Then, without raising her head, she asked quietly: 'You speak for the King ?' 'For the King,' was answered in like tone.
'Come to me again, Marcian, when I have had time for thought.' With that they parted.

On the same day, Sagaris was bidden as before to a meeting after nightfall, and again he conversed with a lady whose face was concealed from him.

She began with a gentle reproof, for he had ventured to present himself at her door, and to beg audience.

Let him be patient; his hour would come, but it must be when she chose.
Many questions did she put to him, all seeming to be prompted by interest in the Gothic maiden of whom Sagaris had heard so much.

With the simplicity of inordinate conceit, he assured her that here she had no ground for jealousy; Veranilda he had never beheld.