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millions of sesterces last night。 My villa at Tibur； and all the statues that
my father the praetor brought from Ephesus； must go to the auctioneer。
That is a high price； you will acknowledge； even for Phoenicopters； Chian；
and Callinice。〃
〃High indeed； by Pollux。〃
〃And that is not the worst。 I saw several of the leading senators this
morning。 Strange things are whispered in the higher political circles。〃
〃The Gods confound the political circles。 I have hated the name of
politician ever since Sylla's proscription； when I was within a moment of
having my throat cut by a politician； who took me for another politician。
While there is a cask of Falernian in Campania； or a girl in the Suburra； I
shall be too well employed to think on the subject。〃
〃You will do well；〃 said Flaminius gravely； 〃to bestow some little
consideration upon it at present。 Otherwise； I fear； you will soon renew
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your acquaintance with politicians； in a manner quite as unpleasant as that
to which you allude。〃
〃Averting Gods！ what do you mean？〃
〃I will tell you。 There are rumours of conspiracy。 The order of
things established by Lucius Sylla has excited the disgust of the people；
and of a large party of the nobles。 Some violent convulsion is expected。〃
〃What is that to me？ I suppose that they will hardly proscribe the
vintners and gladiators； or pass a law compelling every citizen to take a
wife。〃
〃You do not understand。 Catiline is supposed to be the author of the
revolutionary schemes。 You must have heard bold opinions at his table
repeatedly。〃
〃I never listen to any opinions upon such subjects； bold or timid。〃
〃Look to it。 Your name has been mentioned。〃
〃Mine！ good Gods！ I call Heaven to witness that I never so much as
mentioned Senate； Consul； or Comitia； in Catiline's house。〃
〃Nobody suspects you of any participation in the inmost counsels of
the party。 But our great men surmise that you are among those whom he
has bribed so high with beauty； or entangled so deeply in distress； that they
are no longer their own masters。 I shall never set foot within his
threshold again。 I have been solemnly warned by men who understand
public affairs； and I advise you to be cautious。〃
The friends had now turned into the Forum； which was thronged with
the gay and elegant youth of Rome。 〃I can tell you more；〃 continued
Flaminius； 〃somebody was remarking to the Consul yesterday how loosely
a certain acquaintance of ours tied his girdle。 'Let him look to himself；'
said Cicero； 'or the state may find a tighter girdle for his neck。'〃
〃Good Gods！ who is it？ You cannot surely mean〃
〃There he is。〃
Flaminius pointed to a man who was pacing up and down the Forum at
a little distance from them。 He was in the prime of manhood。 His
personal advantages were extremely striking； and were displayed with an
extravagant but not ungraceful foppery。 His gown waved in loose folds；
his long dark curls were dressed with exquisite art； and shone and steamed
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with odours； his step and gesture exhibited an elegant and commanding
figure in every posture of polite languor。 But his countenance formed a
singular contrast to the general appearance of his person。 The high and
imperial brow； the keen aquiline features； the compressed mouth； the
penetrating eye； indicated the highest degree of ability and decision。 He
seemed absorbed in intense meditation。 With eyes fixed on the ground；
and lips working in thought； he sauntered round the area； apparently
unconscious how many of the young gallants of Rome were envying the
taste of his dress； and the ease of his fashionable stagger。
〃Good Heaven！〃 said Ligarius； 〃Caius Caesar is as unlikely to be in a
plot as I am。〃
〃Not at all。〃
〃He does nothing but game； feast； intrigue； read Greek； and write
verses。〃
〃You know nothing of Caesar。 Though he rarely addresses the Senate；
he is considered as the finest speaker there； after the Consul。 His
influence with the multitude is immense。 He will serve his rivals in
public life as he served me last night at Catiline's。 We were playing at
the twelve lines。 （Duodecim scripta； a game of mixed chance and skill；
which seems to have been very fashionable in the higher circles of Rome。
The famous lawyer Mucius was renowned for his skill in it。（〃Cic。 Orat。〃
i。 50。）Immense stakes。 He laughed all the time； chatted with Valeria
over his shoulder； kissed her hand between every two moves； and scarcely
looked at the board。 I thought that I had him。 All at once I found my
counters driven into the corner。 Not a piece to move； by Hercules。 It cost
me two millions of sesterces。 All the Gods and Goddesses confound him
for it！〃
〃As to Valeria；〃 said Ligarius； 〃I forgot to ask whether you have heard
the news。〃
〃Not a word。 What？〃
〃I was told at the baths to…day that Caesar escorted the lady home。
Unfortunately old Quintus Lutatius had come back from his villa in
Campania； in a whim of jealousy。 He was not expected for three days。
There was a fine tumult。 The old fool called for his sword and his slaves；
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cursed his wife； and swore that he would cut Caesar's throat。〃
〃And Caesar？〃
〃He laughed； quoted Anacreon； trussed his gown round his left arm；
closed with Quintus； flung him down； twisted his sword out of his hand；
burst through the attendants； ran a freed…man through the shoulder； and
was in the street in an instant。〃
〃Well done！ Here he comes。 Good…day； Caius。〃
Caesar lifted his head at the salutation。 His air of deep abstraction
vanished； and he extended a hand to each of the friends。
〃How are you after your last night's exploit？〃
〃As well as possible；〃 said Caesar； laughing。
〃In truth we should rather ask how Quintus Lutatius is。〃
〃He； I understand； is as well as can be expected of a man with a
faithless spouse and a broken head。 His freed…man is most seriously hurt。
Poor fellow！ he shall have half of whatever I win to…night。 Flaminius；
you shall have your revenge at Catiline's。〃
〃You are very kind。 I do not intend to be at Catiline's till I wish to
part with my town…house。 My villa is gone already。〃
〃Not at Catiline's； base spirit！ You are not of his mind； my gallant
Ligarius。 Dice； Chian； and the loveliest Greek singing girl that was ever
seen。 Think of that； Ligarius。 By Venus； she almost made me adore her；
by telling me that I talked Greek with the most Attic accent that she had
heard in Italy。〃
〃I doubt she will not say the same of me；〃 replied Ligarius。 〃I am
just as able to decipher an obelisk as to read a line of Homer。〃
〃You barbarous Scythian； who had the care of your education？〃
〃An old fool；a Greek pedant；a Stoic。 He told me that pain was no
evil； and flogged me as if he thought so。 At last one day； in the middle of
a lecture； I set fire to his enormous filthy beard； singed his face； and sent
him roaring out of the house。 There ended my studies。 From that time
to this I have had as little to do with Greece as the wine that your poor old
friend Lutatius calls his delicious Samian。〃
〃Well done； Ligarius。 I hate a Stoic。 I wish Marcus Cato had a
beard that you might singe it for him。 The fool talked his two hours in
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the Senate yesterday； without changing a muscle of his face。 He looked
as savage and as mo