“I know that you must be first the king and then the father. Yet when you sent me from Susa, did you send me to this—to loathsome bondage, to be queen in name only, to be the toy of a man of wrath and guile, and the pledge of a peace sworn only to be broken? Come to me, my father, for I am of your own proud blood. Let other kings’ daughters learn a master’s yoke; a child of yours must be the mistress, or must die. Heaven favouring, the noble Isaiah will save Darius, whom I love; but I, who cannot fly, can only pray for the hour when the swords of my people shall flash within this accursed city. Yet save speedily; for the time grows near when I shall be Belshazzar’s bride in very deed. Farewell.” “Did you penetrate the harem of Belshazzar?” asked Cyrus, his voice unsteady. “Yes, your Majesty; I have seen the most gracious princess. Belshazzar triumphs in holding the child of his arch-enemy captive. To force her to his bridal will be his joy. And in three months he will celebrate another feast—the wedding one year from the betrothal.” “Then in three months Babylon is to be taken?” “The king has said. Belshazzar will risk little in the field. He boasts his walls will mock your armies seven years, and yet be strong.” “And you say that he boasts well?” urged Cyrus, shrewdly. “Lord, I only know that speaking from human wisdom, there may be doors to Babylon Belshazzar little dreams of; and speaking from the voice within”—Isaiah’s own voice rose, and he swept his hand proudly—“the promise of Jehovah is yet strong,—‘I, who have prospered so far, and saved from so many perils, will still favour even to the end.’” “And favour He will!” cried the king, as in a great gladness; “three months for the might of the Aryans to master the ‘fiend-servers’ and their mute brick and stone! Let Ahura lay on us a harder task!” Then the chamberlains took the Jews away, and forth from the inner tent returned Darius, who knelt now at Cyrus’s feet. “Rise up,” the king commanded; “you also need food and sleep. And in the morning—” “What in the morning, lord?” cried the prince, now standing. “In the morning you shall ride at the head of the van. But you have won the right to crave a boon—and ask it, whatsoever you will.” “My king,”—Darius’s voice was trembling,—“you well know what I would ask.” Whereupon Cyrus only smiled once more, and lifted his hand as in an oath. “By the light of Ahura I swear it, that when we have conquered Babylon and plucked Atossa from the _dæva’s_ clutch, you shall ask for her in marriage, and I will not say you nay.” * * * * *