Both men were as unprincipled as they were lavish, and experience taught them that base natures always have at their disposal a plank with which to bridge chasms.

If it is of gold, it will be crossed the more speedily.

Such was the case here, and of late it had become specially firm; for each needed the other's aid.
Alexas loved Barine, while Philostratus no longer cared for her.

On the other hand, he hated Dion with so ardent a thirst for revenge that, to obtain it, he would have resigned even the hope of fresh gains.

The humiliation inflicted upon him by the arrogant Macedonian noble, and the derision which through his efforts had been heaped upon him, haunted him like importunate pursuers; and he felt that he could only rid himself of them with the source of his disgrace.