It was possible that Marcian had either purposely concealed his journey from this slave, and had suddenly found himself able to set forth just after Sagaris had started.
'You bear a letter for the king ?' he asked.
'A letter, Illustrious,' answered the slave, speaking very low.
'Ah, a letter ?' Sagaris went on to say that he had kept this a secret from Venantius, his master having bidden him speak of it to no one and deliver it into the king's own hand.
'It is in the Gothic tongue,' he added, his head bent, his look more furtive than ever; 'and so urgent that I have scarce rested an hour since leaving the villa.' A terrible light flashed into Basil's eyes.

Then he sprang at the speaker, caught him by the throat, forced him to his knees.
'Scoundrel, you dare to lie to me! So you started from the villa and not from Rome ?' Sagaris cried out for mercy, grovelled on the floor.

He would tell everything; but he implored Basil to keep the secret, for, did his master learn what had happened, his punishment would be terrible.
'Fool!' cried Basil fiercely.

'How come you to have forgotten all at once that I am your lord's chosen friend, and that everything concerning him is safe with me.

In very deed, I think you have ridden too hard in the sun; your brains must have frizzled.