Petronilla might have conceived the thought of imprisoning
Aurelia and Veranilda, but only with the aid of an influential
cleric such as Leander could she have carried it out so
successfully. The Church it was that held Veranilda captive; unless,
indeed, it had handed her over to the Greeks. This conviction made
his heart burn with wrath, which he could scarce subdue even whilst
worshipping the crucified Christ. His victim's heresy would of
course be Leander's excuse for what he had done; the daughter of
Maximus and the Gothic maiden were held in restraint for their
souls' good. Not long after Petronilla's death Basil had been driven
by his distress of mind to visit Gordian and Silvia, and to speak
with them of this suspicion. He saw that, for all their human
kindness, they were disposed rather, to approve than condemn the
deacon's supposed action, and he had gone forth from them in scarce
concealed bitterness.
Now, in the festival days of Easter, his thoughts again turned to
that house on the Clivus Scauri, so near to his own dwelling, yet so
remote from the world of turbid passions in which his lot was cast.
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