Whilst he exhausted language in the effort to prove how remote was Veranilda from any shape of loveliness easily presented by memory or imagination, Marcian pondered.
'I can think of but one likelihood,' was his quiet remark, when his friend had become silent.

'King Theodahad had a daughter, who married the Gothic captain, Ebrimut.' 'The traitor,' murmured Basil uneasily.
'Or friend of the Romans, as you will.

He delivered Rhegium to Belisarius, and enjoys his reward at Byzantium.

What if he left a child behind him ?' Basil repulsed the suggestion vehemently.
'Not that! I had half thought of it myself; but no.

Aurelia said of the house of Theodoric.' 'Why so would be a daughter of Ebrimut, through her mother--who was the daughter of Theodahad, who was the son of Amalafrida, who was the sister of Theodoric himself.' 'She could not have meant that,' protested Basil.