Veranilda in his hands, trust me, he will care
little what becomes of Aurelia.'
'I listen to you,' replied Petronilla, 'because I am curious to
learn into what extravagances your ignoble passion drives you. I had
been told, but could hardly believe, that you charged me with having
seized these women. Now I see that you really are foolish enough to
think it.' She threw her head back in a silent laugh of scorn.
'Child--for you are a child in wit though man in years--do you
not live at large in Rome, free to come and go as you will?'
'What of that?'
'Am not I also a free woman? Did I not yesterday visit the church of
the blessed Petronilla, and might I not, if so I had willed, have
escaped instead of returning to the city?'
'What has this to do with the matter?' demanded Basil.
'Child! child!' cried the other, as if with boundless contempt. 'You
ask that, knowing why this Veranilda is sought by the Greeks? Were
they truly still in search of her, and were you, were I, suspected
of keeping her hidden, do you suppose we should be free, and not
rather locked as close as any prison in Rome could hold us?'
The listener stood mute.
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