THE RESCUE OF THEBES. 251

part and wished him ill luck on his journey. Word
led to word, both sides grew more angry and abusive,
and at length he began to beat his wife, and continued
his ill treatment until her cries brought neighbors in
to separate them. But all this caused a loss of time,
the bridle was not in this way to be had, and in the
end Chlidon’s journey was stopped, and the message
he had been asked to bear never reached the con-
spirators on their way. Accidents of this kind often
frustrate the best-laid plans. In this case the acci-
dent was providential to the conspiracy.

And now, what were these seven men to do?
Four men—Leontiades, Archias, Philippus, and
Hypates—had the city under their control. But
they were supported in their tyranny by a garrison
of fifteen hundred Spartans and allies in the Cad-
meia, and Lacedemonian posts in the other cities
around. These four men were to be dealt with, and
for that purpose the seven had come. On the even-
ing of the next day Archias and Philippus designed
to have a banquet. Phyllidas, their secretary, but
secretly one of the patriots, had been ordered to
prepare the banquet for them, and had promised to
introduce into their society on that occasion some
women of remarkable beauty and of the best fami-
lies in Thebes. He did not hint to them that these
women would wear beards and carry daggers under
their robes.

We have told, in a previous tale, the story of the
“Seven against Thebes.” The one with which we
are now concerned might be properly entitled the
“Seven for Thebes.” That night and the following