A Victor of Salamis

as it were, of every landscape of Athens. The dwellings in the suburb were poor, though few even in the richer quarters were at all handsome; the streets barely s

trough. All Athenian streets resembled these. The citizen had his Pnyx, his Jury-Court, his gossiping Agora for his

an,-for Lampaxo his worthy wife, long of tongue, short of temper, thrifty and very watchful, was reminding him for the seventh time that he had sold a carp half an obol too cheap. His patience indeed that evening wa

is the wor

" flew back no

ers and is after wise.

o's voice was sof

childless. I will provide for you in my wi

of me. Then divorce me like an honourable man. Send me back to Polus my dear brother. Ah, you sheep, you are silent! You think of the two-min? dowry you must

io, terrified at the G

ou think? Wh

his betters. The short southern twilight was swiftly passing into night. Groups of young men wandered past, bound homeward from the Cynosarges, the Academy, or some other well-loved gym[pg 76]nasium. In an hour the streets would be dark and still, exc

ty'?" was Phormio's first qu

cquittal in the urn. The scoundrelly grain-dealer is stripped of all h

d Clearchus; but Lampaxo's shri

ok into a case directly opposite this

"why, Phormio, haven't you denounced them? It's

-a Babylonian, I presume-who has taken the empty chambers above Demas's shield factory opposite. He seems a quiet, inoffensive man; the

ts," propounded Polus, dogmatical

ng been silent. "See, a gentleman wrapped in a long himatio

quinting through his hands in the half light, "t

rchus; "they look much alike f

eft his stick below by the door. Steal across, Polus,

on the crooked handle was beyond the learning of any sa

scrutiny, "?'Glaucon, son of Conon.' It

d, but the juror pul

Barbarian. Good patriots cannot be too vigilant. A plot, I assert. Treason to Athens and Hellas

conspiracy! Glaucon the Fortunate calls on a Babylonish merchant by night

hus, winding up the argument,-and so for a li

* *

little prepared for the luxury, nay splendour, which greeted him, once the Ph?nician had opened the door. The bare chamber had been transformed. The foot sank into the glowing carpets of Kerman and Bactria. The gold-embroidered wall tapestries were of Sidonian purple. The divans wer

lack. Yet Democrates's eyes were diverted instantly to the peculiarly handsome slave-boy on the divan beside his master. The boy's dress, of a rare blue stuff, enveloped him loosely. His hair was as golden as the gold thread on the round cap. In the shadows the f

anion. He is a mute. Yet if otherw

surprise, began to lo

you will not pretend, you realize, I trust, you

79]"Hiram is watchful and skilful. You see I have dyed my

st friend,' as we say in Athens." Demo

t me when I sent Hiram to you. Yes-I have heard the story that is on your tongue: one of Themistocles's busybodies has brought a rumour that a certain grea

cried the orator, feeli

ith violet-flavoured sherbet; "I have innumerable 'Eyes-and-ears.' You have heard the name? One of the chief officers of his Majesty is

le game of wits, you can have one. I need only step to the window, and cry 'Spies!'-after which your

ty. I omit what his Majesty might do in the way of taking vengeance; sufficient that if aught unfor[pg 80]tunate befalls me, or Hiram

bling. The words rose to his lips, the lips refused to utter them. The Prince, who had delivered his threat most quietly, went on, "In

tor shot the wor

re a H

shamed

fidelity. You Hellenes, I hear, have even a god-Hermes Dolios,-who teaches you lying and thieving. The cus

eak in

guess who I am, though you shall not name me. F

is hands clasped and unclasped,

I tell you, I am no

m not angry. You will find a Persian pays like the lo

meet Lycon at Corinth, doubly a fo

furiously on the Barbarian. "Do you keep me by force? Have a care.

with a grip like iron on Democrates's

ther Myscelus was of the noble house of Codrus, a great name in Athens, but he left you no large estate. You were ambitious to shine as an orator and leader of the Athenians. To win popu

as if you lived all

ends to believe he can beat back my master. Worse still, you have squandered many min? on flute girls, dice, cock-fights, and other gentl

ou pry into

from the mines at Laurium and devoted to your navy. You fulfilled the people's confidence by diverting much of this money to the payment of your own great debts to the banker Pittacus of Argos. At present you are 'watching the

all you k

ll

alf the cargo of a large merchantman bringing timber and tin from Massalia; I look every day for a messenger from

mposed at this announcem

, good Democrates. Upon it, as ma

o Poseidon, and vowed a gold

retort, with an ill-concealed sneer. "Do not trust the

words slipped fo

memoranda for the battle

ou-" Democrates's gestures became menacing, as again h

. And you, noble sir, think well of all I said at Corinth on the certain victory of my master; think also

rator clapped his hand behind his b

the slave-boy touched his ma

ow gliding the Cyprian's voice!-"shall not the

stretch forth his hand to the Cyprian? He went down the stair scarce feeling the

ning, Maste

call me Glaucon? I have somewhat his height, though not his shoulder. Ah,-I know it, I

"Glaucon! They think I am Glaucon. If I chose to betray the Cyprian-" Further than that he would not suffer the thought to go. He lay sleepless, fighting against it. The d

g