After desiring Arsinoe to let nothing he about of any value, for their
new house-mate seemed not to be perfectly honest, he answered his
daughter's scruples by saying:

"It would be better, no doubt, that he should be as honest as the old
skeleton I gave in exchange for him, but I reflect that even if my body-
servant should make away with some of the few drachmae we carry about
with us, I need not repent of having bought him, since I got him for many
thousand drachmae less than he is worth, on account of his thefts, while
a teacher for the children would have cost more than he can steal from us
at the worst. I will lock up the gold in the chest with my documents.
It is strong and could only be opened with a crow-bar. Besides the
fellow will have left off stealing at any rate at first, for his late
master was none of the mildest and had cured him of his pilfering I
should think, once for all. It is lucky that in selling such rascals we
should be compelled to state what their faults are; if the seller fails
to do so compensation maybe claimed from him by the next owner for what
he may lose. Lykophron certainly concealed nothing, and setting aside
his thieving propensities the Samian is said to be in every respect a
capital fellow."

But father," replied Arsinoe, her anxiety once more urging her to speak,
"it is a bad thing to have a dishonest man in the house."

"You know nothing about it child!" answered Keraunus. "To us to live
and to be honest are the same thing, but a slave!--King Antiochus is said
to have declared that the man who wishes to be well served must employ
none but rascals."

When Arsinoe had been tempted out on to the balcony by her lover's snatch