Marcian took up an earthenware jug full of spring water, and drank
deeply. His host then urged the wine, but it was refused; and as
Basil knew that one of his friend's peculiarities was a rigorous
abstinence at times from all liquor save the pure element, he said
no more.
'I have been at Nuceria,' Marcian continued, throwing himself on a
seat, 'with Venantius. What a man! He was in the saddle yesterday
from sunrise to sunset; drank from sunset to the third hour of the
night; rose before light this morning, gay and brisk, and made me
ride with him, so that I was all but tired out before I started on
the road hither. Venantius declares that he can only talk of serious
things on horseback.'
'My uncle regarded him as a Roman turned barbarian,' said Basil.
'Something of that, but such men have their worth and their place.'
'We will talk about him at another time,' Basil interrupted.
'Remember how we parted at Cumae and what happened afterwards. We
are private here; you can speak freely. How did you release us from
the grip of the Hun?'
'I told you before, good Basil, that I was here to spy upon you; and
be sure that I did not undertake that office without exacting a
proof of the confidence of our lords at Rome.
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