A slave entered and announced to him a visit from one of the priests whom he was going to see when the meeting at the bridge changed his purpose.  The name startled him.  Was this man sent by God?  He bade introduce the visitor, and in a moment there entered a white-bearded, shoulder-bowed ecclesiastic, perspiring from the sunshine, who greeted him with pleasant cordiality.  This priest it was—­he bore the name Gaudiosus—­who had baptized Marcian, and had given him in childhood religious teaching; a good, but timid man, at all times readier to praise than to reprove, a well-meaning utterer of smooth things, closing his eyes to evil, which confused rather than offended him.  From the same newsbearer, who told him of Marcian’s arrival at the villa, Gaudiosus had heard of a mysterious lady; but it was far from his thought to meddle with the morals of one whose noble birth and hereditary position of patron inspired him with respect; he came only to gossip about the affairs of the time.  They sat down together, Marcian glad of the distraction.  But scarce had they been talking for five minutes, when again the servant presented himself.

‘What now?’ asked his master impatiently.

‘My lord, at the gate is the lord Basil.’

Marcian started up.

‘Basil?  How equipped and attended?’

‘Armed, on horseback, and with a number of armed horsemen.’

‘Withdraw, and wait outside till I call you.’

Marcian turned to the presbyter.  His cheeks were flushed, his eyes strangely bright.

‘Here,’ he said, in low, hurried tones, ’comes an evil man, a deep-dyed traitor, with the aspect of friendliest integrity.  I am glad you are with me.  I have no leisure now to tell you the story; you shall hear it afterwards.  What I ask of you, reverend father, is to bear me out in all I say, to corroborate, if asked to do so, all I state to him.  You may rely upon the truth of every word I shall utter; and may be assured that, in doing this, you serve only the cause of good.  Let it not surprise you that I receive the man with open arms.  He was my dear friend; I have only of late discovered his infamy, and for the gravest reasons, which you shall learn, I am obliged to mask my knowledge.  Beloved father, you will give me your countenance?’

‘I will, I will,’ replied Gaudiosus nervously.  ’You would not deceive me, I well know, dear son.’

‘God forbid!’

Marcian summoned the waiting servant, and ordered that the traveller should be straightway admitted.  A few minutes passed in absolute silence, then, as the two stood gazing towards the entrance, they saw the gleam of a casque and of a breastplate, and before them stood Basil.  His arms extended, Marcian stepped forward.

‘So soon, O brave Basil!’ he exclaimed.  ’What speed you must have made!  How long is it since my letter reached you?’

There passed the semblance of an embrace between them.  Basil was death pale; he spoke in hollow tones, as though his tongue were parched, and looked with bloodshot eyes from Marcian to the ecclesiastic.