Marcian had played his double part with extraordinary
skill and with boldness which dared every risk. He was now exerting
himself in manifold ways, subtly, persistently, for the supreme
achievement of his intrigue, the delivery of Rome from Byzantine
tyranny.
Among the many persons whom he made to serve his ends without
admitting them to his confidence was Galla, the wife of a noble whom
Amalasuntha had employed in her secret communications with
Byzantium, and who was now one of the intimates of Bessas. A light
woman, living as she pleased because of her husband's indifference,
Galla knew and cared nothing about affairs of state, and on that
account was the more useful to Marcian. She believed him in love
with her, and he encouraged the belief; flattering her with pretence
at timidity, as though he would fain have spoken but durst not.
Regarding him as her slave, Galla amused herself by sometimes coming
to his house, where, as if in the pride of chastity, she received
his devotion, and meanwhile told him things he was glad to know. And
thus it happened on that day of the quarrel between Heliodora and
Muscula, wherein Galla unexpectedly found herself involved.
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