Totila let his eyes stray for a
moment, then spoke again meditatively.
'You sought vainly for this maiden, whilst she was kept in ward.
Being your friend, did not Marcian lend his aid to discover her for
you?'
'He did so, but fruitlessly. And when at length he found her, his
mind to me had changed.'
'Strangely, it must be confessed,' said the king. His eyes were
again fixed upon Basil with a look of pleasant interest. 'Some day,
perchance, you may learn how that came about; meanwhile, you do well
to think good rather than evil. In truth, it would be difficult to
do otherwise in this dwelling of piety and peace. Is there imposed
upon you some term of penance? I scarce think you have it in mind to
turn monk?'
The last words, though not irreverently uttered, marked a change in
Totila's demeanour. He seemed to lay aside an unwonted gravity, to
become the ruler of men, the warrior, the conqueror. His forehead
lost its long wrinkle, as, with eyebrows bent and lips compressed
into a rallying half smile, he seemed to challenge all the manhood
in him he addressed.
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