spiritual admonisher as a counsellor and a support in worldly
difficulties. Leander was already well aware that the Senator had
small religious zeal, but belonged to the class of men, numerous at
this time, who, whilst professing the Christian and the orthodox
faith, were in truth philosophers rather than devotees, and regarded
dogmatic questions with a calm not easily distinguished from
indifference. Maximus had scarcely spoken of his daughter, when the
deacon understood it was Aurelia's temporal, much more than her
eternal, interests which disturbed the peace of the dying man. Under
Roman law, bequests to a heretic were null and void; though this
enactment had for the most part been set aside in Italy under Gothic
rule, it might be that the Imperial code would henceforth prevail.
Maximus desired to bestow upon his daughter a great part of his
possessions. Petronilla, having sufficient means of her own, might
well be content with a moderate bequest; Basil, the relative next of
kin, had a worthy claim upon his uncle's generous treatment, and
Decius, who needed but little, must have that little assured. The
father had hoped that his entreaties, together with a prospect of
substantial reward, would prevail against Aurelia's pride-rooted
heresy, but as yet he pleaded and tempted in vain. Could the deacon
help him?

Leander seemed to meditate profoundly. The subject of his thought
was what seemed to him a glaring omission in this testament of
Maximus. He breathed an intimate inquiry: Was the sick man at peace
with his own soul? Had he sought strength and solace from the
reverend presbyter of Surrentum, his spiritual father in this
district? Maximus replied that he had neglected no ordinary means of
grace. Whilst speaking, he met the deacon's eye; its significance
was not to be mistaken.