“The King of Babylon can do as seemeth good in his sight; and it shall seem good in his sight, not many days hence, to give abundant proof that the gods of Chaldea are the gods of the king.  I am well satisfied with thy words.  Let this interview, and others of the same nature which we may have, remain a secret.  Thou mayest now leave, and to-morrow at the third hour be punctual to meet me again at this apartment.”

The dignitary retired, and the king was left alone in his apartment.

“My suspicions were well founded!  And, indeed, have they had no cause?  Well, I was then young, and without experience.  But was not the recovery of that dream a wonderful thing?  Will anyone dare deny that?  Had the God of Belteshazzar nothing to do with it?  Again my thoughts are on the God of Israel!  ’Tis hard to banish it from my mind!  The interpretation was natural, and perfectly consistent.  But I swear by the gods, that it shall not come to pass!  I will establish my empire on such a sure foundation that it shall not be in the power of mortals to shake it.  Are not the nations at my command?  Are not my armies stationed on every shore?  Is not Babylon the terror of kings?  Ah! where is the power that can compete with Chaldea?  My nobles are jealous of my fidelity to the gods.  Yea, truly, and have I not given them reason?

“This must go no further.  If I have some lingering fears of the God of Belteshazzar, it must not be made manifest.  In this I must regain the full confidence of the nation.  Are they jealous of the four Hebrews?  In this I fear them not.  They are worth more to my empire than any chosen score of their fellow-officers.  And of the wisdom of my wise men—­is not more than one half of it centered in Belteshazzar?  If they are envious of these young men, let it not be known to the king, or by the powers of Belus I will let them feel my vengeance!

“But for the king to be suspected of being a believer in their God is of a more serious nature.  What measure shall I resort to in order to satisfy the mind of the nation?  Deny the insinuation in a proclamation?  Shall the King of Babylon ever stoop to this?  Never!  Something more consistent with royal dignity than this must be found.  An image?  Yea!  That will do, O king!  Thou hast well thought.  An image of Bel.  What?  ’With the head of gold, the breast and arms of silver, the belly and thighs of brass, the legs of iron, the feet of iron and clay?’ Nay!  The image of Bel which I shall set up for public worship, shall be all of gold.  Why otherwise?  My wealth is inexhaustible.  Who, after such a display, would ever suspect the King of Babylon of adhering to the God of the Hebrews?  This, then, is my purpose.  I shall build a great image of Bel, made of pure gold, and set it up in some favorable spot, and appoint a day for its public dedication.”

The next morning, at the appointed hour, Belrazi was punctual to meet the king at his apartment.  The monarch, well pleased with his scheme of the image, manifested a pleasant countenance.