In a perfectly dark spot by the wall of the widow's garden, stood the cynic philosopher who had met Antinous with so little courtesy, defending himself eagerly, but in low tones against the rebukes of another man, who, dressed, like himself in a ragged cloak and bearing a beggar's wallet, appeared to be one of the same kidney. "Do not deny," said the latter, "that you cling much to the Christians." "But hear me out," urged the other. "I need hear nothing, for I have seen you for the tenth time sneaking in to one of their meetings." "And do I deny it? Do I not honestly confess that I seek truth wherever I may, where I see even a gleam of hope of finding it?" "Like the Egyptian who wanted to catch the miraculous fish, and at last flung his hook into the sand." "The man acted very wisely." "What now!" "A marvel is not to be found just where everything else is. In hunting for truth you must not be afraid of a bog." "And the Christian doctrine seems to be very much such a muddy thicket." "Call it so for aught I care." "Then beware lest you find yourself sticking in the morass." "I will take care of myself." "You said just now that there were decent folks among them." "A few no doubt. But the others! eternal gods! mere slaves, beggars, ruined handicraftstmen, common people, untaught and unphilosophical brains, and women, for the most part." "Avoid them then." "You ought to be the last to give me that advice." "What do you mean?" The other went close up to him and asked him in a whisper: "Why, where do you suppose I get the money with which I pay for our food and lodging?" "So long as you do not steal it, it is all the same to me." "If I had no more, you would ask the question fast enough." "Certainly not, we strive after virtue and ought to do everything to render ourselves independent of nature and her cravings. But to be sure she often asserts her rights--to return then: where do you get the money?" "Why, it burns in the purses of the people in there. It is their duty to give to the poor, and to tell the truth, their pleasure also; and so week by week they give me a few drachmae for my suffering brother." "Bah! you are the only son of your father, and he is dead." "'All men are brethren' say the Christians, consequently I may call you mine without lying." "Join them then for aught I care," laughed the other. "How would it be if I followed you among the Christians? Perhaps they would give me weekly money too, for my suffering brother, and then we could have double meals." The cynics laughed loudly and parted; one went back into the city, the other into the garden belonging to the Christian widow.