What do men say of the Gothic king ?' Marcian threw a glance at Basil, then towards the curtained portals of the room; lastly, his eyes turned upon the sick man, whom he regarded steadily.
'They say much--or little,' fell from his lips.
'I understand you,' replied the Senator, with a friendly movement of the head.

'Here we may speak freely.

Does Totila draw near to Rome ?' 'He is still in Tuscany, and rumours come from his army that he will pass into Samnium.

All the strongholds of Umbria are his; all the conquests of Belisarius from Ariminum to Spoletium.' 'Where are the Roman captains ?' 'Each in his city of the far north, holding the plunder he has got, and looking for the chance of more.

In Rome--' Marcian paused significantly, and the Senator took up his words.
'In Rome rules Bessas.' 'The Thracian,' remarked Basil bitterly.
'And in Ravenna,' added the sick man, 'Alexandros--the coin-clipper.' The eyes of Basil and of Marcian encountered.