Why, he demanded fiercely, had not Aurelia and her
companion travelled straight on to Rome, as he had been assured they
were to do?
'For a simple reason,' answered Marcian. 'I judged an escort
necessary, and only yesterday did I obtain it. This very day should
we have set forth.'
'You speak of one Venantius and his followers--he who just now, I
am told, threatened to massacre the harmless citizens of Surrentum.'
'I would rather say the most noble Venantius, a senator, but for
whose presence this villa would have been sacked by a thievish
rabble from below.'
'Let me see him,' said the Hun, his eyes like those of a boar at
bay.
'Will it please your Illustrious Magnanimity to eat with us?'
'I will eat when I choose. Fetch here Venantius.'
Marcian despatched the porter, and in a few moments Venantius
appeared, behind him his armed men. A hand lightly on his sword, as
though he played with the hilt, his head proudly erect, the Roman
noble paused at a few paces from the Hun, and regarded him with bold
steadfastness.
'You serve the Emperor?' said Chorsoman, somewhat less overbearingly
than he had spoken hitherto.
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