Having sufficiently examined Philocrates,
Hegio desired him to step aside, and addressed
himself to Tyndarus, informing him that, if his
statements agreed with those of his supposed
slave, it would go well with him. Tyndarus, in
the assumed character of Philocrates, feigned to
be a little hurt at his slave's freedom of tongue,
but at the same time remarked that, as fortune
had destroyed the inequality of their condition,
the man was, perhaps, right in studying the
interests of his present rather than those of his
former master. He also took occasion to convince
Hegio that there was a God who watched over
human affairs, and would award to the captive
in Elis the same measure of mercy that was
bestowed on the prisoners in AEtolia. That his
father was a man of the highest rank and
extremely wealthy he admitted; but he urged
Hegio not, on that account, to be too exorbitant,
since the old gentleman would in all probability
rather see him the slave of a wealthy master
abroad than pining in beggarly liberty at home.
Exhortations of this kind were by no means
displeasing to Hegio, who was anything but
avaricious, and he at once frankly declared
that if his own son, now a prisoner in Elis, were
restored, he would release the two captives,
master and servant, without further condition.
On no other conditions would release be possible.

Tyndarus, in the character of Philocrates,
commended the liberality of Hegio, and asked
whether the young Aetolian was the slave of a
private person or of the public. The information
that his servitude was only of a private nature,
and that his master was a physician of Elis,
named Menarchus, showed that circumstances
were most promising, inasmuch as Menarchus
was a client of the old noble of Elis.

It was now agreed that Philocrates should
proceed without delay to Elis, and thence bring
back Philopolemus, Tyndarus being left behind
as security. The old Aetolian would rather have
sent somebody else, but he was persuaded
that no other person would have equal weight
with the father of Philocrates, and, after all, the
proposed messenger was in his estimation no
more than a slave, who even if he took himself
off, and thus rendered the mission abortive,
still left the prime security where it was. Moreover,
Tyndarus, who was to remain with Hegio,
consented to be responsible to the extent of
twenty minae (rather more than eighty pounds
sterling) in the event of the supposed slave
proving faithless.

All being thus arranged, and the chains being
removed from both the captives, Hegio called
Philocrates before him, and stated the duties
which lie was expected to perform. Tyndarus,
on his part, gave weight to the injunctions of
their common master; but though his words
were spoken aloud, in the presence of Hegio,
they conveyed a meaning which Philocrates
alone could appreciate.

"When flrst you reach our country," said
Tyndarus, "salute my father, my mother, my
kinsfolk, and all good friends. Tell them that
I am in good health, and am in the service of
an excellent man, who treats me with all
consideration. Say, too, that we are always
true to each other, and that in our changed
condition, when fortune had made us equal,
you still regarded me as a master. When my
father hears this, he will surely not refuse to
grant you the freedom which you have so
amply merited; for he will bear in mind that by
you raid alone I shall be restored to my home"

As his words seemed to be carrying him
too far, he checked himself, and proceeded
thus

"By your aid alone, I say, for you revealed
my true rank and the wealth of my father."

"Nay, Philocrates," replied the true owner
of that name, "if I were to recount all the
kindnesses you have shown to me, I should
talk till to-morrow."

Much more was said in the same strain, the
good Hegio being moved even to tears by the
sight of such rare friendship between persons
belonging to such different ranks of life. At
last, leaving Tyndarus safely guarded, he set out
on his projected visit to his brother, taking
Philocrates with him, that, calling at his
banker's by the way, he might supply him with
money to cover the expense of travelling, and
also obtain from the proper office a passport,
which would enable him to surmount the
obstacles that, in consequence of the war, might
impede his journey to Elis.

All this business was done in due order, the
passport and the required cash were obtained,
Philocrates, in the character of Tyndarus, was
despatched to the land of his birth; and Hegio
went homewards, rejoiced at his good fortune,
but almost tired out with the congratulations
of the many friends he had encountered in the
market-place. His brother's house lay in his
road, and there he dropped in to look after his
other captives, and to inquire if any one of
them was acquainted with Philocrates. No
sooner had he put the question than one of
the unfortunate persons, whose name was
Aristophontes, eagerly exclaimed that Philocrates
was his most intimate friend, and that he should
feel delighted to see him. This wish was as
readily granted by Hegio as it was uttered
by Aristophontes, and accordingly the former
took the latter to his house, hoping to be the
witness of a happy meeting.

The arrival of this unexpected visitor brought
anything but joy to poor Tyndarus, who felt at
his wits' end, and whose first impulse on getting
a sight of Aristophontes, whom, he at once
recognised as his young master's friend, was
to sneak out of the house, in order to gain a
moment's time for deliberation. Here was a
difficulty for which he had not been in the least
prepared, and yet it was one that could not be
overcome without the exercise of much thought
and ingenuity.

Tyndarus was speedily followed by Hegio,
who could not make out why he avoided a
friend and countryman, and was still more
puzzled when the supposed Philocrates was
accosted by Aristophontes as Tyndarus. But
Tyndarus had in the mean while hit on a plan,
of which we often read in modern records of