stood how to persuade them to
many things, and Alexas had just secured his aid.

Alexas had really succeeded in the work of reconciliation. During the
orator's married life with Barine she had forbidden her brother-in-law
the house, and her husband had quarrelled with the brother who sought
his wife. But after the latter had risen to a high place in Antony's
favour, and been loaded with gold by his lavish hand, Philostratus
had again approached him to claim his share of the new wealth. And the
source from which Alexas drew flowed so abundantly that his favourite
did not find it difficult to give. Both men were as unprincipled as they
were lavish, 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 remo