Page 32 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

CHAPTER VII

THE KING AND THE QUEEN

As soon after the graduation ceremonies as he could conveniently do so,
Nebuchadnezzar left the platform of the great auditorium. Through a private
passageway he hastened to the opposite wing of the great palace, to the part set aside as
the imperial dwelling.

There was an outer door leading into an anteroom. In this anteroom stood on guard
at all times a giant Nubian slave, a eunuch, who peered through a small aperture to see
who approached. When he saw it was his royal master he flung wide the door and bowed

deeply as the King entered the vestibule and passed through the swinging door into the
spacious living room within.

Nothing that the art of ancient interior-decoration could afford was spared in the

adornment of this sumptuous apartment. For it was here that Rhea, the beloved wife of
Nebuchadnezzar spent most of her time. Beautiful damask hangings draped the
windows. The divans and upholstered chairs were satin-covered with silken pillows
stuffed with eider-down. The floors were covered with thick rugs from Persia which

even in those ancient times was famous for its carpeting. There were ornate vases and
teakwood tables from the Orient and sculptured figures from Greece. A bright fire of
logs burned in the great fireplace, of which the flames reflected from the multi-colored
tiles of the hearth illuminated the whole room, and shone into the face of the queen who

reposed semi-reclining on one of the divans, one foot tucked beneath her.

The light from the fire tinted her lips and cheeks, added lustre to her eyes, and caused
her raven hair to glow. She was a picture of beauty. As the king stood within the inner

door he gazed at her a moment, and then hastened toward the divan, gathered her in his
arms in a warm embrace and kissed her fondly.

She had been his bride but a scant year, and much of that time he had been in the
field at the head of his armies. Rhea was the daughter of a prince of Media whom he
had seen and met in one of his campaigns in that northern region, and with whom he
fell madly in love. Now as his queen and consort he was more her adoring slave than in
the days of courtship.

The mighty Nebuchadnezzar whom all the realm feared for his indomitable self-