These dignitaries, who wore with but ill
grace the ancient toga, were evidently little pleased by what they
had heard; they talked under their breath together, many of them, no
doubt, recalling sadly the honour they were wont to receive from
King Theodoric. As their president drove away, Basil, gazing idly
after the _carpentum_, felt himself touched on the arm; he looked
round and saw Decius, whose panting breath declared his haste,
whilst his countenance was eloquent of ill.
'I come from the Anicianum,' Decius whispered, 'and bring terrible
news. Petronilla lies dying of the pest.'
Dazed as if under a violent blow, Basil stretched out his hand. It
touched the wall of the little temple of Janus, in the shadow of
which they were standing.
'The pest?' he echoed faintly.
'She was seized in the night. Some one in the house--some woman,
they tell me, whom she brought with her a few days ago, I know not
whence--is just dead. I have sped hither in search of any one with
whom I could speak of it; God be thanked that I have met you! I went
to fetch away books, as you know.
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