At their previous
interview he had kept up the pretence of being chiefly interested in
the fate of Aurelia, barely mentioning the Gothic maiden; but that
was in the presence of Gordian. Now he spoke not of Aurelia at all,
and so dwelt on Veranilda's name that his implied confession could
not be misunderstood. And Silvia listened with head bent,
interested, secretly moved, at heart troubled.
'What you ask,' she began, after a short silence, 'is not easy. If I
make inquiries of such of the clergy as I know, I must needs tell
them why I am doing so; and would they, in that case, think it well
to answer me?'
'You know the deacon Leander,' urged Basil. 'Can you not plead for
me with him, O Silvia?'
'Plead for you? Remember that it is impossible for me to assume that
the holy deacon knows anything of this matter. And, were that
difficulty removed, dare I plead for your union with one who is not
of our faith--one, moreover, whom you cannot wed without putting
yourself in grave peril?'
'Listen, gentle cousin!' exclaimed Basil eagerly. 'It may be that
Veranilda has already renounced the heresy of Anus.
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