reat landed
estate at Marathon to his new-born grandson. The exact value thereof
Democrates inquired into sharply, and when a distant cousin talked of
contesting the will, the orator announced he would defend the infant's
rights. The would-be plaintiff withdrew at once, not anxious to cross
swords with this favourite of the juries, and everybody said that
Democrates was showing a most scrupulous regard for his unfortunate
friend's memory.

Indeed, seemingly, Democrates ought to have been the happiest man in
Athens. He had been elected "strategus," to serve on the board of generals
along with Themistocles. He had plenty of money, and gave great banquets
to this or that group of prominent citizens. During the winter he had
asked Hermippus for his daughter in marriage. The Eumolpid told him that
since Glaucon's fearful end, he was welcome as a son-in-law. Still he
could not conceal that Hermione never spoke of him save in hate, and in
view of her then delicate condition it was well not to press the matter.
The orator had seemed well content. "Woman's fantasies would wear away in
time." But the rumour of this negotiation, outrunning truth, grew into the
lying report of an absolute betrothal,--the report which was to drift to
Asia and turn Glaucon's heart to stone, gossip having always wrought more
harm than malignant lying.

Yet flies were in Democrates's sweet ointment. He knew Themistocles hardly
trusted him as frankly as of yore. Little Simonides, a man of wide
influence and keen insight, treated him very coldly. Cimon had cooled
also. But worse than all was a haunting dread. Democrates knew, if hardly
another in Hellas, that the Cyprian--in other words Mardonius--was safe in
Asia, and likewise that he had fled on the _Solon_. Mardonius, then, had
escaped the storm. What if the same miracle had saved the outlaw? What if
the dead should awake? The chimera haunted Democrates night and day.

Still he was beginning to shake off his terrors. He believed he had washed
his hands fairly clean of his treason, even if the water had cost his
soul. He joined with all his energies in seconding Themistocles. His voice
was loudest at the Pnyx, counselling resistance. He went on successful
embassies to Sicyon and AEgina to get pledges of alliance. In the summer he
did his uttermost to prepare the army which Themistocles and Evaenetus the
Spartan led to defend the pass of Tempe. The expedition sailed amid high
hopes for a noble defence