"Melos," Stefanos said, mentioning the s*******r of the Melians by the Athenians.
"Really?" Isocrates seemed surprised.
"And Sicily," he added.
Silence again.
"With Demosthenes? How did you escape?"
"I fought with Gilippus."
"The Spartans?"
"I think we should leave aside our martial histories for the time being," said Plato, laying a hand on Isocrates' shoulder and stepping forward. "I'm sure as the evening wears on, discussions of war will become inevitable."
"I'll leave you to handle this little philosopher," Stefanos whispered to Xenophon, before nodding to Plato and backing into the crowd.
"It's the shifting of mercenaries back and forth that disallows the victory of democracy," Isocrates muttered.
"Oh, come now," Plato said. "Much more is to blame than that. Come, I see the
