The Sale of Lives (6)

What are your habits of life?

I touch no sort of animal food, but anything else except beans.

What is the reason of that? Perhaps you dislike beans?

Not at all, but they are sacred and of a marvellous nature. But, what is more important, it is the custom of the Athenians to vote for officers with beans.

All your remarks are lofty and priestlike. But take off your clothes and let me see you stripped. Good heavens, his thigh is golden! He seems to be a god, not a mortal. I will buy him, by all means. How much do you ask for him?

Two hundred dollars.

I will take him at the price.

Make a note of the buyer's name and country.

He is an Italian, I should think, from Croton or Tarentum, or somewhere in Magna Graecia. But he is not the sole purchaser; almost three hundred clubbed together with him.

Let them take him off. Put up another.