Part 28 (1/2)

”Is your visit early, Jew, or the last of your night?”

”The last.--May it please you, lord of Bel, to see me alone. My news is not such as should grow cold. Over it, all Babylon will laugh for joy.”

Amraphel looked at this companion of many schemes a little sourly as he sank back on his couch, and took up an orange from its dish of gold.

”What is the nature of this laughing news that you should impart it by stealth?”

Suddenly Daniel lost his patience--a thing not usual with him. ”My lord receives it thus”--he snapped his fingers--”and behold, I take it to Vul-Raman of Bit-Yakin, who, hearing it, will not scoff.” And the Jew actually made as if to get up from his chair.

”Stop!” cried the high-priest, sharply. ”There is no cause for anger.

Sit you, and we will speak of it.”

Daniel shrugged his indifference, but slipped into his chair again, without, however, offering to touch food.

My lord looked round upon his slaves, indicating each of them with a little glance, and designating those that fanned him with a gesture.

”Depart and leave us,” he said, shortly.

His command was obeyed with decided alacrity, and when the bare feet had patted their noiseless way far down the adjoining corridor, Daniel straightened up in his chair with a little rustle and said, in a low tone: ”My news, Amraphel, is, shortly, this: Istar of Babylon, whom we have feared, is a woman--a woman, weak, powerless, full of sin.”

Daniel paused, and Amraphel looked at him with a little curl of the lip.

”Is that all?” he said, after a pause. ”Is that all? Art thou drunk, Jew?”

Daniel did not lose his temper now. He smiled, contemplatively, and went on: ”Nay, I am not drunk, lord high-priest, neither is that all my news--yet, in a way, it is all told. If all Babylon knew too well that Istar were a woman--and weak--and sinful? _Hein?_ Would it not be enough?”

”If the _people_ knew--the people--yea, it might be.”

Thereupon Daniel told without more ado all that he had seen, and how Istar lay at this moment in her sanctuary with the infant in her arms.

Then, indeed, Amraphel was touched to the quick. Verily, here was news!

Here was such news as caused the most unemotional man in the Great City to start up from his couch and pace the floor with hurried and uneven steps, his eyes alight, his pale face tinged with red excitement, his hands busily twisting his robe. It was some moments before he spoke, but, once begun, Daniel sat silent and amazed.

”Ah, Beltishazzar, wisely mayst thou rejoice now. Babylon--Babylon, the city of Nabopola.s.sar, my father, shall at last stand free before me!

Listen, listen, all ye people! Istar of Babylon is fallen. She is fallen who reigned as a G.o.ddess--over me. Mark me, Jew, time was when Istar of Babylon was divine. The glory of the unknown G.o.d flowed around her. Her lips spoke truth. In her heart was hidden all knowledge. The life that she lived was unapproachable by mortal man. And while she remained thus, I dared not try my full power in the city.

”But now--now! Ah, Beltishazzar, now the fear is gone! The G.o.ddess has tasted the bitterness of human love and is become mortal. Her sin has found her out. To-day, even to-day, she shall be driven from that temple that her presence defiles. Her downfall shall be cried aloud to them that have wors.h.i.+pped her. Her disgrace shall be proclaimed throughout the kingdom. Let her invoke what aid she may, human or divine! I defy her now to deny me omnipotence in Babylon.

”And thou, Daniel--thou that broughtest this word--have no fear that thy people shall lack favor in my sight, and in the sight of the mighty lord of Elam. Let us henceforth work together for that end which, in the name of our G.o.ds and of the G.o.d of Judah, shall be accomplished within the year!”

He paused in his speech and in his walk, and his head fell upon his breast. He descended quickly, did Amraphel, from heroics to practicality; and this, perhaps, was one reason of his great success in life. Daniel eyed him in silence till the echoes of the tirade had died away and there had been time for thought. Then he said, shortly:

”You will drive her from the temple, Amraphel? How?”

”By Nebo, with an ox-goad, that is used for cattle!”

Daniel shrugged incredulously. ”And whither drive you her?”

”She may go, if she will, to her proper abode--the temple of false Istar, near the gate of the setting sun.”