reasure for which the dealer's unpaid account lay
still, alas! in the orator's coffer.

But Democrates was not thinking so much of the unpaid bronze-smith as of
divers weightier debts. On the evening in question he had ordered Bias,
the sly Thracian, out of the room; with his own hands had barred the door
and closed the lattice; then with stealthy step thrust back the scarlet
wall tapestry to disclose a small door let into the plaster. A key made
the door open into a cupboard, out of which Democrates drew a brass-bound
box of no great size, which he carried gingerly to a table and opened with
a complex key.

The contents of the box were curious, to a stranger enigmatic. Not money,
nor jewels, but rolls of closely written papyri, and things which the
orator studied more intently,--a number of hard bits of clay bearing the
impressions of seals. As Democrates fingered these, his face might have
betrayed a mingling of keen fear and keener satisfaction.

"There is no such collection in all Hellas,--no, not in the world," ran his
commentary; "here is the signet of the Tagos of Thessaly, here of the
Boeotarch of Thebes, here of the King of Argos. I was able to secure the
seal of Leonidas while in Corinth. This, of course, is Themistocles's,--how
easily I took it! And this--of less value perhaps to a man of the world--is
of my beloved Glaucon. And here are twenty more. Then the papyri,"--he
unrolled them lovingly, one after another,--"precious specimens, are they
not? Ah, by Zeus, I must be a very merciful and pious man, or I'd have
used that dreadful power heaven has given me and never have drifted into
these straits."

What that "power" was with which Democrates felt himself endued he did not
even whisper to himself. His mood changed suddenly. He closed the box with
a snap and locked it hurriedly.

"Cursed casket!--I think I would be happier if Phorcys, the old man of the
deep, could drown it all! I would be better for it and kept from foul
thoughts."

He thrust the box back in the cupboard, drew forth a second like it,
unlocked it, and took out more writings. Selecting two, he spread ink and
papyrus before him, and copied with feverish haste. Once he hesitated, and
almost flung back the writings into the casket. Once he glanced at the
notes he had prepared for his speech against the defrauding contractor. He
grimaced bitterly. Then the hesitation ended. He finished the copying,
replaced the second box, and barred and c