Was his master serving the Greeks or the Goths?  Uncertainty on this point had long troubled his meditations, and was now a cause of grave embarrassment.  Eager to betray, he could not be sure to which side betrayal should direct itself.  On the whole he himself favoured Totila, feeling sure that the Goth would bring the war to a triumphant end; and on this account he was disposed to do his errand faithfully.  If the king interrogated him, he could draw conclusions from the questions asked, and could answer as seemed best for his own ends.  So he decided to push on, and, despite the storm which broke on this second morning, he rode out from Venafrum.

A few hours’ travel, and, drenched with the furious rain, he came to Aesernia.  This town stood in a strong position on an isolated hill; its massive walls yet compassed it about.  On arriving at the gate he found himself unexpectedly challenged by armed men, who, though Italians, he at once suspected to be in the Gothic service.  A moment’s hesitancy in replying to the questions, ‘Whence?’ and ‘Whither?’ sufficed to put him under arrest.  He was led to the captain, in whom with relief he recognised Venantius of Nuceria.  His doubts being at an end, for he knew that this Roman noble had long since openly joined Totila, he begged that Venantius would hear him in private, and this being granted, began by telling in whose service he was.

‘I thought I somehow remembered your face,’ said the captain, whose look seemed to add that the face did not particularly please him.  ‘And where is the lord Marcian?’

‘In Rome, Illustrious.’

‘You have come straight from Rome, then?’

The answer was affirmative and boldly given.

‘And whither are you bound?  On what business?’

Sagaris, still obeying his master’s injunctions, declared that he carried a verbal message to the King of the Goths, and for him alone.  Having reflected for a moment, Venantius called the soldier who stood without the door.

’See to the wants of this messenger.  Treat him hospitably, and bring him hither again in an hour’s time.’

The captain then walked to a house close by, where, admitted to the atrium, he was at once met by an elderly lady, who bent respectfully before him.

‘Has the traveller yet risen?’ he began by asking.

’Not yet, my lord.  A little while ago his servant told me that he was still sleeping.’

’Good; he will recover from his fatigue.  But pray inquire whether he is now awake, for I would speak with him as soon as may be.’

The lady was absent for a minute or two, then brought word that the traveller had just awoke.

‘I will go to his bedside,’ said Venantius.

He was led to an upper chamber, a small, bare, tiled-floored room, lighted by a foot-square window, on which the shutter was half closed against the rays of the sun.  Some aromatic odour hung in the air.