This troubled me; but her voice, her countenance--' 'Helped by the devil,' broke in Basil.

'Reverend man, do not seek to deceive yourself, or to solace me with a vain hope.

I pray you, did Marcian, when you came to visit him, speak of a lady whose virtue he was sworn to guard?
Plainly, not a word fell from him.

Yet assuredly he would have spoken had things been as you pretend.' Gaudiosus, bent double, a hand propping his white-bearded chin, mused for a little with sadded air.
'Lord Basil,' he resumed at length, 'somewhat more have I to say to you.

I live far from the world, and hear little of its rumour.