But I have explained my view of such liaisons, and I had no intention of being bullied into one of them, even by the world's greatest general, and even though he was twice my size. I said:
"But, sir, we haven't yet finished our work!"
"Forsooth? I thought the measurements concluded matters."
"No, I must make a life mask. As you won't be in Rhodes to pose, I shall need one faithfully to reproduce your face."
"Oh, let us first pleasure ourselves. One little kiss—"
"No, sir; no, sir! I could not possibly concentrate on my art after such an ecstasy. I'll tell you: Let me make the mask, and then you may do as you like."
"This mask sounds like a disagreeable ordeal," quoth Demetrios.'
"It is not so bad if the subject doesn't panic, and only thus can I do justice to the beauty of your person."
"Do you really think me beautiful, dear Chares?"
"Your beauty outdazzles the sun's."
"I hope you really mean that. Of course my parasites say so, too, but they are a lot of wretched flatterers, with no more greatness of soul than the modern Athenians. They would praise an ass among apes for a meal." Demetrios sighed. "Verily, the great man finds gold and rubies more easily come by than true friendship."
"Yes, my lord, but let me show you how this mask works. You might even find a military application for the trick. They say you can find one for practically anything."
Thus by distracting the warlord I managed to wrench out of his grasp. "Kavaros!" I called.
"See that you keep your word, fair Chares," said Demetrios. "You shall never leave this dwelling otherwise."
"Never fear, sir. Kavaros, mix up a batch of soft clay for a life mask. Now, General, recline on your back. Let me put this cushion under your head. Are you comfortable? Next, I oil your face. That is so the clay shall easily come off ... Now I put these straws up your nostrils, so you can breathe through the clay. Hold them, please. Close your eyes. You must hold still for most of an hour, but you've had practice on the drill field."
I smeared the clay on his face. When he grunted, I said: "No, sir, don't try to talk or you will spoil the mask and perhaps get a mouthful of clay."
I built up the mold until there was nothing to be seen of Demetrios' face but a large blob of clay. I said:
"Now we must wait. It's tedious, but we must all suffer a little for art. The mask may seem to grow hot, but that will do no harm. If the straws collapse so you cannot breathe, wave your arms and I'll free you. There is no danger. We shall be right here, ready to help. I'll tell you when the clay is ready to be taken off. Clean up this mess, Kavaros. We mustn't leave the general's headquarters looking thus."
While talking, loudly enough to cover the sound of my movements, I tiptoed about and helped the Kelt to gather up my gear and the model of General Demetrios' head. We stole to the door. I cast a glance back at the couch on which Demetrios lay. Although his face was hidden, an observant man could still infer the tenor of his thoughts.
We sauntered boldly out of the house and down the street towards the waterfront. Said Kavaros:
"And what did himself want of you, young master? Is it what I am thinking?"
"You think correctly, old boy. I told him: after the making of the mask."
"You mean you walked off and left—oh, what an enormous sly fellow you are!" Kavaros began to laugh uncontrollably, though I told him to stop. He guffawed, gurgled, snorted, sputtered, and shook with mirth all the way to the ship.
"We had a king of the Tektosages like that to once," he said. "One of his young men stabbed him in a fit of jealousy, poor man. Loving women is risky enough."
"I can tell you one thing," I said. "This lecherous warlord is no ideal of mine, to be immortalized by a colossus in bronze. And say nothing to anyone of our little trick."
"Why, sir?"
"If we keep quiet, he may do so, too, rather than look like a fool. But if we boast of outwitting him, he may feel that honor compels him to make trouble for us."
I reported to Exekestos and said: "All done, sir." The rowers filed aboard, each bearing his personal cushion. The sailors pushed off with their poles. The coxswain gave the beat, and the flutist took it up. And away went the Peripolos.
Had I been less avid for glory and less urgently in need of money, I might have subcontracted part of my new task to Lykon and others arid thus have finished sooner. However, I did' not, thus confirming Lykon in his bitter dislike of me. Except for the pedestal, which task I gave to Makar, I did all the work myself, with the help of Kavaros and a few unskilled workmen hired from time to time.
A twelve-foot bronze cannot be cast in one piece. I therefore had to make, first, a small clay model, and then a full-sized model in clay, and take partial molds from the latter. Then I had to cast separate pieces—one for the trunk, one for each limb, and so forth—to be joined by riveting. To make the statue stable, I planned to cast the lower parts of thicker metals than the upper, a trick I learned from Lysippos. Further to secure it, I planned to insert iron braces into holes in the pedestal, extending up inside the legs of the statue.
I was putting the finishing touches on the small model, showing Demetrios with spear, shield, helmet, and boots, but otherwise nude, when Kallias' ruddy, round face appeared at the door.
"Rejoice, dear Chares!" cried he, all smiles. "I would have come to see your work sooner, but I have been gathering material for my sluing crane. How is our Demetrios coming? Ah, splendid! Are you sure he prefers his clothes off?"
"That's what he told me," I said. "This is a conventional pose of the god Ares, which Demetrios wishes to affect."
"Well, he is the man to please. Not that I should care to see myself standing naked in the marketplace, but I am no Hellene. Here, Kavaros, leave off your work for a while. Take this and go buy yourself a drink. Your master and I would confer."
"I thank your lordship," said Kavaros. He trotted off down the path, whistling a wild Keltic tune.
"Now then," said Kallias, "since our contract for the Sophokles is in abeyance because of this war threat, I once more find myself pressed. I therefore expect you to observe the same terms with me on the contract for the Demetrios as we had planned on the Sophokles."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning a commission of one-fourth of the total, or five hundred drachmai. I do not ask for a share of your allowance for the cost of the bronze, but then I am not greedy."
I found myself liking Kallias less and less. "Look here," I said, "this contract was given me by the President himself, without any mention of a piece for you. I see no reason to make you a sharer in all my gains."
"Ah, but who arranged things so that you got the contract? I did. I would have made my terms clear before the job was formally offered, had I had a chance." He touched the model with a finger that bore a massy golden ring. "Now that I look closely, I am not sure that I like your execution. It has too much of this low modern realism, not enough idealistic inspiration. Would it not be a shame if you finished the statue and the Council, on my advice, refused it?"
I said: "Just for instance, what would happen if I bore tales to the President?"
He grinned. "Try it. It were my word against yours, and I think I know whose would prevail."
He was probably right. With his charm and glibness, even though a foreigner, he could talk the Council into belief that night was day, offal was gold, and Kallias of Arados was an honest man.
I tried to beat him down at least to the hundred and fifty drachmai agreed upon for the Sophokles, but to no avail. At last I said:
"Go walk! If you will hurry up the payment of my first installment, I'll give you what you ask."