emistocles to Democrates:--This evening I begin to discover something.
Sicinnus, who has been searching in Athens, is certain there is a Persian
agent in the city. Seize him.--_Chaire._"

The second was shorter. It came from Corinth.

"Socias the merchant to Democrates:--Tyrrhenian pirates have taken the
ship. Lading and crew are utterly lost.--_Chaire._"

The orator never closed his eyes that night.

CHAPTER IX

THE CYPRIAN TRIUMPHS

Democrates fronted ruin. What profit later details from Socias of the
capture of the merchantman? Unless three days before the coming festival
of the Panathenaea the orator could find a large sum, he was forever
undone. His sequestering of the ship-money would become public property.
He would be tried for his life. Themistocles would turn against him. The
jury would hardly wait for the evidence. He would drink the poisonous
hemlock and his corpse be picked by the crows in the Barathrum,--an open
pit, sole burial place for Athenian criminals.

One thing was possible: to go to Glaucon, confess all, and beg the money.
Glaucon was rich. He could have the amount from Conon and Hermippus for
the asking. But Democrates knew Glaucon well enough to perceive that while
the athlete might find the money, he would be horrified at the foul
disclosure. He would save his old comrade from death, but their friendship
would be ended. He would feel in duty bound to tell Themistocles enough to
ruin Democrates's political prospects for all time. An appeal to Glaucon
was therefore dismissed, and the politician looked for more desperate
remedies.

Democrates enjoyed apartments on the street of the Tripods east of the
Acropolis, a fashionable promenade of Athens. He was regarded as a
confirmed bachelor. If, therefore, two or three dark-eyed flute girls in
Phaleron had helped him to part with a good many minae, no one scolded too
loudly; the thing had been done genteelly and without scandal. Democrates
affected to be a collector of fine arms and armour. The ceiling of his
living room was hung with white-plumed helmets, on the walls glittered
brass greaves, handsomely embossed shields, inlaid Chalcidian scimitars,
and bows tipped with gold. Under foot were expensive rugs. The orator's
artistic tastes were excellent. Even as he sat in the deeply pillowed
arm-chair his eye lighted on a Nike,--a statuette of the precious
Corinthian bronze, a t