‘Who is this?’ he asked.

‘No matter who.  Does she live?’

Basil had knelt, and taken one of the little hands in both his own, staining it with the blood of Marcian.

‘I can feel no throb of life,’ he said, speaking coldly, mechanically.

The priest bent, and put his cheek to her lips.

‘She lives.  This is but a swoon.  Help me to bear her to the couch.’

But Basil took the slender body in his arms, and carried it like that of a child.  When he had laid it down, he looked at Gaudiosus sternly.

‘Have you authority in this house?’

‘Some little, perhaps.  I know not.  What is your will?’

Utterly confounded, his eyes dropping moisture, his limbs shaken as if with palsy, the priest babbled his reply.

‘Use any power you have,’ continued Basil, ’to prevent more bloodshed.  Outside the gates are men of mine.  Bid the porter admit them to the outer court.  Then call thither two servants, and let them bear away that—­whither you will.  After, you shall hear more.’

Like an obedient slave, Gaudiosus sped on his errand.  Basil the while stood gazing at Veranilda; but he did not go very near to her, and his look had nothing of tenderness.  He saw the priest return, followed by two men, heard him whisper to them, saw them take up and carry away their master’s corpse; all this as if it did not regard him.  Again he turned his gaze upon Veranilda.  It seemed to him that her lips, her eyelids moved.  He bent forward, heard a sigh.  Then the blue eyes opened, but as yet saw nothing.

Gaudiosus reappeared, and Basil beckoned him.

‘You do not know her?’ he asked in a low voice.

‘I never looked upon her face till now,’ was the reply.

At the sound of their voices Veranilda stirred, tried to rouse herself, uttered a sound of distress.

‘Speak to her,’ said Basil.

Gaudiosus approached the couch, and spoke soothing words.

‘What dreadful thought is this?’ said Veranilda.  ‘What have I seen?’

The priest whispered an adjuration to prayer.  But she, raising her head, cast terrified glances about the hall.  Basil had moved further away, and she did not seem to be aware of his presence.

‘How long is it,’ he asked, with his eyes upon Gaudiosus, ’since Marcian came from Rome?’

’This is the fourth day.  So I have been told.  I myself saw him for the first time not an hour—­nay, not half an hour ago.’

‘You knew not that he brought her with him?’

Basil, without looking in that direction, signalled with his head towards Veranilda.

‘I had heard of some companion unnamed.’

‘He had not spoken of her to you?’

‘Not a word.’

On the tesselated floor where Marcian had fallen was a pool of blood.  Basil only now perceived it, and all at once a violent shudder went over him.