On the way home he had passed two funerals--their hurried aspect
proving that the dead were victims of the plague, that _lues
inguinaria_ which had broken out in Italy two years ago, and with
varying intensity continued throughout the land. Throwing himself
down upon a couch, he moaned in utter wretchedness, fearful of the
pestilence, yet saying to himself that he cared not if it seized
upon him. His moans became sobs; he wept for a long time, then lay,
half soothed by the burst of hysterical passion, with eyes turned
blankly to the ceiling and a hand clenched upon. his breast.
In his solitude he often talked with Felix, and more intimately
perhaps than with either Decius or Marcian. This trusty servant held
communication with a man in the household of Petronilla, and from
him learnt what he could as to the lady's movements; but nothing was
as yet discoverable which threw light on the mystery of Aurelia and
Veranilda. To-day, however, Felix returned from the other side of
the Tiber with what sounded like important news. Petronilla had left
home this morning in her carriage, had gone forth from the city by
one of the southern gates, and, after an absence of two or three
hours, had returned, bringing with her some one, a woman, whom she
took into her house and kept there in privacy.
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