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Euphobias, lying on his back on his couch, gazed aloft with dreamy eyes, with no other earthly desire than to reach forth his glass and call for wine; but Alcon and the Greek merchants became impatient at the slowness of the banquet. "The dancers! Let the daughters from Gades come!" they called with tremulous voices, the fiery spark of intoxication glowing in their eyes.
The woman displayed compassion; the guests laughed; and Sónnica gave the order to admit the philosopher, but before the steward had left the room to comply with her command Euphobias had already entered the hall, cringing, humble, but looking at the assembled company with insolent eyes. "The gods be with you! May joy ever attend you, beautiful Sónnica!"
Then he looked at the Greek affectionately. "You are worthy to hear me; poor, like myself, surrounded by these merchants who stock their vaults with silver! Since there is to be no wine for us, let us take a walk. That clears the brain. I will treat you as Aristotle treated his favorite pupils." Strolling along the portico Euphobias began to relate what he knew of Sónnica's life.
Euphobias the philosopher, who remained idle in spite of the insults of those who worked, ironically recalled the memory of the primitive founders of the city, the Cyclopes who moved stones as big as mountains and had thrown up the base of the Acropolis. The labor was not finished until the next afternoon, and at the same moment the besieging army began to stir.
Sónnica's villa reawoke to its merry life, as if its owner had risen from the dead. The nights were devoted to feasting in the great triclinium; Sónnica's friends, the young gallants, accepted her invitations, and even Euphobias, the philosopher, reached his place at the table without having to fight his way through the blows of her slaves.
Euphobias, the parasite, did not conceal his satisfaction at possessing so powerful a friend, and he declared that he would go to his kingdom to live awhile in comfort, without having to beg his bread from the merchants of Saguntum. Love's springtime returned for the Athenian.
"He says that one of Sónnica's feasts is impossible without the presence of Euphobias, and that the blows are a sign of appreciation."
"But do you really believe in Minerva?" Euphobias asked of Sónnica. "I believe in what I see," she replied.
"Lachares," said the philosopher to his aristocratic enemy, "why have you and your companions not brought your beautiful slave boys who serve you as supports in the Forum?" "Sónnica will not allow it," replied the young gallant, pleased at the question, not suspecting the irony in Euphobias' words.
"Away from us!" shouted the other youths. But Euphobias paid no attention. He smiled at Actæon, seeing him reclining near Sónnica, and his eyes shone with a malicious expression. "You have arrived where I thought you would. You will master these effeminate creatures who surround Sónnica and who heap insults upon me."
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