was
concerned in making this law?"

"Yea, verily, O king! May the gods forbid that we should utter aught but
truth in the presence of King Darius!"

"To me it seemeth a strange thing that Daniel, the worshiper of the God
of Israel, should frame a law that bears oppressively on himself and upon
thousands of his nation within the realm. And it seemeth still more
strange to the king that he should be the first transgressor! Already
have I sorrow of heart because I signed the decree; but the thing is
done, and my name must go down to posterity as the name of a fool. There
is a mystery connected with this affair that to me, as yet, is
inexplicable. If by any means I find that I have been wrongly dealt with,
by all the gods I swear I will pour vengeance on the guilty heads!"

"If thou wilt permit the four princes to testify, they will say, with thy
servant, that this Daniel was the chief mover in the formation of this
law."

"At present I have no desire to hear from any of the princes. But to
think of casting Daniel into the den of lions is mournful beyond
description--it must not be done!"

"So say we all, O king, when we consult our feelings; but the decree is
signed according to the law of the Medes and Persians, and cannot be
altered. The honor of the king depends upon the faithful execution of all
his laws; and if in this one point thou failest and let the guilty one
escape, thy subjects will laugh at thy timidity, and lawlessness will
prevail throughout our borders."

"Of this we may speak hereafter. I must see the first president and learn
more of this matter ere I take another step in this unhappy affair."

On the departure of the conspirators, the king immediately sent for
Daniel, and soon the Hebrew prophet stood in the presence of Darius the
Mede. On his countenance rested that same calm smile. The king gazed upon
him for a moment, and could not but notice the contrast between the
serene, noble countenance of the Hebrew prophet, and the uneasy, agitated
visage of President Fraggood.

"Thou standest before the king, O Daniel, accused as an evil doer! What
sayest thou for thyself?"

"What is the nature of thy servant's offense, O king?"

"Thou art accused of violating a law, chiefly of thine own making, by
offering thy petitions to thy God. To the king it seemeth strange indeed
that he who was the first mover in the formation of a new law, should be
the first one to transgress it. What meaneth all this?"