censorious tongues which can so easily blight the tender reputation of a
maiden; and while you provoke admiration, give, I beseech you, no
victory to envy.'

'What mean you, Arbaces?' said Ione, in an alarmed and trembling voice:
'I know you are my friend, that you desire only my honour and my
welfare. What is it you would say?'

'Your friend--ah, how sincerely! May I speak then as a friend, without
reserve and without offence?'

'I beseech you do so.'

'This young profligate, this Glaucus, how didst thou know him? Hast thou
seen him often?' And as Arbaces spoke, he fixed his gaze steadfastly
upon Ione, as if he sought to penetrate into her soul.

Recoiling before that gaze, with a strange fear which she could not
explain, the Neapolitan answered with confusion and hesitation: 'He was
brought to my house as a countryman of my father's, and I may say of
mine. I have known him only within this last week or so: but why these
questions?'

'Forgive me,' said Arbaces; 'I thought you might have known him longer.
Base insinuator that he is!'

'How! what mean you? Why that term?'

'It matters not: let me not rouse your indignation against one who does
not deserve so grave an honour.'