If Gudea’s heart was sorrowful that night, so were those of greater men than he. Avil had never before found Belshazzar so irascible, as when they conferred in a quiet chamber of the palace, about sundown. “The Jew is obstinate as an old camel!” cursed the king. “He knows no more fear than a mad auroch. I can do nothing with him!” “And the king threatened?” insinuated Avil. “Torture, impaling, flaying alive, hot furnaces,—and all else; yet he will not give me an order on Imbi-Ilu for his daughter.” “Let the king’s liver find peace,” comforted Avil, sweetly. “Daniel will not torment him long. The feast of Bel is near, when I as chief priest may crave, in the god’s name, one boon which you may not refuse. If I ask then the life of Daniel, can the queen-mother complain? You are powerless to deny such a request.” “Ah, well, that will end _him_!” snapped the king. “I seek the daughter.” “Patience, your Majesty.” “No patience, I have waited long. At dawn I will go in person to Borsippa, and demand her surrender. If not—I will find if Nabu can make the hides of his priests too thick for sword-blades!” Avil shook his head. “Nothing rashly, lord. All the people revere Nabu.” “Let them learn the greatest god in Babylon is its king,” Belshazzar threw up his head; “there is too much priestly rule here for my liking.” He looked hard at Avil, who bit his lips at the open hint. “You failed miserably in the accusation,” continued Belshazzar. “I did not know Shaphat had so sore a conscience,” confessed the pontiff, ruefully; “but once in prison, Daniel shall find it nothing easy to learn the way out of it.” “And the Persian Darius grows more intolerable every day. He has saved my life now. Would that any other had done it!” “And wherefore should that be an offence to my lord. I never was sanguine the lion would succeed. There are many ways of speeding even so great an archer as Darius out of the world.” “Avil,” spoke Belshazzar, eying his minister, “I believe that the gods have set in your breast no heart, but a block of iron; you may persuade me to many things, but not to slay Darius until I stand in sorer need than I stand to-day.” “Ah! well,” answered the pontiff, smiling somewhat uneasily, “it is all one whether he lives or dies. My watchers are everywhere; not a letter to or from Susa fails of interception. He is harmless in Babylon. Let us delay the envoy as long as we may peaceably. If he demands to be sent home and seems to know too much, there is but one thing left.” “To clap into prison and prepare for speedy war with Cyrus?” “The king has said!” bowed Avil. “Very good,” answered Belshazzar, not without bitterness. “I follow your wisdom; but woe to Babylon, and woe to you, if your wisdom prove but folly!” * * * * *