And, however important his mission, I cannot allow Basil to depart without some security--you will understand that.' The barbarous accent with which these sentences were uttered caused Venantius almost as much disgust as the plundering purpose they avowed.
'What security ?' he asked.
Chorsoman named a large sum of money.

As he spoke, Basil himself appeared; and with brief preface, the matter under debate was reported to him.

He glanced at Venantius but could find no counsel in the dark, stern face.

Foreseeing the result of the Hun's visit, Basil had hastened to conceal on his own person a considerable weight of coin, and had intrusted something like the same amount to Felix.

In the treasure chamber lay a mass of wealth now belonging to Aurelia, and the mere fact of this being under lock and key by no means secured it against the commander's greed.