“That is true,” said the voice of Abgarus; “every faithful disciple of Zoroaster knows the prophecy of the Avesta and carries the word in his heart.  ’In that day Sosiosh the Victorious shall arise out of the number of the prophets in the east country.  Around him shall shine a mighty brightness, and he shall make life everlasting, incorruptible, and immortal, and the dead shall rise again.’”

“This is a dark saying,” said Tigranes, “and it may be that we shall never understand it.  It is better to consider the things that are near at hand, and to increase the influence of the Magi in their own country, rather than to look for one who may be a stranger, and to whom we must resign our power.”

The others seemed to approve these words.  There was a silent feeling of agreement manifest among them; their looks responded with that indefinable expression which always follows when a speaker has uttered the thought that has been slumbering in the hearts of his listeners.  But Artaban turned to Abgarus with a glow on his face, and said: 

“My father, I have kept this prophecy in the secret place of my soul.  Religion without a great hope would be like an altar without a living fire.  And now the flame has burned more brightly, and by the light of it I have read other words which also have come from the fountain of Truth, and speak yet more clearly of the rising of the Victorious One in his brightness.”

He drew from the breast of his tunic two small rolls of fine linen, with writing upon them, and unfolded them carefully upon his knee.

“In the years that are lost in the past, long before our fathers came into the land of Babylon, there were wise men in Chaldea, from whom the first of the Magi learned the secret of the heavens.  And of these Balaam the son of Beor was one of the mightiest.  Hear the words of his prophecy:  ’There shall come a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall arise out of Israel.’”

The lips of Tigranes drew downward with contempt, as he said: 

“Judah was a captive by the waters of Babylon, and the sons of Jacob were in bondage to our kings.  The tribes of Israel are scattered through the mountains like lost sheep, and from the remnant that dwells in Judea under the yoke of Rome neither star nor sceptre shall arise.”

“And yet,” answered Artaban, “it was the Hebrew Daniel, the mighty searcher of dreams, the counsellor of kings, the wise Belteshazzar, who was most honored and beloved of our great King Cyrus.  A prophet of sure things and a reader of the thoughts of God, Daniel proved himself to our people.  And these are the words that he wrote.” (Artaban read from the second roll:) “’Know, therefore, and understand that from the going forth of the commandment to restore Jerusalem, unto the Anointed One, the Prince, the time shall be seven and threescore and two weeks.’”

“But, my son,” said Abgarus, doubtfully, “these are mystical numbers.  Who can interpret them, or who can find the key that shall unlock their meaning?”