nacious about the article of food; so, Melzar, let
our young friends be gratified in this respect. Let them have a trial of
ten days, and, if at the end of that time they have retained their beauty
and freshness, let them be fed with vegetables."

"Permit me, in the absence of my three cousins, to offer their gratitude,
with my own, to our noble lord for his kind favor," said Daniel,
gracefully bowing himself out of the apartment.

The morning of the tenth day dawned upon our Hebrew captives. Their days
of trial were soon over, and they felt no fear of the scrutinizing gaze
of Melzar. Health and beauty played on their fair cheeks, and they were
well prepared for the inspection; and Melzar declared, with due humility,
in their presence, that such countenances were not to be found in all
Babylon. Now, Melzar was an excellent judge of beauty.

Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they
should drink, and gave them pulse.

CHAPTER XII.

AS BOTH Barzello and his daughter were highly esteemed in Babylon,
Perreeza made many delightful acquaintances and was much sought after.
She was happy in her new life, and by her many accomplishments and sweet
disposition greatly endeared herself to her new found friends.

Among the acquaintances of Barzello, with whom the king's trusted officer
had been on terms of intimacy for a long term of years, was one Joram, a
rich merchant of the city. Joram was understood to have great influence
at court, owing to the fact that he had traveled all over the then known
world and possessed a valuable knowledge of many nations. His life was a
mysterious one, and, while he was credited with being the richest man in
Babylon, he was little seen outside of his place of business; but many
politicians consulted him, and the king had been known to send his
chariot for Joram day after day when great affairs of state were on hand.
It had also leaked out that people of distinction from other countries
visited the great merchant, and it was correctly surmised in political
circles that Joram had helped to shape many a commercial treaty in the
interests of the Babylonian monarch.

With all his mystery and reticence and secret power, Joram was a loyal
subject of Nebuchadnezzar and ably seconded the king's efforts for
advancing the greatness of Babylon. His family consisted of his wife and
an adopted son. The latter was a young man of fine attainments, and was
being educated in