With a reminder that they must hold themselves ready to ride at any moment, he passed on through a large, wild garden, and at length, where a grove of box-trees surrounded the ruins of a little summer-house, cast himself to the ground.
His breast heaved, his eyes swelled and smarted, but he could not shed tears.

Face downwards, like a man who bites the earth in his last agony, he lay quivering.

So did an hour or more pass by.
He was roused by the voices of his men, who were searching and calling for him.

With an effort, he rose to his feet, and stepped out into the sunshine, when he learnt that a troop of soldiers had just ridden up to the villa, and that their captain, who had already entered, was asking for him by name.

Careless what might await him, Basil followed the men as far as the inner court, and there stood Venantius.
'I surprise you,' cried out the genial voice with a cheery laugh.