Page 94 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

the night before the feast, when he was brought in and kept in the palace, but did not
go to the apartment he had formerly occupied and where Queen Rhea still dwelt.

Queen Rhea was aware of the whole scheme that was afoot to restore her husband
and had turned over to Daniel a set of the royal robes that she had kept carefully since
his departure.

Belgar occupied apartments in the other wing of the palace, and at the hour when
he was to come forth, he found that all the doors were locked and that he was
mysteriously held a prisoner in his own rooms. He called for help, more loudly and
more angrily as there was no response. He paced the floor in a forth of rage and

frustration, a prisoner in his own apartment, emitting occasional yells of “Treason!
Treachery!

Meantime, the multitude had gathered in the open space before the palace and

before the raised platform that had been sumptuously decorated. Mithras, the Greek,
and his orchestra were seated just below the platform.

Exactly at eleven o’clock a bugle sounded to signal the commencement of the

ceremonies. As the bugle notes died away, Mithras, the Greek, stood before his
orchestra. At the sweep of his baton, the orchestra burst into the martial melody which
he had himself composed and dedicated to King Nebuchadnezzar. It was the tune that
was first played at the unveiling of the great image in the plain of Dura, and was

inseparably associated in the minds of the people with King Nebuchadnezzar. For the
last few years since Belgar had been in power, the march had been forbidden
throughout the empire.

The exciting melody and rhythm of the opening bars conveyed to the assembled
crowd a sense that something important was about to happen. At that moment the
doors of the palace were thrown open and with firm and rapid step, Nebuchadnezzar
issued forth in full regal robes of purple, and the royal crown upon his head. He

ascended the steps in the rear of the platform and in full view of the whole
assemblage.

Surprise and shock kept them silent for a few moments and then there was a
spontaneous shout hardly needing any cue, a roar of enthusiastic applause at first
without distinguishable words. But the shouts of the multitude finally fell into a
concerted chorus; “Hail to King Nebuchadnezzar! Hail to the King’s return!” It grew
louder and louder and was wafted through a high window into the apartment where

Belgar was pacing the floor. As the realized what had taken place, a cold and deadly
fear seized upon him. Knowing that his power had come to an end and fearing public