"It is over," said Furius in a trembling voice. "It is a curse that lies upon me. I am never to be happy in a wife. Once before--just before accomplishment! And now! I know that Valeria's influence and quiet composure would have brought peace into my wild life--I should have become different, better. And if this could not have been"--his eyes again sparkled--"it would have been almost equally sweet to murder the destroyer of my happiness. Yes, I would have wallowed in his blood, and torn his bride away from his corpse! And now it is _he_! He, the only being to whom Ahalla owes gratitude--and what gratitude!----" He was silent, nodding his head as if lost in recollection. "Valerius," he then said, suddenly rousing himself, "I would yield to no man on earth--I could not have borne to give place to another--but Totila! I will forgive her for not loving me, because she has chosen Totila. Farewell, Valerius, old friend. I go to sea; to Persia, to India--I know not whither--ah! everywhere I shall carry with me the bitter pain of this hour!" He went quickly out, and immediately afterwards his arrow-swift boat bore him away from the little harbour of the villa. Valerius left the room sighing, and went in search of his daughter. In the atrium he met Totila, who was obliged to take leave at once. He had only come to try to persuade them to return to Neapolis. For Belisarius had left the African coast and was cruising near Panormus, and any day a descent might be effected in Sicily or even Italy; and, in spite of Totila's insistence, the King had sent no ships. He himself was shortly going to Sicily to convince himself of the truth. His friends, therefore, were here totally unprotected, and he begged Valerius to return forthwith to Neapolis by land. But it revolted the old soldier to fly before the Greeks; he could not and would not leave his affairs before three days; and Totila could scarcely persuade him to accept a small troop of twenty Goths as a poor protection. With a heavy heart Totila entered his boat and was taken back to his guardship. It was almost dark when he arrived on board; a veil of mist shrouded the nearest objects. All at once the sound of oars was heard to the west, and a ship, recognisable by the red light on the tall mast, turned the point of a small promontory. Totila listened, and asked his look-out: "A sail to the left! what ship? what master?" "It is already signalled from the mast-head," was the reply, "merchant-ship--Furius Ahalla--lay at anchor here." "Where bound?" "For the East--for India!" FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 1: A place for wrestling and other exercises.] [Footnote 2: The most valued wood--not the modern citron-tree.] [Footnote 3: Pine-wood.] [Footnote 4: A Grecian rider's upper garment, worn by the Romans of that time.] [Footnote 5: An epocha of the Roman calendar instituted by Constantine the Great.] END OF VOL. I.