Veranilda

When Marcian parted from Veranilda in the peristyle, and watched her as she ascended to her chamber, he knew that sombre exultation which follows upon triumph in evil. Hesitancies were now at end; no longer could he be distracted between two desires. In his eye, as it pursued the beauty for which he had damned himself, glowed the fire of an unholy joy.

War backdrop, captivity love, and betrayal crest in Marcian's unholy joy — plot machine strong until the unfinished break, so plot scores 78.

At the hour named by Heliodora, Basil set forth alone and rode by unfrequented ways towards the street on the Quirinal named Alta Semita. A sense of shame forbade him to make known even to his slaves whither he was going. He kept repeating to himself that it was for the last time…

Basil's shame against Heliodora's summons — conflicted Roman mouth against Quirinal intrigue — individuates the cast, so cast scores 84.

Meanwhile all was made ready for the sailing of the ship. Coffined in lead, the body of Maximus awaited only a return of fine weather for its conveyance to the vessel… all Surrentum was in movement between church and harbour. Mass having been said, the bishop himself led the procession…

Procession and harbour ceremony dilate; betrayal later accelerates; unfinished close freezes pace — so pace scores 79.

Seven years long had the armies of Justinian warred against the Goths in Italy. Victor from Rhegium to Ravenna, the great commander Belisarius had returned to the East, Carrying captive a Gothic king. The cities of the conquered land were garrisoned by barbarians of many tongues, who bore the name of Roman soldiers…

Chronicle cadence without ornamental pastiche — historical prose exact at open — so prose scores 88.

On a winter's day, at the hour of sundown, Heliodora sat in her great house on the Quirinal, musing sullenly. Beside her a brazier of charcoal glowed in the dusk, casting a warm glimmer upon the sculptured forms which were her only companions; she was wrapped in a scarlet cloak, with a hood which shadowed her face.

Surrentum harbour, Quirinal house, Tiburtine Gate — sixth-century Rome as siege climate and intrigue rooms, so world scores 90.

the Italian people, brought low by slaughter, dearth, and plague, crouched under the rapacious tyranny of these defenders.

War scale and crouched people establish historical fate before Basil's private vision — so hook scores 86.

Victor from Rhegium to Ravenna, the great commander Belisarius had returned to the East, Carrying captive a Gothic king.

Full Gothic–Roman historical canvas rare in Gissing's oeuvre — ambitious even unfinished — so innov scores 82.

His purpose in coming hither was to speak of Stephanus's dream. The astrologer listened very attentively, and, after long brooding, consented to use his art for the investigation of the matter. * * * *

Posthumous truncation on astrology subplot — not designed closure — so ending scores 68.