"Five minæ!" the Egyptian shouted, doubling the bid with the intention of forcing Chares to go higher.
But Chares was silent, and no other bidder appeared. Mena, who did not have the money that he had offered, shifted uneasily, looking at Chares.
"I see you have some sense," he cried at last. "You are afraid to bid against me!"
Chares made no reply.
"He is yours," the auctioneer said, addressing Mena. "Step this way with your money!"
"Wait!" screamed the Egyptian. "I withdraw the bid! The man is lame!"
"Do you mean to accuse me of trying to cheat you?" roared the Macedonian captain.
"Perhaps you didn't notice it," the Egyptian faltered.
"Away with him!" cried the soldier.
While the prisoner was being awarded to Chares, two men led Mena out of the circle, amid the jeers of the spectators. At a safe distance, under pretence of seeing whether he really had the money he had offered, they took from him all that he possessed and divided it between themselves before they let him go.