There are letters by the hand of the same messenger, sealed with the signet of the Great King, wherein I am bidden to bring the kinsfolk of Jehoiakim, who was king over Judah, to Shushan without delay, that the Great King may do them honour as is meet and right; but what that honour may be that he would do to them, I know not." "What is this that thou sayest ?" asked Daniel, starting forward from his reclining position, and fixing his dark eyes on Zoroaster.

"Will the king take away from me the children of my old age?
Art not thou as my son?
And is not Nehushta as my daughter?
As for the rest, I care not if they go.

But Nehushta is as the apple of my eye! She is as a fair flower growing in the desert of my years! What is this that the king hath done to me?
Whither will he take her from me ?" "Let not my lord be troubled," said Zoroaster, earnestly, for he was moved by the sudden grief of the prophet.

"Let not my lord be troubled.
It is but for a space, for a few weeks; and thy kinsfolk will be with thee again, and I also." "A space, a few weeks! What is a space to thee, child, or a week that thou shouldest regard it?
But I am old and full of years.

It may be, if now thou takest my daughter Nehushta from me, that I shall see her face no more, neither thine, before I go hence and return not.