Veranilda

e presbyter, Andreas, many colloquies on that weighty topic, the senator's testament. As it happened, neither bishop nor presbyter had much aptitude for worldly affairs; they were honest, simple-mind

ouse, the bishop could not approach Maximus without excessi

the office from which his weakness held him apart. Presently the door opened, and in the dim lamp-light appeared the presbyte

e bishop, rising in his bed and r

father! y

ten, Andreas

rway reverently drew aside. On one side of the bed were Aurelia and the deacon; on the other, Petronilla and Basil and Decius. Though kneeling, the senator's daughter held herself proudly. Though tears were on her face, she hardly disguised an air of triumph. Nor was the head

ed from without, Leander made known to the prelate and the presbyter the terms of the will. Basil was instituted 'heir'; that is to say, he became the legal representative of the dead man, and was charged with the distribution of those parts of the estate bequeathed to others. First of the legatees stood Aurelia. The listeners learnt with astonishment that the ob

suspicion of the secret which lay behind it. Leander, she could not doubt, was behaving to her wit

ffered to do so. I put myself under the protection of your Holiness, until such time as I can set forth on my sad journey to

nked him with the loftiest humility. For any lack of respect, or for common courtesy, to which they might be exposed ere they quitted the villa, she besought their Sanctities not to hold her responsible, she herself bei

ts its possibility, and whose mind is bent upon such things. Indeed, she has already scanted the respect she owes you in uttering these words. As for herself, remain she here for an hour o

trembled

doubt, be enlightened as to that woman's principles in the matter of truth and falsehood. Meanwhile, we shall consult our soul

ok with austere fixedness. There was dead silence for

y part, I would not lightly trust myself within reach of her hands, of which I learnt the weight when I was a little child. Lord Decius, attend, I beg you, these revere

lance at Leander she wi

notice of the third hour, Aurelia called together the servants of the house-only those who belonged to Petronilla failing to answer her summons-and announced to them her new authority. At the same time the steward of the estate read out a list of those slaves who, under the will of Maximus, could claim their emancipation. The gathering having disp

urney, reverend?' w

ly. 'There or in the neighbourhood I shall remain at le

All I have to say to your Sanctity, I will say at once. It is, that you have e

m?' asked Leander, with

it, deacon, after Petron

ws nothing of what has passed between us. She spoke in an

eve you if you give me back the paper I signed, and tr

as if he had heard so

, 'for a trust you

Aurelia, her cheeks aflame with passio

ecting on these last words; then he b

ansport be by land or by sea? This evening the corpse would be conveyed to the cathedral of Surrentum, where due rites would be performed early on the morrow; there it would remain in temporary interment until a coffin of lead could be prepared, and arrangements completed for the removal. Was the year too advanced, questioned Petronilla, to allow of the sea voyage? On the other hand, would the land journey be safe, ha

oubtless be in Rome before the arrival of the remains of Maximus, and all the details of the burial there might be

ended your Sanctity. It was my fear that you would go away witho

or the present, I take my leave of you, all being ready for my departure. As you are quitting this house at once, you need no counsel as to immediate dif

ed Petronilla. 'If it might be my pr

le for us to travel together, trust me to beg for the honour.

ss with his benediction. The deacon magnanimously granted both

tie

tely pace the winding road to Surrentum. Before it rode Basil; behind came a laden wagon, two light vehicles carrying female slaves, and mounted men-servants, armed as though for a lo

forth again, her face was wan, tearstained. She summoned her nurse, and held much talk with her as to the significance of thunder whilst a corpse lay in the house. The good woman, though s

know which is the true church? Have not emperors, have not bishop

a handmaid of Petronilla, in going with her this morning, professed to know on the surest evidence that Aurelia,

e women? And you dare repeat to me their loose-lipped chatter

had sobbed herself into quiet once more, she sought a volume of the Gospels, inserted he

lieve in the light, that ye

in the end seem

met him in the atrium, heard the report of what he had done, and at l

sil. 'Ay, that I can! Yo

o seek that which no on

ing this; it meant, of course, treasure conc

Aurelia, 'even though it cause us delay.

when this storm has passed Shall

ou purpose t

ners, cousin-and more s

?' she returned, looking

I have any thought other than honest, may

s gaze s

said; 'we will spe

g Aurelia, some declaring that she had returned to the true faith, some that she remained obstinate in heresy. Her failure to appear did not set the debate at rest. A servant of Petronilla whispered it about that only by a false pretence of conversion had Aurelia made sure her inheritance; and at the mere thought of s

favourable for their voyage; none the less, they decided to start at the earliest possible hour. Dawn was but just streaking the sky, when they rode down the dark gorge which led to the shore, Basil attended by Felix, the la

gleamed above the mountains, the breeze shifted westward; sails were presently hoisted, and the rippling water hissed bef

low voice to Basil, this the first mention of Leande

he other carelessly

He was wondering anxiously how his letter had affected Veranil

iend Marcian?' we

s; and, when Aurelia inquired what business held him

asked the lady, afte

As I tru

ing within earshot, th

ching along the shore from the Lucrine lake to the harbour shadowed by Cape Misenum; desolate magnificence, marble overgrown with ivy, gardens where the rose grew wild, and terraces crumbling into the sea.

and rowing again became needful. Thus they entered th

ht delay, the party pursued their journey, Basil and his man riding before the carriage. The road ran coastwise as far as the Julian haven, once thronged with the shipping of the Roman world, now all but abandoned to a few fishermen; there it turned inland, skirted the Lucrine water, and presently reached the shore of Lake Avernus, where was the entrance to the long tunnel piercing the hill between the lake and Cumae. On an ill-kept way, under a low vault of rock dripping moisture, the carriage with difficulty

ited being attached by chains to rings in the wall. Odours of cookery, and of worse things, oppressed the air, and down the street ran a noisome gutter. When Basil's servant had knocked, a little wicket slipped aside for observation; then, after a grinding of heavy locks and bars, the double doors were opened, and a grey-headed slave stepped forward to receive his mistress. Basil had jumped down from his horse, and would fain have entered, but, by an arrange

It was Felix, who brought the

?' cried Basil, as

in the forum, and learnt that his lord lodges at the ho

rve, to come to me. I would go myself; but, if he h

a very few minutes Marcia

rst words. 'I heard it in Neapoli

on his friend's shoulders, and peering him in the

id Marcian gravely. 'Your bus

rrupted Basil, glancing at the door. '

ul distance. When safe from being overheard, Basil recounted to his friend the course of events at the Surrentine villa since Marcian's departure, made known his

n, 'that you think of wed

Basil, with a laugh, '

hough Aurelia favo

something of th

sober awhile. Have you reflected that, with s

he war; could he suppose, asked Marcian, that Heliodora would meekly endure his disdain, and that the life of Veranilda would be safe in such a rival's proximity? Hereat, Basil gnashed his teeth

lis? Why not, indeed? But what if; on learning the death of Maximus, the Thracian who rules yonder see fit to command your instant return, and to

e just?' said Basil, ga

said the other,

looking to King Totila, whom men praise, as

hand on his fri

Never did man so merit love in return.-Do as you will. In a few days I shall again

cripple, who, with whining prayer, besought alms. Marcian from his wall

g oddly, 'at the image

helmeted bust of the goddess of th

uttered Basil sad

whatsoever deficiencies of local revenue. Gravity and sincerity appeared in his countenance; he seldom smiled, spoke in a subdued voice, and often kept his eyes on the ground; but his service was performed with rare conscientiousness, and he had often given proof of affection for his master. Sagaris, a Syrian slave, less than thirty years old, had a comely visage which ever seemed to shine with contentment, and often twinkled with a sort of roguish mirth. Tall and of graceful bearing, the man's every movement betrayed personal vanity; his speech h

is most important air, 'we shall see strange things

argue?' asked th

a woman gave birth to a serpent, a winged dragon, which flew

ehold one of them. Yet,' he added gravely, 'I have received a sign. When my father died, I was far away from him, and at t

lexandria and Berytus-for you must know that in my boyhood I passed three years at Berytus, and the

osed Felix. 'We

nd became the obs