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Then Veranilda rose from the couch, and knelt beside her. Having solaced their souls, they kissed each other tenderly. 'You are not afraid, whispered Veranilda, 'that Basil may be in the garden when we go forth? 'Basil? Ah, little rogue, have you betrayed yourself? 'Of a truth, dearest lady, he has been there more than once, but not, oh not so early! 'Nay, I hope not, said Aurelia.
'And you fear him, O Basil? It is he that is our enemy? 'Not so, sweetest. No foe of mine is he who wears the crown of Theodoric. They whom I fear and abhor are the slaves of Justinian, the robber captains who rule at Ravenna and in Rome. As she heard him, Veranilda trembled with joy. She caught his hand, and bent over it, and kissed it.
Marcian would gladly have asked questions about Veranilda; how long she had been at Praeneste, whether the lady Aurelia was in the same convent, and many other things; but he did not venture to make known how little he had enjoyed of Leander's confidence.
Side by side, forgetful of all but their recovered peace, they talked sweet nothings, until there sounded from far a woman's voice, calling the name of Veranilda. 'That is Athalfrida, she said, starting up. 'I must not delay. One whisper, one kiss, and she was gone.
With utmost speed the prisoners were passed into a little boat, then rowed to a vessel lying at the harbour mouth. As the ship hoisted sail, dawn began to glimmer over the flank of Vesuvius. Fearful of sleeping till after sunrise, Basil had bidden Felix arouse him this morning; and, as he had much to talk of with Veranilda, he betook himself to the garden very early.
'Dearest lady, answered the other reassuringly, 'may it not be a temptation of the demon himself; who at times is permitted to tempt even the holiest? 'And you, sweet? You have not dreamt? 'Only of Basil, answered Veranilda, with a smile that asked pardon for her happiness.
He came to it by a roundabout way, and Silvia presently understood: he was indirectly begging her to use her influence with eminent churchmen at Rome, to discover whether Veranilda was yet detained in Italy, or had been sent to the East.
I speak only of Veranilda, against whom you can feel no enmity. Will you release her to me? It will only be anticipating by a few days her release to Bessas. Veranilda in his hands, trust me, he will care little what becomes of Aurelia. 'I listen to you, replied Petronilla, 'because I am curious to learn into what extravagances your ignoble passion drives you.
He made a vow that, did he recover Veranilda, he would not rest until he had won her conversion to the Catholic faith. Without the Anicianum, nothing indicated disturbance, but as soon as he had knocked at the door it was thrown wide open, and he saw, gathered in the vestibule, a crowd of dismayed servants. Two or three of them, whom he knew well, hurried forward, eager to speak.
I saw him come forth from Marcian's house, when I was there on the king's service; but, of course, I could not speak with him. Veranilda had seated herself within the portico. Basil stood before her, ever and again meeting her eyes as she looked up. 'Just as little, he resumed after a pause of troubled thought, 'can I know whether Marcian believed me a traitor, or himself had a traitorous mind.
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