"When I told her that I was the son of Clinias, she wanted to know first of all, what had been going on at the mysteries of Eleusis. I told her that, like all the Hellenes, I had sworn never to reveal what I had seen at the holy ceremonies. This she could not understand. In her religion the priests are but too anxious to initiate anybody that cares for it. "'Initiate me--oh initiate me--I beg you,' she said, and looked more beautiful than ever. Her arm trembled; her voice faltered. Even if I did not respect my oath, I should not have told her the teachings of Eleusis. They were far too simple for her mystery-craving soul. So I told her of the Orphic mysteries, and the more she heard of the extravagant and mind-shaking rites and tenets, the more interested she became. Her mouth, usually so severe, swung again in pouty lines of youthful timidity, and her voice got a 'cello down of mellowness. "'Let us introduce Orphism into this country,' she exclaimed. 'Will you be honorary treasurer?' "I accepted," said Alcibiades. "Within three days Orphism was presented as the _Orphic Science_. The members were called priestesses, archontes, or acolytes, according to their degree. Within a month there were 843 members. Jamblichus was sent for and made secretary. Costumes were invented; pamphlets printed; cures promised; shares offered. It was declared that trances and mystic shivers would be procured 'while you wait'; dreams accounted for; inexplicables explained; the curtain of things raised every Friday at five, after tea. Finally the Orphics gave their first dinner at the Hotel Cecil. "That was the worst blow. After that I abandoned Orphism." FOURTH NIGHT ALCIBIADES--CONTINUED Hestia now interrupted Alcibiades with the question whether all the women in nebulous Britannia were as grotesque as those that he had described. Alcibiades smiled and said: