Had I known what lay upon your conscience, I should have withheld from you everything but Holy Writ.' 'My man, Deodatus, had not spoken ?' asked Basil.
'Concerning you, not a word.

I did not permit him to be questioned, and his talk has been only of his own sins.' Basil wondered at this discretion in a simple rustic; yet, on a second thought, found it consistent with the character of Deodatus, as lately revealed to him.
'He has been long your faithful attendant ?' inquired the abbot.
'Not so.

Only by chance was he chosen from my horsemen to accompany me hither.

My own servant, Felix, being wounded, lay behind at Aesernia.' 'If he be as honest and God-fearing as this man,' said Benedict, 'whose name, indeed, seems well to become him, then are you fortunate in those who tend upon you.

But of this and other such things we will converse hereafter.