inning to distrust his efforts,
and that Sicinnus was working independently. Democrates had great respect
for the acuteness of that Asiatic. He was coming perilously near the truth
already. If the Cyprian and Hiram were arrested, the latter at least would
surely try to save his life by betraying their nocturnal visitor. To get
the spy safely out of Athens would be the first step,--but not all.
Sicinnus once upon the scent would not readily drop it until he had
discovered the emissary's confederate. And of the fate of that confederate
Themistocles had just given a grim hint. There was one other solution
possible. If Democrates could discover the confederate _himself_, Sicinnus
would regard the matter as cleared up and drop all interest therein. All
these possibilities raced through the orator's head, as does the past
through one drowning. A sudden greeting startled him.

"A fair morning, Democrates." It was Glaucon. He walked arm-in-arm with
Cimon.

"A fair morning, indeed. Where are you going?"

"To the Peiraeus to inspect the new tackling of the _Nausicaae_. You will
join us?"

"Unfortunately I argue a case before the King Archon."

"Be as eloquent as in your last speech. Do you know, Cimon declares I am
disloyal too, and that you will soon be prosecuting me?"

"Avert it, gods! What do you mean?"

"Why, he is sending a letter to Argos," asserted Cimon. "Now I say Argos
has Medized, therefore no good Hellene should correspond with a traitorous
Argive."

"Be jury on my treachery," commanded Glaucon. "Ageladas the
master-sculptor sends me a bronze Perseus in honour of my victory. Shall I
churlishly send him no thanks because he lives in Argos?"

" 'Not guilty' votes the jury; the white beans prevail. So the letter goes
to-day?"

"To-morrow afternoon. You know Seuthes of Corinth--the bow-legged fellow
with a big belly. He goes home to-morrow afternoon after seeing the
procession and the sacrifice."

"He goes by sea?" asked Democrates, casually.

"By land; no ship went to his liking. He will lie overnight at Eleusis."

The friends went their ways. Democrates hardly saw or heard anything until
he was in his own chambers. Three things were graven on his mind: Sicinnus
was watching, the Babylonian was suspected, Glaucon was implicated and was
sending a letter to Argos.

* * * * * * *

Bias the Thracian was discovered that afternoon by his master lurking in a
corner of the chambe