What if Veranilda escape this very day?'
'Some days must of necessity pass,' answered Marcian. 'The plot is
not so far advanced.'
He rose hurriedly as if distracted by painful thoughts.
'Noble lady, forgive me for thus urging you with my foolish sorrows.
You see how nearly I am distraught. If by any means you could aid
me, were it only so far as to withhold her I love from the arms of
Basil--'
So deep was Heliodora sunk in her thoughts that she allowed Marcian
to leave her without another word. He, having carried his
machination thus far, could only await the issue, counting securely
on Heliodora's passions and her ruthlessness. He had but taken the
first step towards the end for which he schemed; were this
successful, with the result that Heliodora used her charms upon the
Greek commander, and, as might well happen, obtained power over him,
he could then proceed to the next stage of his plot, which had a
scope far beyond the loves of Basil and Veranilda. That the Gothic
maiden was really in the hands of Bessas he did not believe;
moreover, time had soothed his jealousy of Basil, and, had he been
able to further his friend's desire, he would now willingly have
done so; but he scrupled not to incur all manner of risks, for
himself and others, in pursuit of a great design.
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