I, of course, take possession of this villa until Aurelia is
discovered. And, however important his mission, I cannot allow Basil
to depart without some security--you will understand that.'
The barbarous accent with which these sentences were uttered caused
Venantius almost as much disgust as the plundering purpose they
avowed.
'What security?' he asked.
Chorsoman named a large sum of money. As he spoke, Basil himself
appeared; and with brief preface, the matter under debate was
reported to him. He glanced at Venantius but could find no counsel
in the dark, stern face. Foreseeing the result of the Hun's visit,
Basil had hastened to conceal on his own person a considerable
weight of coin, and had intrusted something like the same amount to
Felix. In the treasure chamber lay a mass of wealth now belonging to
Aurelia, and the mere fact of this being under lock and key by no
means secured it against the commander's greed. Marcian came
forward, and hearing the talk of ransom, endeavoured to awe the Hun
into moderation, but with less success than he had had at Cumae.
Pages:
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187