Art
thou not Belteshazzar, of the captivity of Judah, and art thou not
numbered among the wise men?"
"And what can be the nature of my offense?" asked the young Hebrew,
nothing daunted. "If in anything I have offended, I ask not to be
spared."
"And hast thou not heard the decree?"
"No new decree has reached my ears."
"Then I shall communicate to Belteshazzar all I know concerning the
matter." Which he proceeded to do.
"Many thanks to thee, kind officer. I have no desire to escape thy
vigilance. Only permit me to see the king, and, peradventure, things may
take a different course."
"Any favor I can show, without violating positive orders, will readily be
granted. So I will make thy pleasure known to the king."
Arioch hastened into the presence of the sovereign, and informed him that
one of the wise men prayed to be admitted into his presence.
"I desire not to see any of the vile race!" answered the king, with a
frown. "I was satisfied yesterday that they are a band of lying
impostors.
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