"
"Nay," said Melchoir, "I have followed the star, and I have found what
we sought. The kingdom of Christ is in the reason of man. Christ lives
in what man believes."
"But," cried Balthazar, "my star has led me to a different end. The
kingdom of Christ is in the will of man. Christ lives in what man
does."
"The truth," once more exclaimed Melchoir, "is the law of the
kingdom."
"Not truth," declared Balthazar, "but justice, righteousness, goodness
and purity--these are its laws and its marks."
"Nay, comrades beloved, hearken to me," answered Gaspard, "it is the
miracle of the divine presence. It is God among men, realized in the
holy mass. I beheld it all in yonder cathedral."
But lo! once more the star began to tremble and to change its place.
"Let us follow the star!" Balthazar whispered. "We will follow it,"
echoed the other two.
[Sidenote: Once More the Quest]
Then the star led them on, and they followed together until they came
at length to the doorway of a little cottage; and within the cottage
they saw a woman bending over a cradle, and in the cradle a little
child lay sleeping. She was a peasant woman; her clothing was not
rich; the furnishing of the cottage was humble and scanty. The cradle
itself was rude, as if put together by hands unskilful in tasks like
that.
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