories.
One of the telegrams was, `Blastus unholy." "Oh, Phil, how can you!" exclaimed Mrs Maylands, with a shocked look. "Well, mother, what's wrong in that?" "You know very well, Phil, that `Blast us' is not in the Bible at all, and that it is a very awful species of slang swearing."
And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country. And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
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