“But not so merciful as my Lord Avil,” interposed Mermaza, the oily chief eunuch, glad to prod his comrade, “for his heart is one sponge soaked with magnanimity.” “Marduk blast you, Mermaza!” muttered Avil under breath. “I trust not,” replied the smirking eunuch, “the excellent god, my dear Avil, will need all his powers for weightier things to-day. Hear the people—” “Avil conspires against Nabu! Rescue for the good minister! Release Daniel!” To reënforce the shouts, a brick flung by some mad rascal in the crowd dashed against the car. “Be persuaded, Avil,” urged Mermaza; “make no demand for Daniel’s life.” “Spare the Jew? Never will I yield a ‘finger breadth.’ Having gone thus far, it is self-destruction to turn back.” “Nevertheless, I wish we had brought more soldiers from the palace.” Belshazzar was beckoning to the priest, and he turned away, whereupon Atossa addressed Mermaza wearily:— “Is it far now to the temple of Marduk?” “Not far; yet why is my mistress so tired? The under eunuchs tell me she did not sleep. The king’s Egyptian doctor must prepare a night draught.” “Alas! that can profit little when I consider that Prince Darius’s life is in danger while he is a prisoner.” “Danger?” Mermaza’s smile was radiant as the moon. “Has not his Majesty pledged that he is perfectly safe? His life is more precious than the gems in the royal treasure chamber.” Atossa fixed her clear eyes straight upon the eunuch, and even he glanced away from her uneasily. “Mermaza,” said she, very coldly, “I think it will be better for both of us if we hide fewer black thoughts under smooth protestations. You know as well as I that Darius is held as a hostage, to tie the hands of my father in requiting Belshazzar for his dark intrigue.” “I am only your ladyship’s slave,” the eunuch bowed obsequiously. “Who am I to say my mistress ‘nay’?” “And for once you speak well in very truth,” answered she, the hot colour of anger rising at last; “for to a man I would bow as to one mightier than I, and to a woman I would answer wrath with wrath. But to you, who are neither man nor maid, but only creature, I will vouchsafe not one curse; one does not bend the bow to slaughter gnats!” Mermaza’s smile had become sickly indeed; but she deliberately turned her back upon him, and kept company with her own gloomy meditations.