jar of Ariousian?' Sostratos rolled his eyes to show how likely he thought that was. 'No, I can't tell you that,' Aristagoras said, but he held up a hand before Sostratos could pounce on him. 'The reason I can't tell you that is, not many tavernkeepers will 'ave anything so fancy around, because there isn't much call for it from the sort of men who drink in taverns. But I've got twenty drakhmai the jar a good many times from people who wanted to put on a proper symposion and make their friends 'appy.' People who wanted to put on an expensive symposion and make their friends jealous, Sostratos thought. But Aristagoras didn't sound as if he were lying this time. A few rich Khians - and, very likely, some of Antigonos' officers here, too - wouldn't count the cost when they bought wine. Still . . . 'If you've got twenty drakhmai a good many times,' Sostratos said slowly, 'that must mean there are times when you've got less, too.' Aristagoras bared his teeth in what only looked like a smile. 'Aren't you a clever young chap?' he murmured, making it sound more like accusation than praise. 'And,' Sostratos pressed, 'they would be buying only a few amphorai at a time. You're bound to have a discount for quantity. Even twelve drakhmai a jar is outrageous, but I'm willing to talk about it for the sake of argument, provided we're talking about enough jars.' 'Such generosity,' Aristagoras said, and his expression didn't even resemble a smile any more. 'Kindly remember who owns the wine you're generous enough to talk of buying.' Oh, a pestilence, Sostratos thought. Now I've gone and put his back up. He couldn't so much as look as if he knew he'd made a mistake: that would only give Aristagoras a greater edge. He wondered how to go about repairing the error. Before he could say anything, Alyattes the slave came in and announced, 'Master, the other trader, the one called Menedemos, is here.' 'Bring 'im in. Maybe 'e'll be more reasonable,' Aristagoras said. 'And if not . . .' The wine seller shrugged. 'Many good-byes to them both. They can do business somewhere else.' 'Hail,' Menedemos said when the Lydian slave led him back to the room where Sostratos and Aristagoras were dickering. 'Hail,' Sostratos answered in a distinctly hollow voice. If Menedemos noticed that, he didn't let it show. He clasped hands with Aristagoras, then slapped Sostratos on the back almost hard enough to knock him off the stool Alyattes had given him. 'By the dog of Egypt, cousin, you're the lucky one. I went down to Poseidon's temple and made my offering, and here you've been guzzling away at the nectar of the gods.' Remembering his own comment about the gods' being unable to afford Aristagoras' wine, Sostratos kept his mouth shut. Aristagoras said, 'If you'd care to taste this for yourself . . .?' When Menedemos dipped his head, Alyattes poured him a cup. Aristagoras went on, 'Your - cousin, is it? - your cousin, yes, 'as been doing 'is best to persuade me the wine isn't worth what I say it is.' Menedemos shot Sostratos a hooded glance, but one so swift, it was gone almost before Sostratos was sure he saw it. With a laugh, Menedemos said, 'Well, that's a merchant's job, after all, O best one.' He sipped the Ariousian. His eyes widened.
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