Being your friend, did not Marcian lend his aid to discover her for you ?' 'He did so, but fruitlessly.

And when at length he found her, his mind to me had changed.' 'Strangely, it must be confessed,' said the king.

His eyes were again fixed upon Basil with a look of pleasant interest.

'Some day, perchance, you may learn how that came about; meanwhile, you do well to think good rather than evil.

In truth, it would be difficult to do otherwise in this dwelling of piety and peace.