"I did not wish to startle you sooner than was necessary. But now I dare no longer be silent. Yesterday early, the waves washed a corpse ashore----"
"A corpse!"
"A Goth, one of our sailors; it was Alb, the steersman of Totila's ship."
Valeria grew pale, but did not tremble.
"It may be an accident--the man was drowned."
"No," said the Goth, "he was not drowned; hi» breast was pierced by an arrow."
"That means a naval combat, nothing more," said Valerius.
"But to-day----"
"To-day?" cried Julius.
"To-day none of the country people who usually pass on their way from Regium to Colum, made their appearance, and a trooper, whom I sent to Regium for news, has never returned.