At their previous interview he had kept up the pretence of being chiefly interested in the fate of Aurelia, barely mentioning the Gothic maiden; but that was in the presence of Gordian.

Now he spoke not of Aurelia at all, and so dwelt on Veranilda's name that his implied confession could not be misunderstood.

And Silvia listened with head bent, interested, secretly moved, at heart troubled.
'What you ask,' she began, after a short silence, 'is not easy.

If I make inquiries of such of the clergy as I know, I must needs tell them why I am doing so; and would they, in that case, think it well to answer me ?' 'You know the deacon Leander,' urged Basil.

'Can you not plead for me with him, O Silvia ?' 'Plead for you?
Remember that it is impossible for me to assume that the holy deacon knows anything of this matter.