Page 42 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

knock the door was opened by a young man of shining countenance and dignified
bearing, who greeted him courteously and requested him to enter and be seated. Arioch
sensed that his entrance had interrupted a time of quietness on the part of four occupants

as one read from a scroll in his hands, to which the others had listened.

The three other young men arose in respect as this high officer of the King entered,
ushered in by their companion.

“I regret to say, young men,” Arioch began, “that I have very somber tidings to
convey to you―tidings of such evil purport that I would almost prefer to lose my own
life than to declare them.” The handsome and excellently uniformed officer hesitated as
his eyes fell to the floor.

“We already know, Sir Captain, of the news that your duty compels you to bring us,
and are glad to spare you the pain of telling it. Be assured, Sir, that all the Wise Men of
Babylon are aware that you are entirely unsympathetic with the Kings decree, and hold
you in no way guilty of its promulgation nor for its execution. But may I inquire why

the King is so hasty about the issuance of the command to destroy the Wise Men. Should
he not properly have granted opportunity to those of us who were not present at his
audience to reproduce his dream and make known the interpretation?”

Arioch looked up quickly and inquired keenly: “Think you sir, there are any of the
Wise Men who can retrieve a dream that the King has himself lost? The demand has
seemed so outrageous and the thing so impossible, that it never occurred to me that
anyone would even hope to accomplish it!”

“Captain Arioch, my name is called in Babylon Belteshazzar, and these my
companions are called Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. We are of the captivity of
Judah and graduated over a year ago from the college in the Fourth Temple of Bel. We
serve and pray to the mighty God of the Hebrews, Who in time past has wrought greater

miracles for our people than restoring a forgotten dream.
“I am not able to guarantee that our Jahveh will reveal to us this dream in response
to our prayer, but He is well able to do it and may see fit to do so. I therefore request,
Sir Captain, that you use your influence with the King to obtain for me a brief hearing

in which I shall beseech His Majesty to grant us three days reprieve in which time we
may invoke our God concerning this matter. If He be pleased to grant our petition then
the King’s desire will be met and the Wise Men be saved, but if not, we can then bear

the penalty!”

Arioch had become so moved during this speech of Daniel, that he had gotten up
and was pacing the floor. “I shall attempt it, though it costs me my own life,” he replied
with vehemence. “I shall go immediately to the palace and seek to present this matter

to the King in person. If he will grant you an audience I shall return here and escort you
to the palace.”