Marcian, on his double mission of spy
in the Greek service and friend of the Goths, had naturally sought
out Venantius; and the description he gave to Basil of the fortress
above Nuceria filled the listener with enthusiasm.
'I would I could live in the same way,' Basil exclaimed. 'And why
not? My own villa in Picenum might be strengthened with walls and
towers. We have stone enough, and no lack of men to build.'
Yet as he spoke a misgiving betrayed itself on his countenance.
Consciously or not, he had always had before him a life at Rome, the
life which became a Roman, as distinguished from a barbarian. But
the need to seek security for Veranilda again became vivid to his
mind. At Rome, clearly, he could not live with his wife until the
Goths had reconquered the city, which was not likely to happen soon.
His means were represented chiefly by the Arpinum estate, which he
had inherited from his father; in Rome he had nothing but his
mansion on the Caelian. The treasure at his command, a considerable
sum, he had brought away in a strong box, and it was now more than
doubled in value by what fell to him under the will of Maximus--
money to be paid out of the great coffer which the senator had
conveyed hither.
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