Speak the truth to me, and you shall be rewarded; refuse to answer, or lie to me, and I swear by the Cross that you shall suffer.

Who was the woman that died here yesterday ?' The freedman answered without hesitation, telling the same story Basil had already heard from Petronilla.
'Good.

She has been buried ?' 'She was carried out before dawn.' 'Tell me now, upon your salvation, is any one kept prisoner here ?' Leo, an elderly man, his eyes red with tears and his hands tremulous, gazed meaningly at the questioner.
'No one; no one,' he answered under his breath.

'I swear it to you, O lord Basil.' 'Come with me through the house.' 'But Leo, moving nearer, begged that he might be heard and believed.

He understood the meaning of these inquiries, for he had been with his mistress at Surrentum.