But he
walked too hurriedly, and was gone ere she durst utter a word.
At the same hurried pace, gazing before him and seeing nothing,
Marcian left the villa, and walked until he came to the river side.
Here was a jutting rock known as the Lover's Leap; story told of a
noble maiden, frenzied by unhappy love, who had cast herself into
the roaring waterfall. Long he stood on the brink, till his eyes
dazzled from the sun-stricken foam. His mind was blasted with shame;
he could not hold his head erect. In sorry effort to recover
self-respect he reasoned inwardly thus:
'Where Basil may be I know not. If he is still at Asculum many days
must pass before a summons from me could bring him hither. He may
already be on his way to join the king, as I bade him in my last
message. The uncertainty, the danger of this situation, can be met
only in one way. On leaving Rome I saw my duty plain before me. A
desire to pleasure my friend made me waver, but I was wrong--if
Basil is to have Veranilda for his bride he can only receive her
from the hands of Totila. Anything else would mean peril to the
friend I love, and disrespect, even treachery, to the king I honour.
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