Part 22 (2/2)

Thank Olympus, I'm not Lampaxo. You're too young a turbot for Charon's fish-net. Let me think a moment.”

The fishmonger stood scratching his thin hairs. Another howl from Lampaxo decided him.

”Are you a traitor, too? Away with the wretch to prison!”

”I'm resolved,” cried Phormio, striking his thigh. ”Only an honest man could get such hatred from my wife. If they've not tracked you yet, they're not likely to find you before morning. My cousin Brasidas is master of the _Solon_, and owes a good turn-”

Quick strides took him to a chest. He dragged forth a sleeveless sailor's cloak of hair-cloth. To fling this over Glaucon's rent chiton took an instant, another instant to clap on the fugitive's head a brimless red cap.

”_Euge!_-you grow transformed. But that white face of yours is dangerous.

See!” he rubbed over the Alcmaeonid's face two handfuls of black ashes s.n.a.t.c.hed from the hearth and sprang back with a great laugh, ”you're a sailor unlading charcoal now. Zeus himself would believe it. All is ready-”

”For prison?” asked Glaucon, clearly understanding little.

”For the sea, my lad. For Athens is no place for you to-morrow, and Brasidas sails at dawn. Some more wine? It's a long, brisk walk.”

”To the havens? You trust me? You doubt the accusation which every friend save Hermione believes? O pure Athena-and this is possible!” Again Glaucon's head whirled. It took more of the fiery wine to stay him up.

”Ay, boy,” comforted Phormio, very gruff, ”you shall walk again around Athens with a bold, brave face, though not to-morrow, I fear. Polus trusts his heart and not his head in voting 'guilty,' so I trust it voting 'innocent.' ”

”I warn you,” Glaucon spoke rapidly, ”I've no claim on your friends.h.i.+p. If your part in this is discovered, you know our juries.”

”That I know,” laughed Phormio, grimly, ”for I know dear Polus. So now my own cloak and we are off.”

But Lampaxo, who had watched everything with acc.u.mulating anger, now burst loose. She bounded to the door.

”Constables! Help! Athens is betrayed!”

She bawled that much through the lattice before her husband and Bias dragged her back. Fortunately the street was empty.

”That I should see this! My own husband betraying the city! Aiding a traitor!” Then she began whimpering through her nose. ”_Mu! mu!_ leave the villain to his fate. Think of me if not of your own safety. Woe! when was a woman more misused?”

But here her lament ended, for Phormio, with the firmness of a man thoroughly determined, thrust a rag into her mouth and with Bias's help bound her down upon the couch by means of a convenient fish-cord.

”I am grieved to stop your singing, blessed dear,” spoke the fishmonger, indulging in a rare outburst of sarcasm against his formidable helpmeet, ”but we play a game with Fate to-night a little too even to allow unfair chances. Bias will watch you until I return, and then I can discover, _philotata_, whether your love for Athens is so great you must go to the Archon to denounce your husband.”

The Thracian promised to do his part. His affection for Democrates was clearly not the warmest. Lampaxo's farewell, as Phormio guided his half-dazed companion into the street, was a futile struggle and a choking.

The ways were empty and silent. Glaucon allowed himself to be led by the hand and did not speak. He hardly knew how or whither Phormio was taking him. Their road lay along the southern side of the Acropolis, past the tall columns of the unfinished Temple of Zeus, which reared to giant height in the white moonlight. This, as well as the overshadowing Rock itself, they left behind without incident. Phormio chose devious alleys, and they met neither Scythian constables nor bands of roisterers. Only once the two pa.s.sed a house bright with lamps. Jovial guests celebrated a late wedding feast. Clearly the two heard the marriage hymn of Sappho.

”The bridegroom comes tall as Ares, Ho, Hymenaeus!

Taller than a mighty man, Ho, Hymenaeus!”

Glaucon stopped like one struck with an arrow.

”They sang that song the night I wedded Hermione. Oh, if I could drink the Lethe water and forget!”

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