A Victor of Salamis

by William Stearns Davis

  CHAPTER XII

  A TRAITOR TO HELLAS

  Before the house six riders were reining,--five Scythian "bowmen" of theconstabulary of Athens, tow-headed Barbarians, grinning but mute; thesixth was Democrates. He dismounted with a bound, and as he did so thefriends saw that his face was red as with pent-up excitement. Themistoclesadvanced hastily.

  "What's this? Your hands seem a-quiver. Whom has that constable tied upbehind him?"

  "Seuthes!" cried Glaucon, bounding back, "Seuthes, by every god, andpinioned like a felon."

  "Ay!" groaned the prisoner, lashed to a horse, "what have I done to beseized and tried like a bandit? Why should I be set upon by thesegentlemen while I was enjoying a quiet pot of wine in the tavern atDaphni, and be haled away as if to crucifixion? _Mu! Mu!_ make them untieme, dear Master Glaucon."

  "Put down your prisoner," ordered Democrates, "and all you constables staywithout the house. I ask Themistocles, Hermippus, and Glaucon to come toan inner room. I must examine this man. The matter is serious."

  "Serious?" echoed the bewildered athlete, "I can vouch for Seuthes--anexcellent Corinthian, come to Athens to sell some bales of wool--"

  "Answer, Glaucon," Democrates's voice was stern. "Has he no letters fromyou for Argos?"

  "Certainly."

  "You admit it?"

  "By the dog of Egypt, do you doubt my word?"

  "Friends," called Democrates, dramatically, "mark you that Glaucon admitshe has employed this Seuthes as his courier."

  "Whither leads this mummery?" cried the athlete, growing at last angry.

  "If to nothing, I, Democrates, rejoice the most. Now I must bid you tofollow me."

  Seizing the snivelling Seuthes, the orator led into the house and to aprivate chamber. The rest followed, in blank wonderment. Cimon hadrecovered enough to follow--none too steadily. But when Hermioneapproached, Democrates motioned her back.

  "Do not come. A painful scene may be impending."

  "What my husband can hear, that can I," was her retort. "Ah! but why doyou look thus dreadfully on Glaucon?"

  "I have warned you, lady. Do not blame me if you hear the worst," rejoinedDemocrates, barring the door. A single swinging lamp shed a fitful lighton the scene--the whimpering prisoner, the others all amazed, the orator'sface, tense and white. Democrates's voice seemed metallic as hecontinued:--

  "Now, Seuthes, we must search you. Produce first the letter from Glaucon."

  The fat florid little Corinthian was dressed as a traveller, a graychalmys to his hips, a brimmed brown hat, and high black boots. His handswere now untied. He tugged from his belt a bit of papyrus which Democrateshanded to Themistocles, enjoining "Open."

  Glaucon flushed.

  "Are you mad, Democrates, to violate my private correspondence thus?"

  "The weal of Athens outweighs even the pleasure of Glaucon," returned theorator, harshly, "and you, Themistocles, note that Glaucon does not denythat the seal here is his own."

  "I do not deny," cried the angry athlete. "Open, Themistocles, and letthis stupid comedy end."

  "And may it never change to tragedy!" proclaimed Democrates. "What do youread, Themistocles?"

  "A courteous letter of thanks to Ageladas." The senior statesman wasfrowning. "Glaucon is right. Either you are turned mad, or are victim ofsome prank,--is it yours, Cimon?"

  "I am as innocent as a babe. I'd swear it by the Styx," responded thatyoung man, scratching his muddled head.

  "I fear we are not at the end of the examination," observed Democrates,with ominous slowness. "Now, Seuthes, recollect your plight. Have you noother letter about you?"

  "None!" groaned the unheroic Corinthian. "Ah! pity, kind sirs; what have Idone? Suffer me to go."

  "It is possible," remarked his prosecutor, "you are an innocent victim, orat least do not realize the intent of what you bear. I must examine thelining of your chalmys. Nothing. Your girdle. Nothing. Your hat, removeit. Quite empty. Blessed be Athena if my fears prove groundless. But myfirst duty is to Athens and Hellas. Ah! Your high boots. Remove the rightone." The orator felt within, and shook the boot violently. "Nothingagain. The left one, empty it seems. _Ei!_ what is this?"

  In a tense silence he shook from the boot a papyrus, rolled and sealed. Itfell on the floor at the feet of Themistocles, who, watching all hislieutenant did, bent and seized it instantly; then it dropped from hishands as a live coal.

  "The seal! The seal! May Zeus smite me blind if I see aright!"

  Hermippus, who had been following all the scene in silence, bent, liftedthe fateful paper, and he too gave a cry of grief.

  "It is the seal of Glaucon. How came it here?"

  "Glaucon,"--hard as Democrates's voice had been that night, it rang likecold iron now,--"as the friend of your boyhood, and one who would still dofor you all he may, I urge you as you love me to look upon this seal."

  "I am looking," but as he spoke paleness followed the angry flush on theathlete's forehead. He needed no omen to tell him something fearful wasabout to ensue.

  "The seal is yours?"

  "The very same, two dancing maenads and over them a winged Eros. But howcame this letter here? I did not--"

  "As you love life or death, as you preserve any regard for our friendship,I adjure you,--not to brave it longer, but to confess--"

  "Confess what? My head is reeling."

  "The treason in which you have dipped your hands, your dealings with thePersian spy, your secret interviews, and last of all this letter,--I fear agross betrayal of all trust,--to some agent of Xerxes. I shudder when Ithink of what may be its contents."

  "And--this--from--you! Oh,--Democrates,--"

  The accused man's hands snatched at the air. He sank upon a chest.

  "He does not deny it," threw out the orator, but Glaucon's voice rangshrilly:--

  "Ever! Ever will I deny! Though the Twelve Gods all cried out 'guilty!'The charge is monstrous."

  "It is time, Democrates," said Themistocles, who had preserved a grimsilence, "that you showed us clearly whither your path is leading. This isa fearful accusation you launch against your best-loved friend."

  "Themistocles is right," assented the orator, moving away from theluckless Seuthes as from a pawn no longer important in the game of lifeand death. "The whole of the wretched story I fear I must tell on the Bemato all Athens. I must be brief, but believe me, I can make good all I say.Since my return from the Isthmia, I have been observed to be sad.Rightly--for knowing Glaucon as I did, I grew suspicious, and I loved him.You have thought me not diligent in hunting down the Persian spy. You werewrong. But how could I ruin my friend without full proof? I made use ofAgis,--no genteel confederate, to be sure, but honest, patriotic,indefatigable. I soon had my eyes on the suspected Babylonishcarpet-seller. I observed Glaucon's movements closely, they gave justground for suspicion. The Babylonian, I came to feel, was none other thanan agent of Xerxes himself. I discovered that Glaucon had been making thisemissary nocturnal visits."

  "A lie!" groaned the accused, in agony.

  "I would to Athena I believed you," was the unflinching answer; "I havedirect evidence from eye-witnesses that you went to him. In a moment I canproduce it. Yet still I hesitated. Who would blast a friend withoutdamning proof? Then yesterday with your own lips you told me you sent amessenger to disloyal Argos. I suspected two messages, not one, wereentrusted to Seuthes, and that you proclaimed the more innocent matterthus boldly simply to blind my eyes. Before Seuthes started forth thismorning Agis informed me he had met him in a wine-shop--"

  "True," whimpered the unhappy prisoner.

  "And this fellow as much as admitted he carried a second and secretmessage--"

  "Liar!" roared Seuthes.

  "Men hint strange things in wine-shops," observed Democrates,sarcastically. "Enough that a second papyrus with Glaucon's seal has beenfound hidden upon you."

  "Open it then, and know the worst," interjected Themistocles, his face
like a thunder-cloud; but Democrates forbade him.

  "A moment. Let me complete my story. This afternoon I received warningthat the Babylonish carpet-vender had taken sudden flight, presumablytoward Thebes. I have sent mounted constables after him. I trust they canseize him at the pass of Phyle. In the meantime, I may assure you I haveirrefutable evidence--needless to present here--that the man was a Persianagent, and to more purpose hear this affidavit, sworn to by very worthypatriots.

  "Polus, son of Phodrus of the Commune of Diomea, and Lampaxo his sistertake oath by Zeus, Dike, and Athena, thus: We swear we saw and recognizedGlaucon, son of Conon, twice visiting by night in the past month ofScirophorion a certain Babylonish carpet-seller, name unknown, who hadlodgings above Demas's shield factory in Alopece."

  "Details lack," spoke Themistocles, keenly.

  "To be supplied in full measure at the trial," rejoined the orator. "Andnow to the second letter itself."

  "Ay, the letter, whatever the foul Cyclops that wrought it!" groanedGlaucon through his teeth.

  Themistocles took the document from Hermippus's trembling hands. His owntrembled whilst he broke the seal.

  "The handwriting of Glaucon. There is no doubt," was his despairingcomment. His frown darkened. Then he attempted to read.

  "Glaucon of Athens to Cleophas of Argos wishes health:--

  "Cleophas leads the Medizers of Argos, the greatest friend of Xerxes inGreece. O Zeus, what is this next--

  "Our dear friend, whom I dare not name, to-day departs for Thebes, and ina month will be safe in Sardis. His visit to Athens has been mostfruitful. Since you at present have better opportunity than we forforwarding packets to Susa, do not fail to despatch this at once. A happychance led Themistocles to explain to me his secret memorandum for thearraying of the Greek fleet. You can apprize its worth, for the onlyothers to whom it is entrusted are Democrates and later Leonidas--"

  Themistocles flung the papyrus down. His voice was broken. Tears stood inhis eyes.

  "O Glaucon, Glaucon,--whom I have trusted? Was ever trust so betrayed! MayApollo smite me blind, if so I could forget what I read here! It is allwritten--the secret ordering of the fleet--"

  For a terrible moment there was silence in the little room, a silencebroken by a wild, shrill cry,--Hermione's, as she cast her arms about herhusband.

  "A lie! A snare! A wicked plot! Some jealous god has devised this guile,seeing we were too happy!"

  She shook with sobs, and Glaucon, roused to manhood by her grief, uproseand faced the stern face of Democrates, the blenching faces of the rest.

  "I am the victim of a conspiracy of all the fiends in Tartarus,"--he strovehard to speak steadily; "I did not write that second letter. It is aforgery."

  "But who, then," groaned Themistocles, hopelessly, "_can_ claim thishandiwork? Democrates or I?--for no other has seen the memorandum,--that Iswear. It has not yet gone to Leonidas. It has been guarded as the appleof my eye. We three alone knew thereof. And it is in this narrow room thebetrayer of Hellas must stand."

  "I cannot explain." Glaucon staggered back to his seat. His wife's headsank upon his lap. The two sat in misery.

  "Confess, by the remnants of our friendship I implore, confess," orderedDemocrates, "and then Themistocles and I will strive to lighten ifpossible your inevitable doom."

  The accused man sat dumb, but Hermione struck back as some wild creaturedriven to bay. She lifted her head.

  "Has Glaucon here no friend but me, his wife?" She sent beseeching eyesabout the room. "Do you all cry 'guilty, guilty'? Then is your friendshipfalse, for when is friendship proved, save in the hour of need?"

  The appeal brought an answer from her father, who had been standingsilent; and in infinite distress kindly, cautious, charitable Hermippusbegan:--

  "Dear Glaucon, Hermione is wrong; we were never more your friends. We arewilling to believe the best and not the worst. Therefore tell all frankly.You have been a victim of great temptation. The Isthmian victory hasturned your head. The Persian was subtle, plausible. He promised I knownot what. You did not realize all you were doing. You had confederateshere in Athens who are more guilty. We can make allowances. Tell only thetruth, and the purse and influence of Hermippus of Eleusis shall never beheld back to save his son-in-law."

  "Nor mine, nor mine," cried Themistocles, snatching at every straw; "onlyconfess, the temptation was great, others were more guilty, everythingthen may be done--"

  Glaucon drew himself together and looked up almost proudly. Slowly he wasrecovering strength and wit.

  "I have nothing to confess," he spoke, "nothing. I know nothing of thisPersian spy. Can I swear the god's own oath--by Earth, by Sky, by theStyx--"

  Themistocles shook his head wearily.

  "How can we say you are innocent? You never visited the Babylonian?"

  "Never. Never!"

  "Polus and Lampaxo swear otherwise. The letter?"

  "A forgery."

  "Impossible. Is the forger Democrates or I?"

  "Some god has done this thing in malice, jealous of my great joy."

  "I fear Hermes no longer strides so frequently about Athens. The hand andseal are yours,--and still you do not confess?"

  "If I must die," Glaucon was terribly pale, but his voice was steady, "itis not as a perjurer!"

  Themistocles turned his back with a groan.

  "I can do nothing for you. This is the saddest hour in my life." He wassilent, but Democrates sprang to the athlete's side.

  "Have I not prayed each god to spare me this task?" he spoke. "Can Iforget our friendship? Do not brave it to the end. Pity at least yourfriends, your wife--"

  He threw back his cloak, pointing to a sword.

  "_Ai_," cried the accused, shrinking. "What would you have me do?"

  "Save the public disgrace, the hooting jury, the hemlock, the corpse flunginto the Barathrum. Strike this into your breast and end the shame."

  No further. Glaucon smote him so that he reeled. The athlete's tone wasterrible.

  "Villain! You shall not tempt me." Then he turned to the rest, and stoodin his white agony, yet beautiful as ever, holding out his arms.

  "O friends, do you all believe the worst? Do you, Themistocles, turnsilently against me?" No answer. "And you, Hermippus?" No answer again."And you, Cimon, who praised me as the fairest friend in all the world?"The son of Miltiades simply tore his hair. Then the athlete turned toDemocrates.

  "And you I deemed more than comrade, for we were boys at school together,were flogged with the same rod, and drank from the same cup, had likefriends, foes, loves, hates; and have lived since as more thanbrothers,--do you too turn utterly away?"

  "I would it were otherwise," came the sullen answer. Again Democratespointed to the sword, but Glaucon stood up proudly.

  "No. I am neither traitor, nor perjurer, nor coward. If I must perish, itshall be as becomes an Alcmaeonid. If you have resolved to undo me, I knowyour power over Athenian juries. I must die. But I shall die withunspotted heart, calling the curse of the innocent upon the god or man whoplotted to destroy me."

  "We have enough of this direful comedy," declared Democrates, palehimself. "Only one thing is left. Call in the Scythians with their gyves,and hale the traitor to prison."

  He approached the door; the others stood as icy statues, but not Hermione.She had her back against the door before the orator could open.

  "Hold," she commanded, "for you are doing murder!"

  Democrates halted at the menacing light in her eyes. All the fear had goneout of them. Athena Promachos, "Mistress of Battles," must have stood inthat awful beauty when aroused. Did the goddess teach her in that dreadmoment of her power over the will of the orator? Glaucon was stillstanding motionless, helpless, his last appeal having ended in muteresignation to inevitable fate. She motioned to him desperately.

  "Glaucon! Glaucon!" she adjured, "do not throw your life away. They shallnot murder you. Up! Rouse yourself! There is yet time. Fly, or all islost."

  "Fly!"
spoke the athlete, almost vacantly. "No, I will brave them to theend."

  "For my sake, fly," she ordered, and conjured by that potent talisman,Glaucon moved toward her.

  "How? Whither?"

  "To the ends of the earth, Scythia, Atlantis, India, and remain till allAthens knows you are innocent."

  As men move who know not what they do, he approached the door. Held by themagic of her eyes the others stood rigid. They saw Hermione raise thelatch. Her husband's face met hers in one kiss. The door opened, closed.Glaucon was gone, and as the latch clicked Democrates shook off the charmand leaped forward.

  "After the traitor! Not too late!--"

  For an instant he wrestled with Hermione hand to hand, but she was strongthrough fear and love. He could not master her. Then a heavy grasp fell onhis shoulder--Cimon's.

  "You are beside yourself, Democrates. My memory is longer than yours. Tome Glaucon is still a friend. I'll not see him dragged to death before myeyes. When we follow even a fox or a wolf, we give fair start and fairplay. You shall not pursue him yet."

  "Blessing on you!" cried the wife, falling on her knees and seizingCimon's cloak. "Oh, make Themistocles and my father merciful!"

  Hermippus--tender-hearted man--was in tears. Themistocles was pacing thelittle chamber, his hand tugging his beard, clearly in grievous doubt.

  "The Scythians! The constables!" Democrates clamoured frantically; "everyinstant gives the traitor better start."

  But Cimon held him fast, and Themistocles was not to be interrupted. Onlyafter a long time he spoke, and then with authority which brooked nocontradiction.

  "There is no hole in the net of Democrates's evidence that Glaucon isguilty of foul disloyalty, disloyalty worthy of shameful death. Were heany other there would be only one way with him and that a short one. ButGlaucon I know, if I know any man. The charges even if proved are nighincredible. For of all the thousands in Hellas his soul seemed the purest,noblest, most ingenuous. Therefore I will not hasten on his death. I willgive the gods a chance to save him. Let Democrates arraign me for'misprision of treason' if he will, and of failing in duty to Athens.There shall be no pursuit of Glaucon until morning. Then let the Eleven(7)issue their hue and cry. If they take him, let the law deal with him. Tillthen give respite."

  Democrates attempted remonstrance. Themistocles bade him be silentsharply, and the other bowed his head in cowed acquiescence. Hermionestaggered from the door, her father unbarred, and the whole wretchedcompany went forth. In the passage hung a burnished steel mirror; Hermionegave a cry as she passed it. The light borne by Hermippus showed her inher festival dress, the rippling white drapery, the crown of whiteviolets.

  "My father!" she cried, falling into his arms, "is it still the day of thePanathenaea, when I marched in the great procession, when all Athens calledme happy? It was a thousand years ago! I can never be glad again--"

  He lifted her tenderly as she fainted. Old Cleopis, the Spartan nurse whohad kissed her almost before her mother, ran to her. They carried her tobed, and Athena in mercy hid her from consciousness that night and all thefollowing day.