'Lead her where you will,' he shouted. 'I stay under this abhorred
roof only till my men have eaten and taken rest.'
Without knowing it, he had stepped into the pool of blood, and a red
track was left behind him as he went forth from the hall.
CHAPTER XXIII
THE RED HAND
Resting at length from desire and intrigue, Marcian lay cold upon
the bed where he had passed his haunted nights. About his corpse
were gathered all the servants of the house; men, with anger on
their brows, muttering together, and women wailing low because of
fear. The girl who had met the horsemen by the bridge told her
story, whence it became evident that Marcian's death was the result
of private quarrel; but some of the slaves declared that this armed
company came in advance of the Gothic host; and presently the loss
of their master was all but forgotten in anxiety as to their own
fate at the hands of the Emperor.
This talk was interrupted by the approach of Basil's men, who came
to seek a meal for themselves and forage for their horses. Having no
choice but to obey, the servants went about the work required of
them.
Pages:
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447