Bolis Turns Traitor
Bolis went to
Rhodes, and thence to
Ephesus; communicated
his purpose to Nicomachus and Melancomas; and
found them ready to do what they were asked. He then
despatched one of his staff, named Arianus, to Cambylus, with
a message to the effect that he had been sent from
Alexandria
on a recruiting tour, and that he wished for an interview with
Cambylus on some matters of importance; he thought it
therefore necessary to have a time and place arranged for them
to meet without the privity of a third person. Arianus quickly
obtained an interview with Cambylus and delivered his
message; nor was the latter at all unwilling to listen to the
proposal. Having appointed a day, and a place known to
both himself and Bolis, at which he would be after nightfall,
he dismissed Arianus. Now Bolis had all the subtlety of a
Cretan, and he accordingly weighed carefully in his own mind
every possible line of action, and patiently examined every
idea which presented itself to him.
Finally he
met Cambylus according to the arrangement
made with Arianus, and delivered his letter. This
was now made the subject of discussion between them in a
truly Cretan spirit. They never took into consideration the
means of saving the person in danger, or their obligations of
honour to those who had entrusted them with the undertaking,
but confined their discussions entirely to the question of their
own safety and their own advantage. As they were both
Cretans they were not long in coming to an unanimous
agreement: which was, first of all, to divide the ten talents
supplied by Sosibius between themselves in equal shares; and,
secondly, to discover the whole affair to Antiochus, and to
offer with his support to put Achaeus into his hands, on
condition of receiving a sum of money and promises for the
future, on a scale commensurate with the greatness of the
undertaking. Having settled upon this plan of action:
Cambylus undertook the negotiation with Antiochus, while to
Bolis was assigned the duty of sending Arianus within the
next few days to Achaeus, bearing letters in cipher from
Nicomachus and Melancomas: he bade Cambylus however
take upon himself to consider how Arianus was to make his
way into the acropolis and return with safety. "If," said
Bolis, "Achaeus consents to make the attempt, and sends an
answer to Nicomachus and Melancomas, I will be ready to
act and will communicate with you." Having thus arranged
the parts which each was to take in the plot, they separated
and set about their several tasks.
