The others now drew him aside into a more
private place, and made known to him their reason for fearing that
the Gothic maiden had been seized by emissaries from Cumae.
'Had I heard that story before,' said Venantius, all but laughing
with angry surprise, 'Veranilda would now be safe in my castle; for,
instead of lingering, I should have come straightway, to rescue her
and you. Holy Peter and Paul! You sported here, day after day,
knowing that the hounds of Justinian had scent of the maid you
carried away? You, Basil, might commit such folly, for you were
blinded to everything by your love. But, Marcian, how came you to
let him loll in his dream of security? Why did you conceal this from
me? By Castor! it was unfriendly as it was imprudent. You robbed me
of a sweet morsel when you denied me the chance of balking the
Greeks in such a matter as this. Nay, the bird is caged at Cumae, be
sure.'
Marcian's brows were knit, and his eyes cast down as he listened to
this reproof.
'I had not thought of Petronilla,' he murmured. 'But for her, the
danger was not pressing.
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