“Good-morning to my friend Ashpenaz,” said Barzello, with a welcome smile.

“And a good-morning to our excellent Barzello,” was the hearty response.

“And how do things move on at the palace?”

“Oh, pleasantly.  Our young monarch is bent on thorough reform in all deficient quarters.”

“Babylon needs reforming; and may he never pause until the work is perfected.  Long life to our good monarch!”

“Ah! my good Barzello, if all that is to be accomplished, he needs a long life indeed.  But I have but a short time to tarry.  The king desires a number of the royal captives of Judah and Egypt to be placed under proper instructions to prepare them, after three years’ training, to be royal waiters at the palace.  In thy wisdom thou art to select from among them the most perfect in body and mind, and deliver them over to my charge; and, according to the orders of his majesty, I shall immediately place them under suitable teachers.”

“This will be attended to without delay,” answered Barzello.  “Of those from Egypt, there are quite a number of youths of high origin, and who, for aught I know, may possess superior powers of mind.  I have had no great facilities to test their capacities.  Of those from Judah, there are only four that I can with confidence recommend to the care and charge of my worthy friend.  These four are noble specimens of humanity—­beautiful in bodily form and complexion, and truly amiable and excellent in mind.  I will assure my worthy friend that, of all the acquaintances I ever formed among men, and they have been quite numerous in different lands, none ever impressed me so favorably as these four youths from the land of Judah.  They worship no god but the God of the Hebrews.  In this they show but their faithfulness and their consistency.  My worthy friend will pardon my warmth in speaking of these children, for there are incidents connected with their history, which I need not now mention, that have greatly endeared them to thine unworthy friend; and I have no doubt that thou wilt find them to be all they are recommended to be.”

“I have all confidence in the judgment and wisdom of my worthy friend,” answered Ashpenaz, “and it affords me much pleasure to hear such a favorable report of those who are to be placed under my charge; and I assure my good Barzello, that their worth and excellence will be duly noticed and appreciated.”

“If thou art in haste, I will accompany thee without delay to the young men’s apartments; perhaps thou wouldst be pleased to see them.”

“After such a warm recommendation, it will certainly be quite a favor—­but where is thy sweet Jupheena?  This call will hardly recompense me, if I must leave without a glance at that little beauty.”

“Ah, indeed!  Perhaps our good friend Ashpenaz will have no objection to gaze on two beauties instead of one.”

“All the better, my friend.”