and his legs were covered up to the knees by thongs of ill-tanned
cowhide rolled round them and tied at the ancles with straps of the same
material.

"A plague on both of you!" replied the person, who had been so long
awaiting them, in answer to their salutation. "Two hours have ye detained
me here; and now that ye have come, in pretty guise ye do come! Oh! by the
gods! a well assorted pair. Cassius more filthy than the vilest and most
base tatterdemalion of the stews, and with him rare Cethegus, a senator in
all his bravery! Wise judgment! excellent disguises! I know not whether
most to marvel at the insane and furious temerity of this one, or at the
idiotic foolery of that! Well fitted are ye both for a great purpose. And
now--may the dark furies hunt you to perdition!--what hath delayed you?"

"Why, what a coil is here", replied the gay Cethegus, delighted evidently
at the unsuppressed anger of his confederate in crime, and bent on goading
to yet more fiery wrath his most ungovernable temper. "Methinks, O
pleasant Sergius, the moisture of this delectable night should have
quenched somewhat the quick flames of your most amiable and placid humor!
Keep thy hard words, I prithee, Cataline, for those who either heed or
dread them. I, thou well knowest, do neither."

"Peace, peace! Cethegus; plague him no farther," interrupted Cassius, just
as the fierce conspirator, exclaiming in a deep harsh whisper, the one
word "Boy!" strode forth as if to strike him. "And thou, good Cataline,
listen to reason--we have been dogged hitherward, and so came by circuitous
byeways!"

"Dogged, said ye--dogged? and by whom?--doth the slave live, who dared it?"

"By a slave, as we reckon," answered Cassius, "for he wore no toga; and
his tunic"--

"Was filthy--very filthy, by the gods!--most like thine own, good Cassius,"
interposed Cethegus. "But, in good sooth, he _was_ a slave, my Sergius. He
passed us twice, before I thought much of it. Once as we crossed the
sacred way after descending from the Palatine--and once again beside the
shrine of Venus in the Cyprian street. The second time he gazed into my
very eyes, until he caught my glance meeting his own, and then with a
quick bounding pace he hurried onward."

"Tush!" answered Cataline, "tush! was that all? the knave was a chance
night-walker, and frightened ye! Ha! ha! by Hercules! it makes me
laugh--frightened the rash and overbold Cethegus!"

"It was not all!" replied Cethegus ve