to a few fishermen; there it turned inland, skirted the Lucrine
water, and presently reached the shore of Lake Avernus, where was
the entrance to the long tunnel piercing the hill between the lake
and Cumae. On an ill-kept way, under a low vault of rock dripping
moisture, the carriage with difficulty tossed and rumbled through
the gloom. Basil impatiently trotted on, and, as he issued into
sunlight, there before him stood the walls of the ancient city,
round about that little hill by the sea which, in an age remote, had
been chosen for their abode by the first Hellenes tempted to the
land of Italy. High above rose the acropolis, a frowning stronghold.
Through Basil's mind passed the thought that ere long Cumae might
again belong to the Goths, and this caused him no uneasiness; half,
perchance, he hoped it.

A guard at the city gate inspected the carriage, and let it pass on.
In a few minutes, guided by Basil, it drew up before a house in a
narrow, climbing street, a small house, brick fronted, with stucco
pilasters painted red at the door, and two windows, closed with
wooden shutters, in the upper storey. On one side of the entrance
stood a shop for the sale of earthenware; on the other, a vintner's
with a projecting marble table, the jars of wine thereon exhibited
being attached by chains to rings in the wall. Odours of cookery,
and of worse things, oppressed the air, and down the street ran a
noisome gutter. When Basil's servant had knocked, a little wicket
slipped aside for observation; then, after a grinding of heavy locks
and bars, the double doors were opened, and a grey-headed slave
stepped forward to receive his mistress. Basil had jumped down from
his horse, and would fain have entered, but, by an arrangement
already made, this was forbidden. Saying that she would expect him
at the second hour on the morrow, Aurelia disappeared. Her cousin