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the Senate yesterday； without changing a muscle of his face。 He looked
as savage and as motionless as the mask in which Roscius acted Alecto。
I detest everything connected with him。〃
〃Except his sister； Servilia。〃
〃True。 She is a lovely woman。〃
〃They say that you have told her so； Caius〃
〃So I have。〃
〃And that she was not angry。〃
〃What woman is？〃
〃Ayebut they say〃
〃No matter what they say。 Common fame lies like a Greek
rhetorician。 You might know so much； Ligarius； without reading the
philosophers。 But come； I will introduce you to little dark… eyed Zoe。〃
〃I tell you I can speak no Greek。〃
〃More shame for you。 It is high time that you should begin。 You
will never have such a charming instructress。 Of what was your father
thinking when he sent for an old Stoic with a long beard to teach you？
There is no language…mistress like a handsome woman。 When I was at
Athens； I learnt more Greek from a pretty flower…girl in the Peiraeus than
from all the Portico and the Academy。 She was no Stoic； Heaven knows。
But come along to Zoe。 I will be your interpreter。 Woo her in honest
Latin； and I will turn it into elegant Greek between the throws of dice。 I
can make love and mind my game at once； as Flaminius can tell you。
〃Well； then； to be plain； Caesar； Flaminius has been talking to me
about plots； and suspicions； and politicians。 I never plagued myself with
such things since Sylla's and Marius's days； and then I never could see
much difference between the parties。 All that I am sure of is； that those
who meddle with such affairs are generally stabbed or strangled。 And；
though I like Greek wine and handsome women； I do not wish to risk my
neck for them。 Now； tell me as a friend； Caiusis there no danger？〃
〃Danger！〃 repeated Caesar； with a short； fierce； disdainful laugh：
〃what danger do you apprehend？〃
〃That you should best know；〃 said Flaminius； 〃you are far more
intimate with Catiline than I。 But I advise you to be cautious。 The
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leading men entertain strong suspicions。〃
Caesar drew up his figure from its ordinary state of graceful relaxation
into an attitude of commanding dignity； and replied in a voice of which the
deep and impassioned melody formed a strange contrast to the humorous
and affected tone of his ordinary conversation。 〃Let them suspect。
They suspect because they know what they have deserved。 What have
they done for Rome？What for mankind？ Ask the citizensask the
provinces。 Have they had any other object than to perpetuate their own
exclusive power； and to keep us under the yoke of an oligarchical tyranny；
which unites in itself the worst evils of every other system； and combines
more than Athenian turbulence with more than Persian despotism？〃
〃Good Gods！ Caesar。 It is not safe for you to speak； or for us to listen
to； such things； at such a crisis。〃
〃Judge for yourselves what you will hear。 I will judge for myself
what I will speak。 I was not twenty years old when I defied Lucius Sylla；
surrounded by the spears of legionaries and the daggers of assassins。 Do
you suppose that I stand in awe of his paltry successors； who have
inherited a power which they never could have acquired； who would
imitate his proscriptions； though they have never equalled his conquests？〃
〃Pompey is almost as little to be trifled with as Sylla。 I heard a
consular senator say that； in consequence of the present alarming state of
affairs； he would probably be recalled from the command assigned to him
by the Manilian law。〃
〃Let him come；the pupil of Sylla's butcheries；the gleaner of
Lucullus's trophies；the thief…taker of the Senate。〃
〃For Heaven's sake； Caius！if you knew what the Consul said〃
〃Something about himself； no doubt。 Pity that such talents should be
coupled with such cowardice and coxcombry。 He is the finest speaker
living；infinitely superior to what Hortensius was； in his best days； a
charming companion； except when he tells over for the twentieth time all
the jokes that he made at Verres's trial。 But he is the despicable tool of a
despicable party。〃
〃Your language； Caius； convinces me that the reports which have been
circulated are not without foundation。 I will venture to prophesy that
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within a few months the republic will pass through a whole Odyssey of
strange adventures。〃
〃I believe so； an Odyssey； of which Pompey will be the Polyphemus；
and Cicero the Siren。 I would have the state imitate Ulysses： show no
mercy to the former； but contrive； if it can be done； to listen to the
enchanting voice of the other； without being seduced by it to destruction。〃
〃But whom can your party produce as rivals to these two famous
leaders？〃
〃Time will show。 I would hope that there may arise a man； whose
genius to conquer； to conciliate； and to govern； may unite in one cause an
oppressed and divided people；may do all that Sylla should have done；
and exhibit the magnificent spectacle of a great nation directed by a great
mind。〃
〃And where is such a man to be found？〃
〃Perhaps where you would least expect to find him。 Perhaps he may
be one whose powers have hitherto been concealed in domestic or literary
retirement。 Perhaps he may be one； who； while waiting for some
adequate excitement； for some worthy opportunity； squanders on trifles a
genius before which may yet be humbled the sword of Pompey and the
gown of Cicero。 Perhaps he may now be disputing with a sophist；
perhaps prattling with a mistress； perhaps〃 and； as he spoke； he turned
away； and resumed his lounge； 〃strolling in the Forum。〃
。。。
It was almost midnight。 The party had separated。 Catiline and
Cethegus were still conferring in the supper…room； which was； as usual；
the highest apartment of the house。 It formed a cupola； from which
windows opened on the flat roof that surrounded it。 To this terrace Zoe had
retired。 With eyes dimmed with fond and melancholy tears； she leaned
over the balustrade； to catch the last glimpse of the departing form of
Caesar； as it grew more and more indistinct in the moonlight。 Had he
any thought of her？ Any love for her？ He； the favourite of the high…born
beauties of Rome； the most splendid； the most graceful； the most eloquent
of its nobles？ It could not be。 His voice had； indeed； been touchingly
soft whenever he addressed her。 There had been a fascinating tenderness
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even in the vivacity of his look and conversation。 But such were always
the manners of Caesar towards women。 He had wreathed a sprig of
myrtle in her hair as she was singing。 She took it from her dark ringlets；
and kissed it； and wept over it； and thought of the sweet legends of her
own dear Greece；of youths and girls； who； pining away in hopeless love；
had been transformed into flowers by the compassion of the Gods； and she
wished to become a flower； which Caesar might sometimes touch； though
he should touch it only to weave a crown for some prouder and happier
mistress。
She was roused from her musings by the loud step and voice of
Cethegus； who was pacing furiously up and down the supper…room。
〃May all the Gods confound me； if Caesar be not the deepest traitor； or