nly remains, and the glory, the conquest,--and thou. O Ahura-Mazda," he
spoke upward to the stars, "give to thy Persians this land. For when Thou
hast given this, Thou wilt keep back nothing of all the world."

CHAPTER X

DEMOCRATES RESOLVES

Democrates surpassed himself when arraigning the knavish contractor.
"Nestor and Odysseus both speak to us," shouted Polus in glee, flinging
his black bean in the urn. "What eloquence, what righteous fury when he
painted the man's infamy to pillage the city in a crisis like this!"

So the criminal was sent to death and Democrates was showered with
congratulations. Only one person seemed hardly satisfied with all the
young orator did,--Themistocles. The latter told his lieutenant candidly he
feared all was not being done to apprehend the Persian emissary.
Themistocles even took it upon himself to send Sicinnus to run down
several suspects, and just on the morning of the day preceding the
Panathenaea--the great summer festival--Democrates received a hint which sent
him home very thoughtful. He had met his chief in the Agora as he was
leaving the Government-House, and Themistocles had again asked if he had
smelt aught of the Persian agent. He had not.

"Then you would well devote more time to finding his scent, and less to
convicting a pitiful embezzler. You know the Alopece suburb?"

"Certainly."

"And the house of Phormio the fishmonger?" to which Democrates nodded.

"Well, Sicinnus has been watching the quarter. A Babylonish carpet-seller
has rooms opposite Phormio. The man is suspicious, does no trading, and
Phormio's wife told Sicinnus an odd tale."

"What tale?" Democrates glanced at a passing chariot, avoiding
Themistocles's gaze.

"Why, twice the Barbarian, she swears, has had an evening visitor--and he
our dear Glaucon."

"Impossible."

"Of course. The good woman is mistaken. Still, question her. Pry into this
Babylonian's doings. He may be selling more things than carpets. If he has
corrupted any here in Athens,--by Pluto the Implacable, I will make them
tell out the price!"

"I'll inquire at once."

"Do so. The matter grows serious."

Themistocles caught sight of one of the archons and hastened across the
Agora to have a word with him. Democrates passed his hand across his
forehead, beaded with sudden sweat-drops. He knew--though Themistocles had
said not a word--that his superior was beg