With this message Deodatus had been charged by Venantius.

He added that Felix had been dismissed, at the abbot's order, during Basil's interview with the king.
'I understand,' said Basil in himself; and during the rest of the day he strove with all the force of his will to recover calm and pious thoughts.

In the night that followed he slept little; it was now the image of Veranilda that hovered before him and kept him wakeful, perturbed with a tender longing.

God, it might be, would pardon him his offence against the Divine law; but could he look for forgiveness from Veranilda?
When he thought of the king's last words he was lured with hope; when he reasoned upon this hope, it turned to a mocking emptiness.

And through the next day, and the next again, his struggle still went on.