’Dogs!  You came on this errand thinking that the villa was defenceless.  See your mistake!  Each one of these behind me has more arrows in store than all your number, and never shot bolt from bow without piercing the mark.  Off!  Away with your foul odours and your yelping throats!  And if, when you have turned tail, any cur among you dares to bark back that I, Venantius of Nuceria, am no true Catholic, he shall pay for the lie with an arrow through chine and gizzard!’ This threat he confirmed with a terrific oath of indisputable orthodoxy.

The effect was immediate.  Back fell the first rank of rioters, pressing against those in the rear; and without another cry, with only a low, terrified growling and snarling, the crowd scattered in flight.

‘There again I see Petronilla,’ declared Basil, watching the rout with fierce eyes.  ’I’ll swear that, before starting, she set this game afoot.  I must after her, Venantius.’

‘Alone?’

’Mother of God! if I had your men!  But I will make soldiers of my own.  Some of the likeliest from our folk here shall follow me; enough to stay that she-wolf’s journey till I can choke the truth out of her.’

Venantius, his eyes fixed on the descending road by which the rabble had disappeared, caught sight of something which held him mute for a moment.  Then he gave a snort of surprise.

‘What’s this?  There are no Greek soldiers in Surrentum.’

Yet unmistakable soldiers of the Imperial army were approaching.  First came into sight a commanding officer; he rode a little in advance of the troop, which soon showed itself to consist of some two score mounted men, armed with bows and swords.  And in the rear came the rabble of Surrentines, encouraged to return by this arrival of armed authority.

‘That is Chorsoman,’ said Marcian, as soon as he could distinguish the captain’s feature, ‘the commander at Cumae.’

‘Then it is not to Cumae that they have carried her!’ exclaimed Basil, surmising at once that the Hun was come in pursuit of Veranilda.

‘Time enough to think of that,’ growled Venantius, as he glared from under black brows at the advancing horsemen.  ’What are we to do?  To resist is war, and this villa cannot be held for an hour.  Yet to yield is most likely to be made prisoners.  Marcian!’

Marcian was watching and listening with a look of anxious thought.  Appealed to for his counsel, he spoke decidedly.

’Withdraw your men and go down.  Resistance is impossible.  Chorsoman must enter, but trust me to manage him.  I answer for your liberty.’

Venantius led his men down to the inner court.  Basil, careless of everything but the thought that Veranilda was being borne far from him, he knew not whither, went to get horses ready, that he might pursue Petronilla as soon as the road was free.  Marcian, having spoken with the porter, waited till a thundering at the gate announced Chorsoman’s arrival, then had the doors thrown open, and stood with a calm smile to meet the commander.