A Victor of Salamis Part 50

Time had not mended Lycon's aspect, nor taken from his eye that sinister twinkle which was so marked a foil to his brutishness.

"I did not invite you, dear fellow," rejoined the Athenian, "to remind me of the fact."

"Yet you should have grat.i.tude, and you have lacked that virtue of late.

It was a sorry plight Mardonius's money saved you from two years since, and n.o.bly have you remembered his good service."

"Worthy Lacedaemonian," said Democrates, with what patience he could command, "if you desire to go over all that little business which concerned us then, at least I would suggest not in the open Agora." He started to walk swiftly away. The Spartan's ponderous strides easily kept beside him. Democrates looked vainly for an a.s.sociate whom he could approach and on some pretext could accompany. None in sight. Lycon kept fast hold of his cloak. For practical purposes Democrates was prisoner.

"Why in Corinth?" he threw out sullenly.

"For three reasons, _philotate_," Lycon grinned over his shoulder, "first, the women at the Grove of Aphrodite here are handsome; second, I am weary of Sparta and its black broth and iron money; third, and here is the rose for my garland, I had need to confer with your n.o.ble self."

"Would not Hiram be your dutiful messenger again?" queried the other, vainly watching for escape.

"Hiram is worth twenty talents as a helper;"-Lycon gave a hound-like chuckle,-"still he is not Apollo, and there are too many strings on this lyre for him to play them all. Besides, he failed at Salamis."

"He did! Zeus blast his importunity and yours likewise. Where are you taking me? I warn you in advance, you are 'shearing an a.s.s,'-attempting the impossible,-if you deceive yourself as to my power. I can do nothing more to prevent the war from being pressed against Mardonius. It is only your Laconian ephors that are hindering."

"We shall see, _philotate_, we shall see," grunted the Spartan, exasperatingly cool. "Here is Poseidon's Temple. Let us sit in the shaded portico."

Democrates resigned himself to be led to a stone seat against the wall.

The gray old "dog-watcher" by the gate glanced up to see that no dogs were straying into the holy house, noted only two gentlemen come for a chat, and resumed his siesta. Lycon took a long time in opening his business.

"The world has used you well of late, dear fellow."

"Pa.s.sing well, by Athena's favour."

"You should say by Hermes's favour, but I would trust you Athenians to grow fat on successful villany and then bless the righteous G.o.ds."

"I hope you haven't left Sparta just to revile me!" cried Democrates, leaping up, to be thrust back by Lycon's giant paw.

"_Ai!_ mix a little honey with your speech, it costs nothing. Well, the length and breadth of my errand is this, Mardonius must fight soon, and must be victorious."

"That is for your brave ephors to say," darted Democrates. "According to their valiant proposals they desire this war to imitate that with Troy,-to last ten years."

"Indeed-but I always held my people surpa.s.sed in procrastination, as yours in deceiving. However, their minds will change."

"Aristeides and Themistocles will bless you for that."

Lycon shrugged his great shoulders.

"Then I'll surpa.s.s the G.o.ds, who can seldom please all men. Still it is quite true."

"I'm glad to hear it."

"Dear Democrates, you know what's befallen in Sparta. Since Leonidas died, his rivals from my own side of the royal house have gathered a great deal more of power. My uncle Nicander is at present head of the board of ephors, and gladly takes my advice."

"Ha!" Democrates began to divine the drift.

"It seemed best to me after the affair at Salamis to give the lie to my calumniators, who hinted that I desired to 'Medize,' and that it was by my intriguing that the late king took so small a force to Thermopylae."

"All h.e.l.las knows _your_ patriotism!" cried Democrates, satirically.

"Even so. I have silenced my fiercest abusers. If I have not yet urged in our a.s.sembly that we should fight Mardonius, it is merely because-it is not yet prudent."

"Excellent scoundrel," declared the other, writhing on his seat, "you are no Spartan, but long-winded as a Sicilian."

"Patience, _philotate_, a Spartan must either speak in apothegms or take all day. I have not advised a battle yet because I was not certain of your aid."

"Ay, by Zeus," broke out Democrates, "that ointment I sniffed a long way off. I can give you quick answer. Fly back to Sparta, swift as Boreas; plot, conspire, earn Tartarus, to your heart's content-you'll get no more help from me."

"I expected that speech." Lycon's coolness drove his victim almost frantic.

"In the affair of Tempe I bent to you for the last time," Democrates charged desperately. "I have counted the cost. Perhaps you can use against me certain doc.u.ments, but I am on a surer footing than once. In the last year I have done such service to h.e.l.las I can even hope to be forgiven, should these old mistakes be proved. And if you drive me to bay, be sure of this, I will see to it that all the dealings betwixt the Barbarian and your n.o.ble self are expounded to your admiring countrymen."

"You show truly excellent courage, dear Democrates," cried Lycon, in pseudo-admiration. "That speech was quite worthy of a tragic actor."

"If we're in the theatre, let the chorus sing its last strophe and have done. You disgust me."

"Peace, peace," ordered Lycon, his hand still on the Athenian's shoulder, "I will make all the haste I can, but obstinacy is disagreeable. I repeat, you are needed, sorely needed, by Mardonius to enable him to complete the conquest of h.e.l.las. You shall not call the Persians ungrateful-the tyranny of Athens under the easy suzerainty of the king, is that no dish to whet your appet.i.te?"

"I knew of the offer before."

"A great pity you are not more eager. Hermes seldom sends such chances twice. I hoped to have you for 'my royal brother' when they gave me the like lordship of Lacedaemon. However, the matter does not end with your refusal."

"I have said, 'Do your worst.' "

"And my worst is-Agis."

For an instant Lycon was dismayed. He thought he had slain his victim with one word. Democrates dropped from his clutch and upon the pavement as though stricken through the heart by an arrow. He was pallid as a corpse, at first he only groaned.

"_Eu! eu!_ good comrade," cried the Spartan, dragging him up, half triumphant, half sympathetic, "I did not know I was throwing Zeus's thunderbolts."

The Athenian sat with his head on his hands. In all his dealings with the Spartan he had believed he had covered the details of the fate of Glaucon.

Lycon could surmise what he liked, but the proof to make the d.a.m.ning charges good Democrates believed he had safe in his own keeping. Only one man could have unlocked the casket of infamy-Agis-and the mention of his name was as a bolt from the blue.

"Where is he? I heard he was killed at Artemisium." Lycon hardly understood his victim's thick whispers.

"Wounded indeed, _philotate_, taken prisoner, and sent to Thebes. There friends of mine found he had a story to tell-greatly to my advantage. It is only a little time since he came to Sparta."

"What lies has he told?"

"Several, dear fellow, although if they are lies, then Aletheia, Lady Truth, must almost own them for her children. At least they are interesting lies; as, for example, how you advised the Cyprian to escape from Athens, how you gave Agis a letter to hide in the boots of Glaucon's messenger, of your interviews with Lampaxo and Archias, of the charming art you possess of imitating handwritings and seals."

"Base-born swine! who will believe him?"

"Base born, Democrates, but hardly swinish. He can tell a very clear story. Likewise, Lampaxo and Archias must testify at the trial, also your slave Bias can tell many interesting things."