He could see now that, however it might appear, the guilt of Marcian was quite unproved.

The Syrian slave might have lied, or else have uttered a mistaken suspicion.

It might be true that Marcian had been misled by some calumniator into thinking evil of his friend.

And had he not heard the declaration of Veranilda, that she had suffered no wrong at his hands?
Basil saw the face of his beloved.

Only a man possessed by the Evil Spirit could have answered her as he had done.
Was not the fact that Marcian had brought Veranilda to his villa in order to give her into the hands of Totila sufficient proof that he had neither wronged her nor meditated wrong?
Ay, but Basil reminded himself that he had accused Veranilda of amorous complicity with Marcian.