xcept as if grinning sarcastically at
himself for "being moved to smile at anything." Caesar said that such
men were never at heart's ease while they could see a bigger man than
themselves, and therefore such men were dangerous. "Come on my right
hand, for this ear is deaf, and tell me truly what thou think'st of
him." (That's a touch, for deafness in people affected that way is
usually greater in the left ear.)

When Lucilius returned from taking a message from Brutus to Cassius _re_
the loan of the fivers aforementioned and other matters--and before
the arrival of Cassius with his horse and foot, and the quarrel--Brutus
asked Lucilius what sort of a reception he had, and being told "With
courtesy and respect enough," he remarked, "Thou hast described a hot
friend cooling," and so on. But Cassius will cool no more until death
cools him to-morrow at Philippi.

The rare gentleness of Brutus's character--and of the characters of
thousands of other bosses in trouble--is splendidly, and ah! so softly,
pictured in the tent with his servants after the departure of the
others. It is a purely domestic scene without a hint of home, women, or
children--save that they themselves are big children. The scene now has
the atmosphere of a soft, sad nightfall, after a long, long, hot and
weary day full of toil and struggle and trouble--though it is really
well on towards morning.

Lucius comes in with the gown. Brutus says, "Give me the gown," and asks
where his (Lucius's) musical instrument is, and Lucius replies that it's
here in the tent. Brutus notices that he speaks drowsily. "Poor knave,
I blame thee not, thou are o'er-watched." He tells him to call Claudius
and some other of his men: "I'd have them sleep on cushions in my tent."
They come. He tells them he might have to send them on business by and
by to his "brother" Cassius, and bids them lie down and sleep, calling
them sirs. They say they'll stand and watch his pleasure. "I will not
have it so; lie down, good sirs." He finds, in the pocket of his gown, a
book he'd been hunting high and low for--and had evidently given Lucius
a warm time about--and he draws Lucius's attention to the fact:

Look, Lucius, here's the book I sought for so:
I put it in the pocket of my gown.

Lucius: I was sure your lordship did not give it to me.

Brutus: Bear with me, good boy, I am much forgetful, etc.

He asks Lucius if he can hold up his heavy eyes an