And so, usurping the place of some other who would have ambushed you in real enmity, I came hither on his errand.' 'Marcian,' said the listener, 'I could make a guess at that man's name.' 'Nay, I doubt if you could, and indeed it matters nothing.

Enough that I may do you some little service.' 'For which,' replied Basil, 'I cannot pay you, since all my love is already yours.

And she--Heliodora,' he added, with a careless gesture, 'knows of your mission ?' 'Of my mission, no; but of my proposed journey.

Though indeed she may know more than I suppose.

Who shall say what reaches the ear of Heliodora-- ?' 'You have not heard perhaps that her husband is dead ?' 'The Prefect dead ?' exclaimed Basil.
'Three weeks ago .-- Rather suddenly--after supper.