A few hours' travel, and, drenched with the furious rain, he came to Aesernia. This town stood in a strong position on an isolated hill; its massive walls yet compassed it about. On arriving at the gate he found himself unexpectedly challenged by armed men, who, though Italians, he at once suspected to be in the Gothic service. A moment's hesitancy in replying to the questions, 'Whence?' and 'Whither?' sufficed to put him under arrest. He was led to the captain, in whom with relief he recognised Venantius of Nuceria. His doubts being at an end, for he knew that this Roman noble had long since openly joined Totila, he begged that Venantius would hear him in private, and this being granted, began by telling in whose service he was. 'I thought I somehow remembered your face,' said the captain, whose look seemed to add that the face did not particularly please him. 'And where is the lord Marcian?' 'In Rome, Illustrious.' 'You have come straight from Rome, then?' The answer was affirmative and boldly given. 'And whither are you bound? On what business?' Sagaris, still obeying his master's injunctions, declared that he carried a verbal message to the King of the Goths, and for him alone. Having reflected for a moment, Venantius called the soldier who stood without the door. 'See to the wants of this messenger. Treat him hospitably, and bring him hither again in an hour's time.' The captain then walked to a house close by, where, admitted to the atrium, he was at once met by an elderly lady, who bent respectfully before him. 'Has the traveller yet risen?' he began by asking. 'Not yet, my lord. A little while ago his servant told me that he was still sleeping.' 'Good; he will recover from his fatigue. But pray inquire whether he is now awake, for I would speak with him as soon as may be.' The lady was absent for a minute or two, then brought word that the traveller had just awoke. 'I will go to his bedside,' said Venantius. He was led to an upper chamber, a small, bare, tiled-floored room, lighted by a foot-square window, on which the shutter was half closed against the rays of the sun. Some aromatic odour hung in the air. 'Do you feel able to talk?' asked the captain as he entered. 'I am quite restored,' was the reply of a man sitting up in the bed. 'The fever has passed.' 'So much for the wisdom of physicians!' exclaimed Venantius with a laugh. 'That owl-eyed Aesernian who swears by Aesculapius that he has studied at Constantinople, Antioch, and I know not where else, whispered to me that you would never behold to-day's sunset. I whispered to _him_ that he was an ass, and that if he uttered the word _plague_ to any one in the house, I would cut his ears off. Nevertheless, I had you put into this out-of-the-way room, that you might not be disturbed by noises. Who'--he sniffed--'has been burning perfumes?'