'
Slowly at first, and confusedly, with hesitations, repetitions, long
pauses, Basil recited the history of Veranilda, so far as he knew
it. The priest listened and nodded, and when silence came, continued
the narrative. If Veranilda spoke truth she had never seen Marcian
until he took her from the convent at Praeneste. Moreover, Marcian
had never uttered to her a word of love; in his house she had lived
as chastely as among the holy sisters.
'What did she here, then?' asked Basil bitterly. 'Why did he bring
her here? You know, O father, that it was not in fulfilment of his
promise to me, for you heard his shameless lie when I questioned
him.'
'He told her,' replied the priest, 'that she sojourned here only
until he could put her under the protection of the Gothic King.'
'Of Totila?' cried Basil. 'Nay, for all I know, he may have thought
of that--his passion being appeased.'
Even as he spoke be remembered Sagaris and the letter written in
Gothic. Some motive of interest might, indeed, have prompted Marcian
to this step. None the less was he Veranilda's lover.
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