‘To supper! to supper!’ he exclaimed with hospitable note.  ’Time enough for our business afterwards.’

But Marcian could not postpone what he had to say.  Begging the bishop’s patience, he told how all day long he had been followed by certain horsemen from Rome, who assuredly were sent to track him.  His servant, he added, was watching for their entrance into the town, and would observe where they lodged.  This, the bishop admitted, was a matter of some gravity.

‘Your guard is ready,’ he said.  ’Six stout fellows on good horses.  But these pursuers outman you.  Let me think, let me think.’

Marcian had but to suggest his scheme.  This was, to resume his journey as soon as the townsfolk were all asleep, and travel through the night, for there was a moon all but at the full.  He might thus gain so much advance of his pursuers that they would not be able to overtake him before he came to the nearest outpost of the Gothic army.  After reflection, the bishop gave his approval to this project, and undertook that all should be ready at the fitting hour.  He himself would accompany them to the gate of the town, and see them safely on their way.  To make surer, Marcian used another device.  When he had learned the quarters of the pursuing horsemen he sent Sagaris privily to speak with their leader, warning him to be ready to ride at daybreak.  Such a message had of course nothing unexpected for its recipient, who looked upon Marcian as secretly serving Pelagius.  It put his mind at ease and released him from the necessity of keeping a night watch.  Sagaris, totally ignorant of his master’s mission, and of the plans that had just been formed, imagined himself an intermediary in some plot between Marcian and the leader of the horsemen, and performed the deceitful office in all good faith.

The bishop and his guest sat down to supper in an ancient room, of which the floor was a mosaic representing an Egyptian landscape, with a multitude of figures.  Marcian would gladly have asked questions about Veranilda; how long she had been at Praeneste, whether the lady Aurelia was in the same convent, and many other things; but he did not venture to make known how little he had enjoyed of Leander’s confidence.  His reverend host spoke not at all on this subject, which evidently had no interest for him, but abounded in inquiries as to the state of things ecclesiastical at Rome.  The supper was excellent; it pained the good prelate that his guest seemed to have so poor an appetite.  He vaunted the quality of everything on the table, and was especially enthusiastic about a wine of the south, very aromatic, which had come to him as a present from his friend the Bishop of Rhegium, together with a certain cheese of Sila, exquisite in thymy savour, whereof he ate with prodigious gusto.