'
For an hour or more he sat talking with his host over a pitcher of
wine, found how far he was from Aletrium, and heard with
satisfaction that the brigand bands seemed to have gone higher into
the mountains. The presbyter asked eagerly for Roman news, and
cautiously concerning King Totila, whom it was evident he regarded
with no very hostile feeling. As the day broke he stretched himself
on his host's bed, there being no other for him, and there dozed for
two or three hours, far too agitated to enjoy a sound sleep.
When he arose, he went forth into the already hot sunshine, looked
at the poor peasants' cottages, and talked with Sagaris, whose
half-smiling face seemed anxious to declare that he knew perfectly
well on what business they were engaged. At this hour, in all
probability, the horsemen of Pelagius were galloping along the Latin
Way, in hope of overtaking the fugitives. It seemed little likely
that they would search in this direction, and the chances were that
they would turn back when their horses got tired out. Of them,
indeed, Marcian thought but carelessly; his hard-set brows betokened
another subject of disquiet.
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