'Leave me to find out the truth for you.

Send Sagaris here, Venantius, I entreat you.' The captain appeared to hesitate, but, on Basil's beseeching him not to delay, he agreed and left the room.

As soon as he was alone, Basil sprang up and dressed.

He was aching from head to foot, and a parched mouth, a hot hand, told of fever in his blood.

On receipt of Marcian's last letter, he had not delayed a day before setting forth; all was in readiness for such a summons, and thirty well-mounted, well-armed men, chosen from the slaves and freedmen on his Asculan estate in Picenum, rode after him to join the King of the Goths.