Final answer:
The question refers to characters from Philip Roth's novel 'The Human Stain,' but the provided reference text about Basil and Vimy Ridge seems unrelated. In the novel, the rumor is that Faunia and Coleman died in a suspicious car accident, which may have been caused by Faunia's ex-husband.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question seems to be referring to the characters Faunia Farley and Coleman Silk from the novel The Human Stain by Philip Roth. However, the provided reference text does not appear to align with their story, as it refers to a character named Basil and an event involving Vimy Ridge, which are unrelated to Roth’s characters and their circumstances. Therefore, it seems there might be some confusion or an error in the reference to the rumor about Faunia and Coleman's death. In the context of Roth's novel, Faunia and Coleman are believed to have died in a car accident, which some characters suspect was not accidental but orchestrated by Faunia's ex-husband. This rumor, however, is separate from the narrative provided in the reference text concerning Basil and Ramsey.