'What mean you, fellow ?' 'Most noble, I know nothing,' stammered the frightened slave 'I beseech your greatness to inquire.

They say--I know not what--' Basil sped across the garden and into Aurelia's dwelling.

Here he found a group of servants talking excitedly together; at view of him, they fell back as if fear-stricken.

From one, Aurelia's old nurse, rose a wail of distress; upon her Basil rushed, grasped her by the arm, and sternly demanded what had happened.

Dropping to her knees with a shrill cry, the woman declared that Aurelia had vanished, that some one from the city had seen her carried away before dawn.
'Alone ?' asked Basil in a terrible voice.
'Lord, I know not,' wailed the woman, grovelling at his feet.
'Is Veranilda in her chamber ?' he asked violently.
'Gone!' replied a faint voice from amid the group of servants.
'Where is this messenger ?' Without waiting for a reply, he sprang forward.