was the unholy impulse of a king who had hitherto manifested, on most
occasions, a commendable degree of self-possession.

The next day, while Daniel was walking in the vicinity of the palace, he
was suddenly accosted by the captain of the guard, who informed him that
it was his painful duty to apprehend him as an individual who was
condemned to die by a late edict of the king.

"My worthy friend must certainly be mistaken in regard to the person,"
answered Daniel, with a smile; "for I am happy to know that in nothing
have I transgressed the law of my sovereign."

"It would give me much pleasure on this occasion to find myself
mistaken," replied Arioch, "but I fear that it will prove otherwise. 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