You will understand that in one year we have had three court religions.

Cambyses sacrificed to Ashtaroth--and I must say he made a most appropriate choice of his tutelary goddess.

Smerdis"-- continued the queen in measured tones and with the utmost calmness of manner--"Smerdis devoted himself wholly to the worship of Indra, who appeared to be a convenient association of all the most agreeable gods; and the Great King now rules the earth by the grace of Auramazda.

I, for my part, have always inclined to the Hebrew conception of one God--perhaps that is much the same as Auramazda, the All-Wise.

What do you think ?" Nehushta smiled at the deft way in which the queen avoided speaking of Smerdis by turning the conversation again to religious topics.