Themistocles tossed his head. The wavering, the doubting frown was gone. He was himself again. What he hoped for, what device lay in that inexhaustible brain of his, Simonides did not know. But the sight itself of this strong, smiling man gave courage. The officer reëntered, with him a young man, [pg 286]his face in part concealed by a thick beard and a peaked cap drawn low upon his forehead. The stranger came boldly across to Themistocles, spoke a few words, whereat the admiral instantly bade the officer to quit the cabin.
CHAPTER XXVII
THE CRAFT OF ODYSSEUS
The stranger drew back the shaggy cap. Simonides and Themistocles saw a young, well-formed man. With his thick beard and the flickering cabin lamps it was impossible to discover more. The newcomer stood silent as if awaiting remark from the others, and they in turn looked on him.
“Well,” spoke the admiral, at length, “who are you? Why are you here?”
“You do not know me?”
“Not in the least, and my memory is good. But your speech now is Attic, not Doric as they told me.”
“It may well be Attic, I am Athenian born.”