Then began the struggle.
Pratinas was of powerful physique, and resisted like a madman.

The carpet was torn to shreds, the chairs shivered.

But Agias, too, battled for grim life.

He kept the hood over his opponent's eyes and never gave Pratinas a glimpse of the identity of his assailant.

And at last a life of debauches and late dinners and unhealthy excitement began to tell against even so powerful a constitution as that of Pratinas.