"
"Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days," said Daniel, turning
towards Melzar, "and let them give us vegetable food, and pure cold water
to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the
countenances of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat;
and as thou seest, deal with thy servants."
"Well," replied Ashpenaz, smiling, "if the king's object is accomplished,
I trust he is not tenacious about the article of food; so, Melzar, let
our young friends be gratified in this respect. Let them have a trial of
ten days, and, if at the end of that time they have retained their beauty
and freshness, let them be fed with vegetables."
"Permit me, in the absence of my three cousins, to offer their gratitude,
with my own, to our noble lord for his kind favor," said Daniel,
gracefully bowing himself out of the apartment.
The morning of the tenth day dawned upon our Hebrew captives. Their days
of trial were soon over, and they felt no fear of the scrutinizing gaze
of Melzar.
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