Besides the oligarchic enemies of the absent strategos there were other enemies of greater influence among the people, the fanatic demagogues and wily orators. These men either sincerely feared, or professed to dread, the power of such a favourite. They were not ignorant of the offer that had been made to him. They had good cause to think that, if he should accept the proffered dignity while he was still the idol of Athens, not all their arguments, nor all their eloquence, would be able to prevent or modify the despotism which they feared. These persons now made common cause with those of their usual opponents who hated Alkibiades. Both sets of foes together instilled their doubts into the people’s ears. The secret work was made more easy from the very power and reputation of the object of their hate and dread. One who had proved himself invincible and had beaten every foe on previous occasions must, they said, if he ever failed to win, have failed on purpose. If he delayed too long before he fought, he did so, they argued, from some hidden motive. Doubtless, they said, he who at Abydos and Kyzikos, with smaller numbers, had vanquished the combined power of Persia and Sparta, could, if he wished, with the larger fleet which they had given him, have long ago humbled the smaller force of Spartans alone and by themselves at Ephesos. The fact that he had not attempted to do this showed that he had some cause for letting the enemy escape. And why did he leave the fleet in the face of the Spartan admiral, and go off to Phokaia, where he was not wanted? Why had he left the main force of Athens, nearly all she had now to depend upon for protection, in charge of an inexperienced, unknown, ordinary pilot like Antiochos? Why did he let him engage the enemy, and lose so large a number of the ships which it had cost them so much expense and labour to fit out, and so many of their stalwart sons whom they could ill afford to lose? Were not these things proofs, they asked, of some ulterior motive, some secret dealing with the enemy, or some sinister design upon Athens? To add to these covert suspicions artfully set afloat, a deserter at this time came from Samos,—one who had a private grudge against his general,—and made absurd and lying charges against him, which were listened to with eagerness by a crowd of politicians, ever on the watch for some new thing. And last of all came citizens from Kyme, complaining that, without cause, Alkibiades had attacked them while they were at peace with Athens, had slain their soldiers, and carried off, for his own profit, an enormous treasure.