Here
torches were burning; their red glare fell upon angry or mocking
faces, and every moment the crowd increased. With utmost speed the
prisoners were passed into a little boat, then rowed to a vessel
lying at the harbour mouth. As the ship hoisted sail, dawn began to
glimmer over the flank of Vesuvius.
CHAPTER IX
CHORSOMAN
Fearful of sleeping till after sunrise, Basil had bidden Felix
arouse him this morning; and, as he had much to talk of with
Veranilda, he betook himself to the garden very early.
Aurelia's watchman was standing without, gazing anxiously now this
way, now that, surprised by his mistress's failure to return; on the
appearance of Basil he withdrew, but only to a spot whence he could
survey the garden. All impatience, the lover waited, as minute after
minute slowly passed. Dawn was broadening to day, but Veranilda came
not. An agony of disappointment seized upon him, and he stood at
length in the attitude of one sickening with despair. Then a
footstep approached, and he saw the slave whose watch he had
relieved come forward with so strange a look that Basil could only
stare at him.
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