‘I shall not ask you to tell me the secret,’ said Heliodora, with a smile.

‘Gracious lady,’ pursued Marcian, ’it is for the purpose of revealing it to you that I am here.  Veranilda is in the palace, held in guard by Bessas till she can have escort to Constantinople.’

‘Ha!  You are sure of that?’

‘I have it on testimony that cannot be doubted.’

‘Why then,’ exclaimed Heliodora, all but betraying her exultation in the thought, ’there is little chance that Basil’s love will prosper.’

’Little chance, dear lady, I hope and believe, but I have confessed to you that I speak as a self-seeker and a faithless friend.  It is not enough that Basil may not wed her; I would fain have her for myself.’

The listener laughed.  She began to think this man something of a simpleton.

’Why, my excellent Marcian, I will give you all my sympathy and wish you good fortune.  But that any one may do.  What more do you expect of me?’

Marcian looked towards the open doorway.  They were seated in a luxurious little room, lighted from the peristyle, its adornments in sculpture a sleeping Hermaphrodite and a drunken satyr; on the wall were certain marble low-reliefs, that behind Heliodora representing Hylas drawn down by the Naiads.

‘Speak without fear,’ she reassured him.  ’In this house, believe me, no one dare play the eavesdropper.’

‘I have to speak,’ said Marcian, bending forward, ’of things perilous—­a life hanging on every word.  Only to one of whose magnanimity I felt assured should I venture to disclose my thought.  You have heard,’ he proceeded after a pause, ’and, yet I am perchance wrong in supposing that such idle talk could reach your ears, let me make known to you then, that with Bessas in the palace dwells a fair woman (or so they say, for I have not seen her) named Muscula.  She is said to have much power with the commander.’

The listener’s countenance had darkened.  Regarding Marcian with haughty coldness, she asked him how this could concern her.  He, in appearance dismayed, falteringly entreated her pardon.

’Be not angered, O noble Heliodora!  I did not presume to think that you yourself had any acquaintance with this woman.  I wished to make known to you things that I have heard of her—­things which I doubt not are true.  But, as it is only in my own interest that I speak, I will say no more until I have your permission.’

This having been disdainfully granted, Marcian proceeded with seeming timid boldness, marking in his listener’s eyes the eager interest with which she followed him.  Though every detail of the story was of his own invention, its plausibility had power upon one whose passions inclined her to believe it.  He told then that Muscula, bribed by Basil, was secretly endeavouring to procure the release of Veranilda, which should be made to appear an escape of Basil’s contriving.  The lover’s visits to Heliodora, he said, and his supposed ignorance as to where Veranilda was detained, were part of the plot.  Already Muscula had so far wrought upon Bessas that success seemed within view, and Basil’s departure from Rome was only a pretence; he waited near at hand, ready to carry off his beloved.