There was dead silence for a moment, then she turned to the young men behind her.
'My noble cousins, I desired your company because I foresaw this woman's violence, and knew not to what length it might carry her.

She pretends to fear my tongue; for my part, I would not lightly trust myself within reach of her hands, of which I learnt the weight when I was a little child.

Lord Decius, attend, I beg you, these reverend men whilst they honour my house and on their way homeward.

My cousin Basil, I must needs ask you to be my guard, until I can command service here.
Follow me, I pray.' With another piercing glance at Leander she withdrew from the assembly.
It was a morning of wind and cloud; the day broke sadly.

When the first gleam of yellow sunlight flitted over Surrentum towards the cliffs of Capreae, silence had fallen upon the villa.