And I have seen Petronilla.' His eyes on the listener, Basil recounted his conversation of this morning, all save that part of it which related to Marcian.

He could detect no sign of guilty uneasiness in his friend's face, but saw that Marcian grew very thoughtful.
'Is not this a shamelessness in falsehood which passes belief ?' were his last words.
'If indeed it be falsehood,' replied Marcian, meeting the other's eyes.
'I will confess that, this day or two, I have suspected Bessas of knowing more than he pretends.' 'What ?' Basil exclaimed.

'You think Veranilda is really in his power ?' Marcian answered with a return to the old irony.
'I would not venture to set bounds to the hypocrisy and the mendacity and the pertinacity of woman, but, after another conversation with Petronilla, I am shaken in my belief that she still holds her prisoners.

She may, in truth, have surrendered them.

What makes me inclined to think it, is the fierceness with which she now turns on _me_, accusing me of the whole plot from the first.