He felt something chafe and grow hot within him, and recalled the days when he, and not Heliodora, had indulged contempt--to his mind a much more natural posture of affairs, The animal that is in every man had begun to stir; it urged him to master and crush and tame this woman, whom, indeed, he held rather in hate than in any semblance of love.

Her beauty, her sensuality, had power over him still; he resented such danger of subjection, and encouraged himself in a barbarism of mood, which permitted him to think that even in yielding he might find the way of his revenge.
There had been a long silence since his reply to the hint offered by Decius.

The student spoke again.
'Basil, leave Rome.' 'It is forbidden,' answered the other dully, his face averted.
'Many things are forbidden which none the less are done.

Did you learn that Veranilda awaited you at Asculum, how long would it be before you set forth ?' 'Not one hour, good Decius.' 'Even so.

You would pass the gates disguised as a peasant or as a woman--no matter how.