life, better and longer than the
reward of a momentary passion. Oh, Arbaces! hear me, and be swayed!'

'Enough, Ione. All that I can do for Glaucus shall be done; but blame
me not if I fail. Inquire of my foes, even, if I have not sought, if I
do not seek, to turn aside the sentence from his head; and judge me
accordingly. Sleep then, Ione. Night wanes; I leave thee to rest--and
mayst thou have kinder dreams of one who has no existence but in thine.'

Without waiting a reply, Arbaces hastily withdrew; afraid, perhaps, to
trust himself further to the passionate prayer of Ione, which racked him
with jealousy, even while it touched him to compassion. But compassion
itself came too late. Had Ione even pledged him her hand as his reward,
he could not now--his evidence given--the populace excited--have saved
the Athenian. Still made sanguine by his very energy of mind, he threw
himself on the chances of the future, and believed he should yet triumph
over the woman that had so entangled his passions.

As his attendants assisted to unrobe him for the night, the thought of
Nydia flashed across him. He felt it was necessary that Ione should
never learn of her lover's frenzy, lest it might excuse his imputed
crime; and it was possible that her attendants might inform her that
Nydia was under his roof, and she might desire to see her. As this idea
crossed him, he turned to one of his freedmen:

'Go, Callias,' said he, 'forthwith to Sosia, and tell him, that on no
pretence is he to suffer the blind slave Nydia out of her chamber. But,
stay--first seek those in attendance upon my ward, and caution them not
to inform her that the blind girl is under my roof Go--quick!'

The freedman hastened to obey. After having discharged his commission
with respect to Ione's attendants, he sought the worthy Sosia. He found
him not in the little cell which was apportioned for his cubiculum; he
called his name aloud, and from Nydia's chamber, close at hand, he heard
the voice of Sosia reply:

'Oh, Callias, is it you that I hear?--the gods be praised!' Open the
door, I pray you!'

Callias withdrew the bolt, and the rueful face of Sosia hastily
protruded itself.

'What!--in the chamber with that young girl, Sosia! Proh pudor! Are
there not fruits ripe enough on the wall, but that thou must tamper with
such green...'

'Name not the little witch!' interrupted Sosia, impatiently; 'she will
be my ruin!' And he forthwith imparted to Ca