She, of course, aimed only at enslaving him, and he knew her capable of any wickedness in the pursuit of her ends; for this very reason was he tempted into the conflict with her, a conflict in which his passions would have no small part, and whether for or against him could not be foreseen.

Once more he would visit Heliodora; if fruitlessly, then for the last time.
But of this decision he did not speak to Marcian..