(June 1823.)
It was an hour after noon.Ligarius was returning from the Campus Martius.He strolled through one of the streets which led to the Forum, settling his gown, and calculating the odds on the gladiators who were to fence at the approaching Saturnalia.
While thus occupied, he overtook Flaminius, who, with a heavy step and a melancholy face, was sauntering in the same direction.
The light-hearted young man plucked him by the sleeve.
"Good-day, Flaminius.Are you to be of Catiline's party this evening?""Not I."
"Why so? Your little Tarentine girl will break her heart.""No matter.Catiline has the best cooks and the finest wine in Rome.There are charming women at his parties.But the twelve-line board and the dice-box pay for all.The Gods confound me if I did not lose two 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 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 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, cursed his wife, and swore that he would cut Caesar's throat.""And Caesar?"
