True, as yet, he had fed only on
promises, but being the man he was, he could attribute to Heliodora
a selfish interest in combination with a lover's desire; what more
intelligible than that she should use him to the utmost against
those she hated, postponing his reward until he had rendered her
substantial service? Thus did Sagaris feel and reason, whilst riding
along the Latin Way. His difficulty was to decide how he should act
at this juncture; how, with greatest profit to himself, he could do
most scathe to Marcian.
Was his master serving the Greeks or the Goths? Uncertainty on this
point had long troubled his meditations, and was now a cause of
grave embarrassment. Eager to betray, he could not be sure to which
side betrayal should direct itself. On the whole he himself favoured
Totila, feeling sure that the Goth would bring the war to a
triumphant end; and on this account he was disposed to do his errand
faithfully. If the king interrogated him, he could draw conclusions
from the questions asked, and could answer as seemed best for his
own ends. So he decided to push on, and, despite the storm which
broke on this second morning, he rode out from Venafrum.
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