But what were the priests saying? With quick concern Nikander looked up again.
“It’s not only foolish, Timon; it’s dangerous!” Melas spoke. “Give a woman power like that, she’ll go mad with it.”
Melas was one of those Greeks, a numerous class, who hated women with a curious active hatred which seemed almost bred of fear. They laughed at it all, of course. Why could not babies be found in temples and thus women utterly done away? Wives! what silly, miserable creatures. Hetairai! what undoing of mankind. And behind all the gibing was the curious hating fear. Nikander knew that Melas would not stop short of harming Theria to keep her from being nominated. Keenly Nikander heard the argument.
“I’ve followed you, Timon, in most of your proposals,” said another priest, “but now, by the gods, this is too much! But say, old fellow, you are joking, you know you are.”
“It seems to me you insult all the able young men of Delphi,” said Glaucos.
“What young man have we in Delphi who has seen Apollo face to face?” retorted Timon. “Theria, daughter of Nikander, has been found worthy to behold the god.”
“That’s so, that’s so,” assented some.
“Go fetch her oracle tablets, let’s see what Apollo said to her,” said one.
A messenger was dispatched to the temple.