of Hellas. Democrates was proud and sanguine.
Then, like a thunderbolt, there came one night a knock at his door. Bias
led to his master no less a visitor than the sleek and smiling
Phoenician--Hiram.

The orator tried to cover his terrors by windy bluster. He broke in before
the Oriental could finish his elaborate salaam.

"Of all the harpies and gorgons you are the least welcome. Were you not
warned when you fled Athens for Argos never to show your face in Attica
again?"

"Your Excellency said so," was the bland reply.

"Admirably you obey it. It remains for me to reward the obedience. Bias,
go to the street; summon two Scythian watchmen."

The Thracian darted out. Hiram simply stood with hands folded.

"It is well, Excellency, the lad is gone. I have many things to say in
confidence to your Nobility. At Lacedaemon my Lord Lycon was gracious
enough to give certain commands for me to transmit to you."

"Commands? To me? Earth and gods! am I to be commanded by an adder like
you? You shall pay for this on the rack."

"Your slave thinks otherwise," observed Hiram, humbly. "If your Lordship
will deign to read this letter, it will save your slave many words and
your Lordship many cursings."

He knelt again before he offered a papyrus. Democrates would rather have
taken fire, but he could not refuse. And thus he read:--

"Lycon of Lacedaemon to Democrates of Athens, greeting:--Can he who Medizes
in the summer Hellenize in the spring? I know your zeal for Themistocles.
Was it for this we plucked you back from exposure and ruin? Do then as
Hiram bids you, or repay the money you clutched so eagerly. Fail not, or
rest confident all the documents you betrayed shall go to Hypsichides the
First Archon, your enemy. Use then your eloquence on Attic juries! But you
will grow wise; what need of me to threaten? You will hearken to Hiram.

"From Sparta, on the festival of Bellerophon, in the ephorship of
Theudas.--_Chaire!_"

Democrates folded the papyrus and stood long, biting his whitened lips in
silence. Perhaps he had surmised the intent of the letter the instant
Hiram extended it.

"What do you desire?" he said thickly, at last.

"Let my Lord then hearken--" began the Phoenician, to be interrupted by the
sudden advent of Bias.

"The Scythians are at the door, _kyrie_," he was shouting; "shall I order
them in and drag this lizard out by the tail?"

"No, in Zeus's name, no! Bid them keep without. And do you go also