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All the evidence which I had to offer to prove that the slaves belong to Arethusius, I have laid before you. I wish, however, to speak also about the challenge which these men tendered me, and which I also tendered them. They challenged me at the preliminary hearing, stating that they were ready to deliver up the slaves, that I myself might put them to the torture, their wish being that this offer should serve as a sort of evidence for their side.
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I answered, however, in the presence of witnesses, that I was ready to go with them to the senate, and in conjunction with the senate or the ElevenThe board of police commissioners at Athens. to receive the slaves for the torture, telling them that, if my suit against them had been a private one, I should have accepted the slaves for the torture, if they had offered them, but that, as it was, both the slaves and the information belonged to the stateSince Arethusius was a state-debtor.; and therefore the examination by the torture should be conducted by a public official.
