The pontiff read aloud deliberately:— “_Belshazzar, ‘King of Sumer and Akkad,’ to Mermaza, ‘Master of the Eunuchs’_: You are commanded at the first convenient season to seize, and take to the royal harem, a certain maid, one Ruth, the daughter of Daniel the Hebrew. And hereof do not fail, on peril of your head.” Imbi examined the document the second time, and handed it back to the eunuch with a salaam of ironical reverence. “Noble friend,” quoth he, with mock politeness, “explain, I pray you. In what part of this warrant does his Majesty command you to set at naught the right of sanctuary, and commit gross sacrilege?” But Mermaza, beneath whose veneer of urbanity lay a hasty and arrogant temper, answered with rising gorge:— “This is no answer, priest; obey the king! Do you refuse to surrender the wench? Think well before you reply—the king’s wrath—” “Daniel,” remarked Imbi, turning his back on the eunuch, “is it your desire that your daughter go to the palace?” “By all you revere, by our bonds of friendship, no!” The Jew started to fall on his knees, imploring. But Imbi faced Mermaza, with a lordly gesture. “Go back to the palace, and say that I will send Ruth the daughter of Daniel hence, only on her father’s personal or written command. Low indeed is Nabu sunken if at barking of hounds of your litter he were to turn suppliants away!” “The slave of the king—keep her at your peril!” threatened Mermaza, growing desperate, for his position was anything but enviable. “A slave? When before in the royal harem? Where is the bill of sale from her father? Is she not freeborn?” “She is a Jewess,—despiser of Nabu!” cried the eunuch, launching his last shaft. A yell of derision from all the priests answered him. “Friend,” answered Imbi, smoothly, “you are so dear a companion to Avil-Marduk and _he_ reverences Nabu so exceedingly, that these words drop indeed fitly from your lips.” Mermaza swung about and faced Daniel and Isaiah. “I see the pontiff is mad,” he shouted, his thick cheeks reddening. “Do you Jews hear reason. For this resistance to the royal decree you shall both rot in the palace dungeons unless the girl is yielded, and that instantly.” Ruth had started forward, outstretching her hands. “Not that, not that, O my father! Say you are willing. I will go.” But Imbi-Ilu sprang between the eunuch and the Hebrews. “And I, high priest of Nabu of the ‘Eternal House,’ declare that only as you take oath with all the gods to witness, that Daniel and Isaiah shall be in nowise molested in this matter, will I consent to withhold a criminal charge against you of extreme impiety and deliberate sacrilege. The crime is notorious—twenty witnesses. Let Belshazzar himself save you, if I sow this tale of the outrage done the god, through Babylon.”