He began by a seemingly careless allusion to the tattle about himself, which, as it appeared, had been started in Rome by some one who wished him ill.

The serious matter of which he had to speak regarded the daughter of Maximus.

No one here, of course, would be inclined to take up the defence of Aurelia, whose history was known to all, he would merely make known to them that after having abjured her religious errors, and when living quietly in the Surrentine villa, she had been treacherously seized and carried off he knew not whither.

It was not difficult to surmise by whom this plot had been laid, but he would leave that point for his hearers' discussion.

Him it chiefly concerned to make known the strange facts so far as he knew them; and this he proceeded to do.