The Woman Who Vowed (The Demetrian)

by Ellison Harding

  CHAPTER XI

  THE PLOT THICKENS

  The first news I had of the carrying off of Lydia was from Ariston. Iwas just going down to breakfast when he abruptly entered the sittingroom we shared, and exclaimed: "Lydia has disappeared!"

  To my inquiries he answered that the gate of the cloister had beenforced, and the janitor bound and gagged. Obviously several men wereinvolved, for traces of many steps were clearly visible--all shod;Lydia's sandals and cothurni were still in her room: she had,apparently, been lifted off her bed in the bed clothes; the absence ofall trace of bare feet indicated that Lydia had not put foot to ground.Probably she had been gagged also, as no cry had been heard; everythingseemed to indicate that she had been carried off against her will. TheDemetrian council was swearing in special constables and had called uponthe state authorities for help to capture the intruders; on the otherhand, Balbus and others were collecting their followers, and armedconflict was feared.

  Ariston was in great perplexity; all his convictions were on the side oforder; but friendship made it impossible for him to join Chairo'senemies. After an animated discussion we decided that he should go tothe council and endeavor to obtain a hearing, in the hope of persuadingthe council to abandon the effort either to recover Lydia or punishChairo. Ariston begged me to go to Lydia First, explain to her the stepshe was taking, and put myself at her disposal should she have a messageto send him.

  I hurried to Lydia First's apartment and found Cleon there. With flushedface Cleon announced that Chairo and his sister had been captured; thatthey were probably at that moment before the magistrate; that he hadrushed home to tell his mother, and that she was preparing to go to herdaughter.

  Presently Lydia First entered the room; the events of the night had notimpaired the dignity of her manner but had deepened the lines in heralready timeworn countenance. She bade me seek Ariston, of whoseknowledge of legal procedure she felt in need, and hurry him to thecourt where Lydia and Chairo were being examined.

  Prisoners were entitled to counsel if they asked for it; but theinnocent seldom availed themselves of the privilege. The examinationmight, therefore, be actually then proceeding unless either Chairo orLydia demanded an adjournment. It little suited the temperament ofChairo to seek counsel, and the consciousness of innocence would preventLydia from doing so. I hastened, therefore, with all speed and foundAriston waiting to be introduced into the council chamber. He was stillignorant of the capture. We hurried to the courthouse and Ariston, whohad no right to appear except at the request of one of the prisoners,sent in a line both to Chairo and Lydia urging them to demand anadjournment. The examination had already commenced. Both Chairo andLydia, however, asked that Ariston be admitted, and I was admitted withhim.

  Lydia First was there and had already urged both Chairo and Lydia to askfor counsel, and both had refused. The examination was not a public one,only relations and friends or counsel being admitted; when, however,Ariston's message was received, he was by general consent admitted, andhe immediately addressed the examining magistrate. He pointed out thatChairo, being a member of the state legislature, enjoyed immunity fromarrest unless captured _in flagrante delicto_, and that Lydia was notcharged with any offense; both ought, therefore, to be released withoutexamination. A priest, however, who appeared for the Demetrian councilpersisted that their doors had been forced, their sanctuary violated, avestal carried off without her consent, and Chairo found in the act offlight with her; the priest maintained that this constituted arrest _inflagrante delicto_. Chairo reminded the magistrate that he had notsought to escape examination, but added that, mindful of the magnitudeof the issue involved in the case, he felt it ought to be fought out inthe political rather than the judicial arena, and that he was indebtedto Ariston for having reminded the court of an immunity which wouldtransfer the question from the courts to the legislature.

  The magistrate decided that he would not proceed with the examination,but in view of the seriousness of the offense he would hold Chairo untilthe question whether legislative immunity applied to his case could bedecided by a full court.

  Chairo was, therefore, confined in the house of detention, and Lydia wasrestored to her mother.

  We at once sought admittance to Chairo, and found him impatiently pacingthe room where he was confined.

  "There was treachery," he exclaimed. "My carriage had been tamperedwith; it broke down within a mile of the cloister. I am trying to thinkwho can have been guilty of it."

  He continued pacing the room and neither of us was disposed to speak.Suddenly he turned to Ariston:

  "But I have not thanked you; I should have made a mistake had you notinterfered; and I know you belong to the other side." He put his handout to Ariston and they shook hands warmly.

  "You may be of immense service at this moment," he continued, "justbecause you belong to the government party. I was prepared for violence,and Balbus is now collecting our friends; but this treachery makes medoubtful of success; only some half dozen knew of my plan; the loyaltyof every one of them seems essential to us, and one of them isa--traitor."

  "You should be thankful that treachery prevented your resort toviolence," answered Ariston. "You have secured what must be the matterof most importance to you: Lydia is restored to her home; she is removedfrom the cloister and is given time for reflection. This you coulddoubtless not have brought about in any other manner than by the planyou adopted. But had you escaped there would have been only onealternative; now the question can be settled without the shedding ofblood."

  "But I have lost Lydia!" exclaimed Chairo, with haggard eyes.

  "Not lost," said Ariston. "I have yet to learn just what part Lydia hasplayed in the matter. Did she consent?"

  Chairo, who was still pacing the room, suddenly stopped and faced us; heput out both hands deprecatingly and seemed about to answer, butarrested himself and resumed his walk. Then very slowly he said:

  "What do you mean by consent? Can she be said to have consented when,under an influence that paralyzed her will she paid her tribute at thealtar? The question we have to bring before the state is not whetherLydia consented to the cult or to me, but whether the influenceexercised by the cult is a wholesome influence or a damnable one."

  "If you want this issue to be fairly presented," said Ariston, "don'tallow your case to be prejudiced by violence. Send orders at once toBalbus bidding him abandon this gathering together of your followers.The mere fact that he is preparing for violence will distort the issue,and any attempt at rescue will prevent a calm and fair discussion of italtogether."

  "You are right," said Chairo. He took out a note book and made as thoughhe would write, but checking himself, he said: "I must put nothing onpaper," and turning to me asked: "Won't you go to Balbus at once andexplain to him that violence now would be a mistake? He would hardlyaccept such a message from Ariston, who is known to be on the governmentside; but from you it will seem less open to suspicion. Tell him if hedoubts you to come and see me, and hear my views from my own lips."

  On leaving Ariston I was aware that a large force of special constables,bearing the badge of Demeter--a sheaf of wheat--were gathered about theHouse of Detention. I hurried to the office of _Liberty_ and found acrowd there, through which it was difficult to penetrate. Obviouslysomething unusual was happening. I should never have got through toBalbus had I not been able to state that I was the bearer of a messagefrom Chairo. This, however, opened every door to me, and soon I foundmyself in a room where Balbus was engaged in giving rapid instructionsto a number of men waiting their turn to be received. Neaera was therealso, sitting at a side table, busily writing. As soon as I began givingmy message to Balbus, Neaera rose and came toward us. She was seriousand there was a slight frown upon her face. When I had finished, Balbusturned to her and she answered:

  "It is too late. Measures have already been taken. Besides, Chairo'smessenger"--and as she looked at me squarely in the face her browdarkened--"is not accredited."

  I explained the
situation as Chairo had stated it and urged Balbus to gohimself to the House of Detention. But Neaera said quickly:

  "If Balbus were to leave this office unescorted he would be arrested. Heis already compromised. Moreover, we cannot take our orders from aprisoner."

  "The House of Detention is strongly guarded," said I.

  "And we are strongly armed," answered Neaera.

  I felt that it was useless further to insist and proposed to retire, butNeaera whispered a word in Balbus's ear, and he said to me, "I think Ishall ask you to stay with us a little while."

  "I shall not stay with you except compelled to do so by actualviolence," I answered, with no slight indignation.

  "Then we shall have to use violence," answered Balbus.

  In a moment I was seized, bound, gagged, and hurried into an adjoiningroom where I was tied to a chair and a band was fastened about my eyes.In this uncomfortable position I remained for some hours.