Bessas, having (as was
evident) heard the secret from Pelagius, might perchance have played
the part of a lover vanquished by his passions, and then, after
winning his end by pretence of treachery to the Emperor, had broken
into scoffing revelation. That were a triumph after the Thracian's
heart. Having read thus far in the past, Marcian had to turn anxious
thought upon the future, for his position of seeming security could
not long continue. He bent himself to allay the wrath he had
excited. Falling of a sudden into a show of profound distress, he
kept silence for a little, then murmured bitterly:
'I see what has happened. When the fever was upon me, my mind
wandered, and I talked.'
So convincing was the face, the tone, so plausible the explanation,
that Heliodora drew slowly back, her fury all but quenched. She
questioned him as to the likely betrayer, and the name of Sagaris
having been mentioned, used the opportunity to learn what she could
concerning the man.
'I cannot promise to give him up to you to be tortured,' said
Marcian, with his characteristic smile of irony.
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