When he descended, she awaited him at the end of the portico, and her look questioned him.
'Stubborn, stubborn!' murmured Leander, shaking his head, and passed on as though in troubled thought.
Later in the day, when she had seen her father, Aurelia made known to her cousin Basil, who had requested an interview, that he might come.
His cousin received him smilingly, almost affectionately.
Marcian having this morning taken his leave, called away by some unexplained business to Neapolis, Basil had been on the point of taking Decius into his amorous confidence, when this summons rejoiced him.
'Is the letter written ?' were Basil's first words.
'It is here.

Can you despatch it at once ?' 'I will take it myself,' he answered promptly.
Aurelia shook her head.
'You must not.

My father's life is fast failing.

No one can say which hour may be his last.

If he asked for you, and you were absent--' 'Felix shall go,' said Basil.