He will renew
the kingdom of Theodoric.'
Marcian saw straight before him the aim of all his intrigue. It was
an aim unselfish, patriotic. Though peril of the gravest lay in
every word he uttered, not this made him tremble, but the fear lest
he had miscalculated, counting too securely on his power to excite
this woman's imagination. For as yet her eye did not kindle. It
might be that she distrusted herself, having learnt already that
Bessas was no easy conquest. Or it might be that he himself was the
subject of her distrust.
'What is it to _you_?' she suddenly asked, with a fierce gaze. 'Can
the Goth bring Veranilda back to Italy?'
'I do not believe that she has gone.'
Marcian had knowledge enough of women, and of Heliodora, to harp on
a personal desire rather than hint at high motive. But he was
impelled by the turmoil of his fears and hopes to excite passions
larger than jealousy. Throwing off all restraint, he spoke with hot
eloquence of all that might be gained by one who could persuade the
Greek commander to open the gates of Rome. Totila was renowned for
his generosity, and desired above all things to reconcile, rather
than subdue, the Roman people; scarce any reward would seem to him
too great for service such as helped this end.
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