The young man trembled, and followed. He saw the ladies step into
the carriage, and was himself about to mount his horse, when a
military officer, attended by three soldiers, stepped towards him,
and, without phrase of courtesy, demanded his name. Pallid, shaken
with all manner of emotions, Basil replied to this and several other
inquiries, the result being that the two vehicles were ordered to be
driven to the citadel, and he to go thither under guard.
At the entrance to the citadel the carriage drew up and remained
there under guard. Basil was led in, and presently stood before the
military governor of Cumae; this was a Hun named Chorsoman, formerly
one of Belisarius's bodyguard. He spoke Latin barbarously; none the
less was his language direct and perspicuous. The Roman lady wished
to quit Cumae, where she had lived for some years; she purposed,
moreover, to take away with her a maiden of Gothic race, who, though
not treated as a captive, had been under observation since she was
sent to dwell here by Belisarius. This could not pass as a matter of
small moment.
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