Marcian did not stir; his head was slightly bent, and a sad smile hovered about his lips.
'O descendant of all the Anicii,' he replied, 'O son of many consuls, remember the ancestral dignity.

Time enough to threaten when you detect me in an unfriendly act.

Did I play the traitor to you at Cumae?
With the Hun this command of Justinian served you in good stead; Veranilda would not otherwise have escaped so easily.

Chorsoman, fat-witted as he is, willingly believed that Veranilda and Aurelia, and you yourself, were all in my net--which means the net of Bessas, whom he fears.

Do you also believe it, my good Basil ?' For answer Basil embraced his friend, and kissed him on either cheek.
'I know how this has come about,' he said; and thereupon related the story of the visit of Olybrius to Aurelia six months ago.