It was Felix, who brought the news that Marcian was at Cumae.
'You have seen him ?' cried Basil, astonished and eager.
'His servant Sagaris,' Felix replied.

'I met him but now in the forum, and learnt that his lord lodges at the house of the curial Venustus; hard by the Temple of Diana.' 'Go thither at once, and beg him, if his leisure serve, to come to me.
I would go myself; but, if he have seen Sagaris, he may be already on the way here.' And so it proved, for in a very few minutes Marcian himself entered the room.
'Your uncle is dead,' were his first words.

'I heard it in Neapolis yesterday.

What brings you here ?' 'Nay, best Marcian,' returned the other, with hands on his friend's shoulders, and peering him in the face, 'let me once again put that question to _you_.' 'I cannot answer it, yet,' said Marcian gravely.

'Your business is more easily guessed.' 'But must not be talked of here,' interrupted Basil, glancing at the door.