than wonted respect.  One of them was the steward of his estate in Picenum, who had arrived at Rome a few days ago; with him Basil had private talk, received money which the man had brought, heard of the multitudinous swine in his oak forest, and of the yield of his fruit trees.  That strip of the Adriatic coast south of Ancona had always been famous for its pears and apples, and choice examples of the fruit lay on Basil’s table to-day.  When he had supped, he anxiously awaited the coming of Marcian.  It was two hours after nightfall before his friend appeared, having come in a litter, with torch-bearing attendants, from the Palatine, where he had supped with Bessas, the Greek commander.

The news he brought was disquieting.  Bessas had just received despatches from Cumae, which acquainted him with the story of Veranilda’s disappearance, so far as it was known to Chorsoman; he wore a heavy brow about the business, swore that the Gothic damsel should be found, if it cost the skins of all who had had anything to do with her.

‘I partly soothed the brute,’ concluded Marcian, ’by telling him that Petronilla was within such easy reach.  Her he will summon to-morrow.’

‘You promised to see her,’ said Basil impatiently.

’Do I often break my promises?  I saw her before going even to my own house, with the dust of the journey still upon me.’

‘Ever kind Marcian?’

‘Why so hasty to think me less than kind?’ returned the other, with his smile of sad irony.  ’I saw her, though with difficulty.  She kept me waiting like an importunate poor kinsman, and when I was received, she sat like the Empress giving audience.  I did not touch the earth with my forehead; nay, I stood looking at her with a look she did not easily bear.  That she is guilty, I am sure; I read triumph in her eyes as soon as I spoke of Aurelia.  That she would deny all knowledge of the affair was only to be expected.  Moreover, she has taken possession of the great house yonder, and declares that Aurelia, as a heretic, can claim nothing under her father’s will.  You, of course, the heir, can expel her, if you think it worth the trouble.  But let us see the result of her conversation with Bessas.  She smiled disdainfully when I mentioned his name, and tried to continue smiling when I carelessly explained the interest he had in finding Veranilda; but she was frightened, I heard it in her hoarse voice when she began to speak evil of Veranilda.’

‘What!’ cried Basil.  ‘Evil of Veranilda!’

‘Such as naturally comes to the tongue of an angry woman.’