heart, but now he was panic-stricken and terrified lest when so many brave citizens lost their lives, some suspicion of treachery might rest on himself.  So, just when he was going, he brought his son from the women’s apartments, a boy still, but in beauty and strength surpassing all of his own age, and handed him over to Pelopidas’s party, bidding them treat him as an enemy and show no mercy, if they should find him guilty of any deceit or treachery.  Many of them shed tears at the feeling shown by Charon, and his noble spirit, and all felt shame, that he should think any of them so base and so affected by their present danger, as to suspect him or even to blame him, and they begged him not to mix up his son with them, but put him out of the way of the coming stroke, that he might be saved and escape from the tyrants, and some day return and avenge his father and his friends.  But Charon refused to take away his son, for what life, he asked, or what place of safety could be more honourable to him than an easy death with his father and so many friends?  After praying and embracing them all, and bidding them be of good cheer, he went away, taking great pains to adopt a look and tone of voice as different as possible to that of a conspirator.

X. When he came to the door, Archias and Philippus met him and said, “Charon, I have heard that some people have come here, and are concealed in the city, and that some of the citizens are in league with them.”  Charon was at first disconcerted, but then enquired who these persons might be, and who they were that gave them shelter.  Seeing then that Archias knew nothing for certain, he perceived that the news did not come from any one who knew the truth.  “Take care,” said he, “that this be not a mere idle rumour that is alarming you.  However, I will make due enquiries; for we ought not to disregard anything.”  Phillidas, who was present, expressed his approval of this, and carrying Archias back again plied him with liquor, prolonging his debauch by holding out the expectation of the women.

Now when Charon returned to his house, he found the conspirators there prepared to fight, not expecting to survive or to win the day, but to die gloriously and kill as many of their enemies as possible.  He told Pelopidas’s party the truth, and made up some story about Archias to satisfy the others.  This storm was just blown over when Fortune sent a second upon them.  A messenger came from Athens, from Archias the hierophant[7] to his namesake Archias the Spartan, whose guest and friend he was, bearing a letter which contained no vague and conjectural suspicion, but a detailed account of all that was being done, as was afterwards discovered.  Now the messenger, when brought before Archias who was drunk, gave him the letter, and said, “He who sent you this letter bade you read it instantly, for he said it was written about most serious matters.”  Archias laughing, said, “Serious matters to-morrow.”  He took the letter and placed it under the pillow on which he rested, and again listened to Phillidas about what they were talking of before.  This story, handed down in the form of a proverb, is current among the Greeks even now.