sians ungrateful--the tyranny
of Athens under the easy suzerainty of the king, is that no dish to whet
your appetite?"

"I knew of the offer before."

"A great pity you are not more eager. Hermes seldom sends such chances
twice. I hoped to have you for 'my royal brother' when they gave me the
like lordship of Lacedaemon. However, the matter does not end with your
refusal."

"I have said, 'Do your worst.' "

"And my worst is--Agis."

For an instant Lycon was dismayed. He thought he had slain his victim with
one word. Democrates dropped from his clutch and upon the pavement as
though stricken through the heart by an arrow. He was pallid as a corpse,
at first he only groaned.

"_Eu! eu!_ good comrade," cried the Spartan, dragging him up, half
triumphant, half sympathetic, "I did not know I was throwing Zeus's
thunderbolts."

The Athenian sat with his head on his hands. In all his dealings with the
Spartan he had believed he had covered the details of the fate of Glaucon.
Lycon could surmise what he liked, but the proof to make the damning
charges good Democrates believed he had safe in his own keeping. Only one
man could have unlocked the casket of infamy--Agis--and the mention of his
name was as a bolt from the blue.

"Where is he? I heard he was killed at Artemisium." Lycon hardly
understood his victim's thick whispers.

"Wounded indeed, _philotate_, taken prisoner, and sent to Thebes. There
friends of mine found he had a story to tell--greatly to my advantage. It
is only a little time since he came to Sparta."

"What lies has he told?"

"Several, dear fellow, although if they are lies, then Aletheia, Lady
Truth, must almost own them for her children. At least they are
interesting lies; as, for example, how you advised the Cyprian to escape
from Athens, how you gave Agis a letter to hide in the boots of Glaucon's
messenger, of your interviews with Lampaxo and Archias, of the charming
art you possess of imitating handwritings and seals."

"Base-born swine! who will believe him?"

"Base born, Democrates, but hardly swinish. He can tell a very clear
story. Likewise, Lampaxo and Archias must testify at the trial, also your
slave Bias can tell many interesting things."

"Only if I consent to produce him."

"When did a master ever refuse to let his slave testify, if demanded,
unless he wished to blast his own cause with the jury? No, _makaire_, you
will not enjoy the day when Themistocles arrays the testimo