When at length he wrote her a letter, a letter of sad kindness, inviting rather than beseeching her to visit him, Aurelia made no reply.

Wounded, he sunk again into silence, until his heart could no longer bear its secret burden, and he spoke--not to Petronilla, from whose austere orthodoxy little sympathy was to be expected--but to his nephew Basil, whose generous mettle willingly lent itself to such a service as was proposed.

On his delicate mission, the young man set forth without delay.

To Cumae, whether by sea or land, was but a short journey: starting at daybreak, Basil might have given ample time to his embassy, and have been back again early on the morrow.

But the second day passed, and he did not return.