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For this had he sent the summons southward, perhaps not daring to speak more plainly in a letter, perhaps not being yet quite sure of success. This had he so often promised O gallant Marcian! Quivering with eagerness, he stood at the door of his chamber. Footsteps sounded; there appeared a slave of the house, and behind him that dark, handsome visage which he was expecting. 'Sagaris!
To this religion Sagaris also inclined, for it was associated with memories of his childhood in the East; if he saw the rising of the sun, and was unobserved, he bowed himself before it, with various other observances of which he had forgotten the meaning. His purpose in coming hither was to speak of Stephanus's dream.
No sooner had this reply fallen from his lips than Sagaris seemed stricken with alarm. He entreated pardon, declared he knew not what he was saying, that he was dazed by the weariness of travel. 'I should have said neither before nor after. My lord remains in the city. I was to return with all speed. 'He remains in the city? Basil reflected.
'Speak low, said Basil, standing by the open door so as to guard against eavesdropping. 'What message have you for me? Sagaris replied that he had none. 'None? Your lord charged you with nothing for me in case you should meet me on your way? Again Sagaris murmured a negative, and this time with so manifest an air of confusion that Basil stared at him, suspicious, angry. 'What do you mean?
Sagaris glared fiercely at her, and drew upon himself a look no less fierce. 'Fool! she exclaimed, once more speaking in a natural voice. 'How shall we live a month hence? Have you a mind to steal away to the Goths? If you do so, you can't expect me to starve here alone. Thick-willed slave!
Basil, impatient to arrive, was generally a little ahead. Their attendants numbered half a dozen men, among them Felix and Sagaris, and two mules laden with packs came in the rear.
Can you see no further than the invitation to sup with that thievish brute? which I should have accepted, had I not foreseen the necessity of explaining to your dulness all that might follow upon it. Esteeming himself the shrewdest of mankind, Sagaris deeply resented these insults, not for the first time thrown at him by the woman whom he regarded with an Oriental passion and contempt.
Basil did so, turned his face away, and bade them leave him alone. What was that memory at the back of his mind? In the effort to draw it forth he ground his teeth together, dug his nails into his hands. At moments he forgot why he was wretched, and, starting up, strained his eyes into the darkness, until he saw the face of Sagaris and heard him speaking.
'Pardon our hasty entrance, fair Heliodora, he said in Greek. 'The commander has need of you on pressing business. 'The commander must wait my leisure, she replied with a note of indignation over-emphasised. 'Nay, that he cannot, returned the officer, leering at Sagaris. 'He is even now at supper, and will take it ill if you be not there when he rises from table. A litter waits.
Arrived at a certain point, the two looked at each other and waved a hand; then Marcian, with Sagaris and one other servant, pushed forward, whilst Basil, followed by the rest of the train, took an ascending road to the right. The house in which he was born, and where he alone now ruled, stood on the summit of the Caelian.
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