Page 91 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

anything—anything, of the Queen?”
Bigthan no longer had a vestige of doubt in his mind that it was indeed
Nebuchadnezzar who sat before him! He replied quickly: “Ah! To that question, Your

Majesty. I can give a more encouraging answer. On my last trip into the city, through a
connection of my wife, who in turn has a kinswoman who is a lady-in-waiting to her
Majesty, the Queen, I learned that the Queen is well and that the Princess Hanniel is a
beautiful child.”

“Praise be to Jahveh, whom she has faithfully trusted,” sighed the king.

He then sat in silence, his fine mind functioning with the same keenness as of
yore. “Bigthan, you are a wise and good man. You must now heed my instructions

very carefully. The situation in the capital is very critical and we must proceed very
carefully and wisely, and very secretly, or our plan will fail utterly. You must go into
Babylon and find out where Daniel, Lord Belteshazzar, lives. You must then make
your way to his house, and tell him that I am here. Also have him to inform the other

good and loyal officials of my presence here and of my condition. Daniel will not be
surprised to know that I have fully regained my sanity, as it was a part of the dream
and its interpretation.

“Tell him to arrange with Nebuzaradan and the others, to come here to see me for
consultation. I need not warn you further to be very careful, to whom you speak.”
“I will start immediately, Your Majesty. My task is simply to seek out Daniel the
Hebrew and convey to him confidentially, your message, and leave the rest to his

wisdom and discretion.”
“It was truly the provision of the great God Jahveh, whom I now worship and
serve, to bring me to your house.”
“Are you not a worshipper of our great god Bel, Your Majesty?” Bigthan inquired.

“No longer, and never again, Bigthan. My punishment of seven years madness was
due to my pride of heart and stubborn refusal to yield to the Only True God, who had
shown Himself to me in mighty power. But more of this anon. You must be on your
way.”

By sundown Bigthan, the farmer, was entering the gates of Babylon. He sat down
in the gate to take a rest and to listen to the conversation of those who gathered there.

The talkers were comparatively free in their discussions of current affairs, only
Bigthan observed that there was not a word from any of them that carried or even
implied a criticism of the existing political regime. In the remarks concerning things
present and past, the Hebrew statesman, Belteshazzar, was mentioned, and Bigthan
innocently inquired whether he were still living. Two or three spoke together saving:

“Indeed he lives just up Palace Way with his friends in a little white cottage on the left
and not far from the Palace itself.”