That, look you, would be sweet revenge to a woman defeated.

Why,' he added, with a piercing but kindly look, 'do you hide from me that she sought to persuade you of my treachery?
Is it, O Basil, because you feared lest she spoke the truth ?' Flushing under that honest gaze, Basil sprang up and seized his friend's hand.

Tears came into his eyes as he avowed the truth and entreated pardon.
'It was only because misery has made me all but mad.

Nay, I _knew_ that she lied, but I could not rest till I had the assurance of it from your own lips.

You think, then, dearest Marcian, that Veranilda is lost to me for ever?
You believe it is true that she is already on the way to Constantinople ?' Marcian hoped it with all his heart, for with the disappearance of Veranilda this strange, evil jealousy of his would fade away; and he had many reasons for thinking that the loss of his Gothic love would be the best thing that could happen to Basil.