n of my nobles."

"O king, live for ever!" replied the officer, highly delighted with this
unusual mark of the king's confidence. "Thou livest in the warm
affections of thy nobles, and in the pure regard of all thy numerous
subjects. Thou art the peculiarly favored of the gods. All the nations of
the earth fear thee, and pay their homage at thy feet."

"True. But art thou not aware that on one point my subjects are not as
fully satisfied with their king as they might be? Behold, I have placed
unusual confidence in my servant, and in return the king requireth equal
sincerity."

"As thy soul liveth, O king, I shall hide nothing from thee. In mingling
with thy nobles, I find that, without distinction, they are abundantly
loyal. In a very few instances I have heard language that indicated that
my lord the king was favorably inclined toward the God of the Hebrews,
and less ardent in his devotion to the gods of Chaldea. But in this, has
not my lord the king the perfect right to do as seemeth good in his
sight?"

"The King of Babylon can do as seemeth good in his sight; and it shall
seem good in his sight, not many days hence, to give abundant proof that
the gods of Chaldea are the gods of the king. I am well satisfied with
thy words. Let this interview, and others of the same nature which we may
have, remain a secret. Thou mayest now leave, and to-morrow at the third
hour be punctual to meet me again at this apartment."

The dignitary retired, and the king was left alone in his apartment.

"My suspicions were well founded! And, indeed, have they had no cause?
Well, I was then young, and without experience. But was not the recovery
of that dream a wonderful thing? Will anyone dare deny that? Had the God
of Belteshazzar nothing to do with it? Again my thoughts are on the God
of Israel! 'Tis hard to banish it from my mind! The interpretation was
natural, and perfectly consistent. But I swear by the gods, that it shall
not come to pass! I will establish my empire on such a sure foundation
that it shall not be in the power of mortals to shake it. Are not the
nations at my command? Are not my armies stationed on every shore? Is not
Babylon the terror of kings? Ah! where is the power that can compete with
Chaldea? My nobles are jealous of my fidelity to the gods. Yea, truly,
and have I not given them reason?

"This must go no further. If I have some lingering fears of the God of
Belteshazzar, it must not be made manifest. In