On our way there we discussed Chairo's interview with Neaera.
"You may depend upon it," said Ariston, "she has lost Masters, and is making a desperate effort to get back Chairo."
"And she had Lydia secreted in an adjoining room," guessed I.
"That's it," said Ariston; "she is a devil!"
"But can Chairo insist on the publication of his letter?" asked I.
"Certainly," said Ariston. "In this we have but copied an admirable provision of the French law in your time. We have added to it a right for every man to prohibit any paper from publishing any matter regarding his private movements or his private affairs. The effect of this rule is that as every paper wants to be free to publish what is known as society news, and it can only do so with the tacit consent of those who make up society, it has to take care to publish nothing that even borders on libel. Libel and slander, I think I have told you, we regard as one of the greatest of social crimes."
We found the editor of "Sacrifice" in a condition of sanctimonious self-satisfaction. His article had produced a sensation, and he was triumphant in the thought that he was accomplishing for the cult what the cult itself was too feeble to accomplish for itself. He assumed an air of portentous gravity when he learned the object of our visit.
"I hold Chairo in the hollow of my hand," said he, "and I do not mean to let him off."
"You will have to publish his letter," insisted Ariston.