From the porter Basil learned that those who had first
presented themselves at the door had demanded that 'the heretics'
should be given up to them; and by listening to the cries, he
understood that the wrath of these people was directed against the
Arian servants brought hither by Aurelia. Through the wicket he held
colloquy with certain leaders of the throng.
'The heretics! Yield to us the accursed heretics!' shouted a burly
fellow armed with an ox-goad.
'For what usage?' asked Basil.
'That's as they choose. If they like to come before the bishop and
turn Christian--why, a little correction shall suffice. If not,
they have only themselves and the devil to blame.'
By this time Venantius and his retainers stood in the forecourt. To
him, the routing of such a rabble seemed a task not worth speaking
of, but some few would no doubt be slain, and Basil shrank from such
extremities.
'Would you give up these trembling wretches?' asked Venantius
scornfully, pointing to the four slaves, male and female, Arians
either by origin or by conversion to please Aurelia, whom she had
brought from Cumae.
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