ortunate!" echoed the miserable youth, rising on one elbow, "say it
never again. The gods have blasted me with one great blow. And you--you are
Phormio, husband and brother-in-law of those who have sworn against
me,--you are the slave of Democrates my destroyer,--and you, woman,--Zeus
soften you!--already clamour for my worthless life, as all Athens does
to-morrow!"

Lampaxo suddenly subsided. Resistance from her spouse was so unexpected
she lost at once arguments and breath. Phormio continued to act promptly;
taking a treasured bottle from a cupboard he filled a mug and pressed it
to the newcomer's lips. The fiery liquor sent the colour back into
Glaucon's face. He raised himself higher--strength and mind in a measure
returned. Bias had whispered to Phormio rapidly. Perhaps he had guessed
more of his master's doings than he had dared to hint before.

"Hark you, Master Glaucon," began Phormio, not unkindly. "You are with
friends, and never heed my wife. She's not so steely hearted as she
seems."

"Seize the traitor," interjected Lampaxo, with a gasp.

"Tell your story. I'm a plain and simple man, who won't believe a
gentleman with your fair looks, fame, and fortune has pawned them all in a
night. Bias has sense. First tell how you came to wander down this way."

Glaucon sat upright, his hands pressing against his forehead.

"How can I tell? I have run to and fro, seeing yet not seeing whither I
went. I know I passed the Acharnican gate, and the watch stared at me.
Doubtless I ran hither because here they said the Babylonian lived, and he
has been ever in my head. I shudder to go over the scene at Colonus. I
wish I were dead. Then I could forget it!"

"Constables--fetters!" howled Lampaxo, as a direful interlude, to be
silenced by an angry gesture from her helpmeet.

"Nevertheless, try to tell what you can," spoke Phormio, mildly, and
Glaucon, with what power he had, complied. Broken, faltering, scarce
coherent often, his story came at last. He sat silent while Phormio
clutched his own head. Then Glaucon darted around wild and hopeless eyes.

"_Ai!_ you believe me guilty. I almost believe so myself. All my best
friends have cast me off. Democrates, my friend from youth, has wrought my
ruin. My wife I shall never see again. I am resolved--" He rose. A
desperate purpose made his feet steady.

"What will you do?" demanded Phormio, perplexed.

"One thing is left. I am sure to be arrested at dawn if not before. I w