As their president drove away, Basil, gazing idly after the _carpentum_, felt himself touched on the arm; he looked round and saw Decius, whose panting breath declared his haste, whilst his countenance was eloquent of ill.
'I come from the Anicianum,' Decius whispered, 'and bring terrible news.

Petronilla lies dying of the pest.' Dazed as if under a violent blow, Basil stretched out his hand.

It touched the wall of the little temple of Janus, in the shadow of which they were standing.
'The pest ?' he echoed faintly.
'She was seized in the night.

Some one in the house--some woman, they tell me, whom she brought with her a few days ago, I know not whence--is just dead.

I have sped hither in search of any one with whom I could speak of it; God be thanked that I have met you! I went to fetch away books, as you know.' 'I must go there,' said Basil, gazing about him to find his slaves.