On his return,
after a quarter of an hour, he gruffly announced that the travellers
were free to depart.
'We humbly thank your Clemency,' said Basil, his heart leaping in
joy. 'Does your Greatness permit me to order these trifles to be
removed?'
'Except the money,' replied Chorsoman, growling next moment, 'and
the vessels'; then snarling with a savage glance about him, 'and the
jewels.'
Not till the gates of Cumae were behind them, and they had entered
the cavern in the hill, did Basil venture to recount what had
happened. He alighted from his horse, and walking through the gloom
beside the carriage he briefly narrated all in a whisper to
Aurelia--all except his own ingenious device for balking the Hun's
cupidity. What means Marcian had employed for their release he could
but vaguely conjecture; that would be learned a few days hence when
his friend came again to Surrentum. Aurelia's companion in the
carriage, still hooded and cloaked, neither moved nor uttered a
word.
At a distance of some twenty yards from the end of the tunnel,
Felix, riding in advance, checked his horse and shouted.
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