greement which they might show to their
countrymen at home. An agreement was drawn up, signed by Lentulus and
two of his fellow-conspirators, and handed over to the Gauls, who now
made preparations to return to their country. Cicero himself tells us in
the speech which he delivered next day in the Forum the story of what
followed.

"I summoned to my presence two of the praetors on whose courage I knew I
could rely, put the whole matter before them, and unfolded my own plans.
As it grew dusk they made their way unobserved to the Mulvian Bridge,
and posted themselves with their attendants (they had some trusty
followers of their own, and I had sent a number of picked swordsmen from
my own body-guard), in two divisions in houses on either side of the
bridge. About two o'clock in the morning the Gauls and their train,
which was very numerous, began to cross the bridge. Our men charged
them; swords were drawn on both sides; but before any blood was shed the
praetors appeared on the scene, and all was quiet. The Gauls handed over
to them the letters which they had upon them with their seals unbroken.
These and the deputies themselves were brought to my house. The day was
now beginning to dawn. Immediately I sent for the four men whom I knew
to be the principal conspirators. They came suspecting nothing,
Lentulus, who had been up late the night before writing the letters,
being the last to present himself. Some distinguished persons who had
assembled at my house wished me to open the letters before laying them
before the Senate. If their contents were not what I suspected I should
be blamed for having given a great deal of trouble to no purpose. I
refused in so important a matter to act on my own responsibility. No
one, I was sure, would accuse me of being too careful when the safety of
Rome was at stake. I called a meeting of the Senate, and took care that
the attendance should be very large. Meanwhile, at the suggestion of the
Gauls, I sent a praetor to the house of Cethegus to seize all the
weapons that he could find. He brought away a great number of daggers
and swords.

"The Senate being now assembled, I brought Vulturcius, one of the
conspirators, into the House, promised him a public pardon, and bade him
tell all he knew without fear. As soon as the man could speak, for he
was terribly frightened, he said, 'I was taking a letter and a message
from Lentulus to Catiline. Catiline was instructed to bring his forces
up to