Did not the direct line of Theodoric end with Athalaric and his sister Matasuntha, who is now at the Emperor's court ?' 'So I believed,' said Decius, 'though I have thought but little of the matter.' 'I too, trust me,' let fall Basil, with careful carelessness; no actor he.

'And the vile Theodahad--what descendants did he leave ?' 'He was a scholar,' said the other musingly, 'deep read in Plato.' 'None the less a glutton and a murderer and a coward, who did well to give his throat to the butcher as he ran away from his enemies.
Children he had, I think--but--' Basil broke off on a wandering thought.

He stood still, knitted his brows, and sniffed the air.

At this moment there appeared in the alley a serving man, a young and active fellow of very honest visage, who stood at some yards' distance until Basil observed him.
'What is it, Felix ?' inquired his master.
The attendant stepped forward, and made known that the lord Marcian had even now ridden up to the villa, with two followers, and desired to wait upon Basil.

This news brought a joyful light to the eyes of the young noble; he hastened to welcome his friend, the dearest he had.
Marcian, a year or two his elder, was less favoured by nature in face and form: tall and vigorous enough of carriage, he showed more bone and sinew than flesh; and his face might have been that of a man worn by much fasting, so deep sunk were the eyes, so jutting the cheek-bones, and so sharp the chin; its cast, too, was that of a fixed and native melancholy.