ipped whilst trying to
follow. If the tale was not of perfect workmanship at all points, there
was no one with interest to gainsay it. A few ran up the hill slope, but
the sailor was nowhere in sight. Hermione was still speechless. They made
a litter of oars and sail-cloth and carried her to her mother. Democrates
oiled Cleopis's palm well, that she should tell nothing amiss to Lysistra.
It was a long time before Hermione opened her eyes in her chamber. Her
first words were:--

"Glaucon! I have seen Glaucon!"

"You have had a strange dream, _philotata_," soothed Lysistra, shifting
the pillows, "lie still and rest."

But Hermione shook her shining brown head and repeated, many times:--

"No dream! No dream! I have seen Glaucon face to face. In that instant he
spoke and looked on me I knew him. He lives. He saved me. Ah! why does he
stay away?"

Lysistra, whose husband had not deemed it prudent to inform her of
Themistocles's revelations, was infinitely distressed. She sent for the
best physicians of the city, and despatched a slave to the temple of
Asclepius at Epidaurus--not distant--to sacrifice two cocks for her
daughter's recovery. The doctors looked wise and recommended heavy doses
of spiced wine, and if those did not suffice, said that the patient might
spend a night in the temple of the Healer, who would no doubt explain the
true remedy in a dream. A "wise woman" who had great following among the
slaves advised that a young puppy be tied upon Hermione's temples to
absorb the disaffection of her brain. Lysistra was barely persuaded not to
follow her admonitions. After a few days the patient grew better,
recovered strength, took an interest in her child. Yet ever and anon she
would repeat over Phoenix's cradle:--

"Your father lives! I have seen him! I have seen him!"

What, however, puzzled Lysistra most, was the fact that Cleopis did not
contradict her young mistress in the least, but maintained a mysterious
silence about the whole adventure.

CHAPTER XXXIV

THE LOYALTY OF LAMPAXO

The night after his adventure on the hill slope Democrates received in his
chambers no less an individual than Hiram. That industrious Phoenician had
been several days in Troezene, occupied in a manner he and his superior
discreetly kept to themselves. The orator had a bandage above one eye,
where a heavy sandal had kicked him. He was exceedingly pale, and sat