Basil knew that Aurelia had not, in the coffer she was taking away,
a quarter of this sum of money. He foresaw endless delay, infinite
peril to his hopes. Schooling a hot tongue to submissive utterance,
he asked that Aurelia might be consulted.

'Speak with her yourself,' said the Hun, 'and bring her answer.'

So Basil went forth, and, under the eyes of the guard, held converse
with his cousin. Aurelia was willing to give all the treasure she
carried with her--money, a few ornaments of gold and silver, two
or three vessels of precious metal--everything for immediate
liberty; all together she thought it might be the equivalent of half
the sum demanded. The rest she would swear to pay. This being
reported to Chorsoman, his hideous, ashen-grey countenance assumed a
fierce expression; he commanded that all the baggage on the vehicles
should be brought and opened before him; this was done. Whilst
Basil, boiling with secret rage, saw his cousin's possessions turned
out on to the floor a thought flashed into his mind.

'I ought to inform your Sublimity,' he said, with all the
indifference he could assume, 'that the lady Aurelia despatched two
days ago a courier to Rome apprising the noble commandant Bessas of
her father's death, and of her intention to arrive in the city as
soon as possible, and to put her means at his disposal for the
defence of Rome against King Totila.'

Chorsoman stared.

'Is not this lady the widow of a Goth and a heretic?'