Before long there was an end of doubt. Rising in
agitation to his feet, Maximus gave orders that the litter, which
since yesterday morning had been in readiness, should at once be
borne with all speed down to the landing-place. Sail and oars soon
brought the boat so near that Decius was able to descry certain
female figures and that of a man, doubtless Basil, who stood up and
waved his arms shoreward.
'She has come,' broke from Maximus; and, in reply to his kinsman's
face of inquiry, he told of whom it was he spoke.
The landing-place was not visible from here. As soon as the boat
disappeared beneath the buildings of the town, Maximus requested of
his companion a service which asked some courage in the performance:
it was, to wait forthwith upon the Lady Petronilla, to inform her
that Aurelia had just disembarked, to require that three female
slaves should be selected to attend upon the visitor. This mission
Decius discharged, not without trembling; he then walked to the main
entrance of the villa, and stood there, the roll of Virgil still in
his hand, until the sound of a horse's hoofs on the upward road
announced the arrival of the travellers.
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