Byzantine court. She won this grace from Belisarius, and was
permitted to keep with her the little maiden, just growing out of
childhood. But shame and grief had broken her heart; after a few
months of imprisonment at Cumae she died. And Veranilda passed into
the care of the daughter of Maximus.

'For I too was a captive,' said Aurelia, 'and of the same religion
as the orphan child. By happy hazard I had become a friend of her
mother, in those days of sorrow; and with careless scorn our
conquerors permitted me to take Veranilda into my house. As the
years went by, she was all but forgotten; there came a new
governor--this thievish Hun--who paid no heed to us. I looked forward
to a day when we might quit Cumae and live in freedom where we would.
Then something unforeseen befell. Half a year ago, just when the air
of spring began to breathe into that dark, chill house, a distant
kinsman of ours, who has long dwelt in Byzantium--do you know
Olybrius, the son of Probinus?'

'I have heard his name.'

'He came to me, as if from my father; but I soon discovered that he
had another mission, his main purpose being to seek for Veranilda.
By whom sent, I could not learn; but he told me that Ebrimut was
dead, and that his son, Veranilda's only brother, was winning glory
in the war with the Persians. For many days I lived in fear lest my
pearl should be torn from me. Olybrius it was, no doubt, who bade
the Hun keep watch upon us, and it can only have been by chance that
I was allowed to go forth unmolested when you led me hither the
first time. He returned to Byzantium, and I have heard no more. But
a suspicion haunts my mind. What if Marcian were also watching