‘You serve the Emperor?’ said Chorsoman, somewhat less overbearingly than he had spoken hitherto.

‘When occasion offers,’ was the dry response.

On the Hun’s countenance grew legible the calculation busying his thought.  At a glance he had taken the measure of Venantius, and gauged the worth of the men behind him.  A smile, which could not mask its cunning, came on to his lips, and all of a sudden he exchanged his truculence for amiability.

‘Lord Venantius,’ he said, laying an open palm on his own breast, and then motioning with it towards the Roman, ’you and I, two men of valour, can understand each other in few words.  I am no talker’—­ his narrow eyes glanced at Marcian—­’nor are you.  Tell me, if you can, what has become of the lady Aurelia and of the Gothic maiden who attended upon her.’

‘Lord Chorsoman,’ replied Venantius, ’I thought it was you who could have answered that question.  The ladies Aurelia and Veranilda have this morning disappeared, and we judged it likely that they had been enticed from the villa to be captured and borne to Cumae.’

‘Who should have done that?’

‘Emissaries of your own, we supposed.’

The Hun reflected.

’This man of words’—­he nodded sideways at Marcian—­’spoke of a woman’s malice.  Explain to me.’

Venantius told what he knew of Petronilla’s enmity, and the listener had no difficulty in coming to the conclusion which to Basil had been evident from the first.  It was possible moreover, that Cumae might be the place to which the captives had been conveyed, for Chorsoman had left the fortress yesterday to come hither by way of Neapolis, his reason for the expedition being news of Veranilda’s approaching marriage, brought to him by a fisherman who said he had been paid by a person unknown.  Did Petronilla, he next inquired, know that Veranilda was to be sent to the East?  To this Marcian replied with a negative, adding: 

’Unless your Illustrious Discretion have seen fit to spread abroad what I imparted to your private ear.’

‘My tongue is not so loose as yours,’ was the Hun’s rejoinder.

Again he reflected, with the result that he decided to send a messenger at once to Cumae.  Until news could be brought back he should remain here in the villa.  This intention he announced in a tone abundantly significant, his hearers understanding that Aurelia’s property was now in hands not accustomed to relax their grasp.

‘Lord Venantius,’ he added, ’as your escort is no longer needed, you will wish, no doubt, to return forthwith to your own abode.  It will not be long before you have the occasion you desire of proving your loyalty to the Emperor.  Brave men both, we may presently fight side by side.  Let us sit at table together, and then good-speed!’

With a haughty glare Venantius heard this dismissal.  A reply surged into his throat, but he swallowed it again, remembering that more than his personal safety was at stake.