Cecilia, for whom she had sent in the early
morning, remained by her side. No member of the family (save Decius)
had yet come, though messages had been despatched to several.
Unopposed, Basil entered the atrium, and there spoke with
Petronilla's confidential freedman.
'Leo, your mistress is dying. Speak the truth to me, and you shall
be rewarded; refuse to answer, or lie to me, and I swear by the
Cross that you shall suffer. Who was the woman that died here
yesterday?'
The freedman answered without hesitation, telling the same story
Basil had already heard from Petronilla.
'Good. She has been buried?'
'She was carried out before dawn.'
'Tell me now, upon your salvation, is any one kept prisoner here?'
Leo, an elderly man, his eyes red with tears and his hands
tremulous, gazed meaningly at the questioner.
'No one; no one,' he answered under his breath. 'I swear it to you,
O lord Basil.'
'Come with me through the house.'
'But Leo, moving nearer, begged that he might be heard and believed.
He understood the meaning of these inquiries, for he had been with
his mistress at Surrentum.
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