The two sons, in making a declaration of their brotherhood to a stranger,
would stand in no danger of being suspected on that point as deceivers.
The resemblance is quite striking.

The daughter is beautiful--in her own estimation. To this she clings as an
essential part of her creed--that she constitutes a very important share
of the beauty of Babylonia, but in getting it implanted into the creed of
others, she proves unsuccessful--her converts being wholly confined to her
father's household. She also, with the rest, on this night manifests an
unusual degree of hilarity.

"Ah! they are ensnared at last!" said Scribbo, with an air of triumph.
"They must either deny their religion or face the furnace. This is right,
and happy am I that the king has at last seen fit to enact a law that
will bear with stringency on those pretending foreigners who fill the
most important stations in the government."

"But, brother," said the sister, eagerly, "which thinkest thou they will
choose--the worship of our gods or the fiery furnace?"

"I am in hopes they are fanatical enough to choose the latter," answered
the brother; "for in case they should choose the former, they would be as
much in our way as ever. But then it would be some consolation to know
that they had been compelled to worship and bow before the gods of the
Chaldeans."

"There is one thing to be deeply regretted," said Shagoth. "I am informed
that Belteshazzar, the great Rab Mag, is now in Egypt, and is not
expected to return for some weeks. He also ought to bear them company and
share the same fate. But if only we can put these three out of our way we