nearly noon
He had come out of the fight unwounded , but at nightfall fever fell upon him , and he found no rest . The loss of some half dozen men grieved him to the heart ; had the brave fellows fallen in battle with the Greeks , he would have thought less of it ; to see them slain , or captured , by mere brigands was more than he could bear . When at length he reached Aesernia , and there unexpectedly met with Venantius , he fell from his horse like a dying man . A draught given by the physician sent him to sleep , and from the second hour after sunset until nearly noon of to-day he had lain unconscious . What he now learnt from Venantius swept into oblivion all that he had undergone . If it were true that Marcian had travelled in this direction with a lady under his guard , Basil could not doubt for a moment who that lady was . The jest of Venantius did not touch him , for Venantius spoke , it was evident , without a thought of Veranilda , perhaps had forgotten her existence ; not the faintest tremor of uneasiness stirred in Basil 's mind when he imagined Veranilda at his friend 's house ; Marcian had discovered her , had rescued her , had brought her thither to rest in safety till her lover could join them -- brave Marcian , truest of friends !