avish, and
experience taught them that base natures always have at their disposal a
plank with which to bridge chasms. If it is of gold, it will be crossed
the more speedily. Such was the case here, and of late it had become
specially firm; for each needed the other's aid.

Alexas loved Barine, while Philostratus no longer cared for her. On the
other hand, he hated Dion with so ardent a thirst for revenge that, to
obtain it, he would have resigned even the hope of fresh gains. The
humiliation inflicted upon him by the arrogant Macedonian noble, and the
derision which through his efforts had been heaped upon him, haunted him
like importunate pursuers; and he felt that he could only rid himself of
them with the source of his disgrace. Without his brother's aid, he would
have been content to assail Dion with his slandering tongue; with his
powerful assistance he could inflict a heavier injury upon him, perhaps
even rob him of liberty and life. They had just made an agreement by
which Philostratus pledged himself to reconcile the populace to any
punishment that might be inflicted upon Barine, and Alexas promised to
help his brother take a bloody vengeance upon Dion the Macedonian.

Barine's death could be of no service to Alexas. The sight of her beauty
had fired his heart a second time, and he was resolved to make her his
own. In the dungeon, perhaps by torture, she should be forced to grasp
his helping hand. All this would permit no delay. Everything must be done
before the return of Antony, who was daily expected. Alexas's lavish
patron had made him so rich that he could bear to lose his favour for the
sake of this object. Even without it, he could maintain a household with
royal magnificence in some city of his Syrian home.

On receiving the favourite's assurance that he would remove Barine from
Charmian's protection on the morrow, Iras became more gracious. She could
make no serious objection to his statement that the new trial might not,
it is true, end in a sentence of death, but the verdict would probably be
transportation to the mines, or something of the sort.

Then Alexas cautiously tested Iras's feelings towards his brother's
mortal foe. They were hostile; yet when the favourite intimated that he,
too, ought to be given up to justice, she showed so much hesitation, that
Alexas stopped abruptly and turned the conversation upon Barine. Here she
promised assistance with her former eager zeal, and it was settled t