For the moment he had shaken off his visions of Tartarus, and was his saner self once more.
'If I knew that she has gone!' cried Basil wretchedly.

'If I knew!' 'So you take your chance ?' 'Listen! You speak of prison, of torture.

Marcian, can you not help, me to capture that woman, and to get from her the truth ?' Basil's face grew terrible as he spoke.

He quivered, his teeth ground together.
'I, too, have thought of it,' replied the other coldly.

'But it is difficult and dangerous.' They talked yet awhile, until Marcian, who looked cadaverous, declared his need of food, and they went to the mid-day meal.
A few days went by.