, 1874-02-14
THE STORY OF PASIO;
An Episode in Attic Banking.

! series Of articles contributed to tue Rerue des
| Deuz Mondes, entitled, "Demoathenes and His
| Contemporaries" One OF these monographs is
especially interesting for the picture it gives US
Of tho Greek bankers Of the day while the story
Of the suit brought by the son Of Sopnos, Minis
ter to Satyros, Prince of the Bosphoros. against
the banking firm Of PaRio, ia as interesting in
its details as many Of the causes celebres-ns
rninutcly elaborated as one of Emile Gaboriau's 3
novels.
It WAS the custom among Athenian bankers to
deposit money in the
PRESENCE OF THIRD PARTY,
and this was deemed safer than written re-
ceipt. This third party might be the clerk (who
was usually the alave) OF the banker, and it is
upon this custom that the plot of the story Of
"pasio" hinges.
At the close of the Peloponnesian war there.
existed at Athens d largo banking-house-
Archestrates g. Antisthones." ArchestrateB
had slave named Pasio, who soon distin-
guished himself by his intelligence and activ-
ity in business; SO much SO that his master
manumitted him, and finally, retiring from
him the bank. It is certain that in 3?t B. G.
Pasio WAS head Of the house, which became very
prosperous and important. Among bis CUSTOM
ers Was the wealthy foreigner Sponos, fayorite OF
satyros. Prince Of the Bosphoros. The latter
had commercial treaty with tho Athenians,
which WAS found mutually profitable, the harbor
Of Pirnos receiving largo quantities Of grain
from the Bospho1os.
sopEos HAD eoy.
who wished to sec Athens. His father placed
At his disposition o handsome SUN in money,
and sent him to the Pirnos with several
carsoes Of wheat and other provisions. The
Young man was to combine business with pleas
u1o, dispose Of the cargoes to the best advantage
for cash, and Try and turn penny with the pro-
cceds on the Athenian Bou5se. He had letters
from Sopnos to paeio, who, of course, received
him handsomely, introduced him to the best
society, doubtless Is showed him the elephant"
possibly instructed him how to fight the tiger"
helped him to sell his merchandise, received the
- on tho inside track" Of the most promising
ventures Of the bank.
After few weeks Of this pleasant combina-
ton Of business and pleasure
p1sAoREEABLE SURPRISE
was in store for young Sopnos- By the arrival
Of ship from home news was brought Of .
revolution In tho palace. Sopnos tad displeased
Prince Satyros who had cast him into prison.
HiB property had been conhscated, and Satyroe
WAS about to send deputies to Athens to lay
the former Minister. The trade.of the Princes
OF tho Bobphoros WAS too important to
Athens to be particular about such trif1es.
6opDos Minister and Sopnos disgTaced were two
OutlcQt pElbOA3.
In despair the son OF sopmos consulted his
good friend Pasio. That 1ily banker affected to
take the greatest interest in his troubles. 1t
Was OF the first moment to the bank not to be
called upon to pay up the money which it vas
turning to so profitable account. Pasio advised
the youth to deliver to the deputies the unsold
merchandise and such ready cash as be might
have on hand; as for the capital on deposit With
Pasio he advised him to
CONCEAL. ITS EXISTENCE,
fx 5on1a Hn had 1rux 1not ohoJr
for his personal e1:"~ ut1res and was even iu
debt to Pasio and So 7:a other citizens for mon
ess advanced upon tho credit and reputation Of
his father. Pasio, for example, should pretend
ho was creditor to the amount Of 900
drachmas; another friend would set up similar
claims; ali should pretend the greatest unoas-
nees as to thoir advances. Thanks to this
comedy. the deputies would understand TINT
t where there is naught,. the King loses h's.
The crcdulous foreigner was delighted at this
advice, and chuckled to think Of the good trick
he was about to play upon Satyros. He pressed
the hands Of Paaio with warmth, called linn his
savior, and determined to follow his plan to the
letter. Meanwhile the astnte banker WAS al
ready planning how to become the heir Of both
Sopnos and Satvros.
IT WOULD nE A SHAME
to turn over to this srenlthrlft seven or eight
silver talents Cabout $50, ,oo0), which could be 80
p1oftabIy employed by the bank
The young man, meanwhile, found himself
at Athens very much in the position OF Rus- |
sian Prince at Puris, who, after having been
feted and caressed by society, having been |
prominent figure on the boulevard, at the |
cannot keep it secret, that all his Russian |
property has been confiscatcd. So that, in- !
stead OF being able to draw at sight upon his |
banke1e, be is in danger Of being imprisoned |
for debt.
A further peril Threatened young sopnos,
that of heipv demanded for e1fratfifion |