Aurelia's part in
it would of course excite discussion, perhaps serious objection;
whereas her disappearance would probably be regarded as a matter of
small moment, and Petronilla, even if suspected, could count on
sympathy. When he left the library, Basil found all the members of
his household, from the old nurse Aguella, whose privilege it was to
treat him with motherly affection, to the men who groomed his horse,
assembled outside to give him welcome. His character and bearing
were such as earn the good-will of dependents; though proud and
impatient, he never behaved harshly, and a service well rendered
often had its recognition. Among the young men of his rank, he was
notable for temperance in pleasures; his slaves regarded him as
above common temptations of the flesh, and, though this might be a
loss to them in one way, they boasted of it when talking to the
slaves of masters less exceptional. Having learnt from Felix that
their lord was heir of Maximus, the servants received him with even
more than wonted respect. One of them was the steward of his estate
in Picenum, who had arrived at Rome a few days ago; with him Basil
had private talk, received money which the man had brought, heard of
the multitudinous swine in his oak forest, and of the yield of his
fruit trees.
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