sunrise, on the Caelian; and I did see them."

"And heard you what they said?"

"No! but their faces were grave and earnest; and they seemed angry as they
separated."

"Ha! In itself only, this were a little thing; but when it turns out that
the man _was_ slain that same night, the thing grows serious. You,
therefore, I shall detain here as witnesses, and partially suspected. Some
of your slaves must guard them, Catiline, and I will send a lictor to cite
Paullus, that he appear before me after the session at the Puteal Libonis.
I am in haste. Farewell!"

"Me! me! hear me! good Lentulus--hear me!" exclaimed Chaerea, springing
forward, all vehemence and eagerness to speak, as it would seem, ere he
should be interrupted.

"Chaerea?" cried Catiline, looking sternly at him, and shaking his finger,
"Remember!"

"No! no!" replied Chaerea--"no! no! I will not hold my peace! No! Catiline,
you may kill me, if you choose, but I will speak; to keep this secret any
longer would kill me, I tell you."

"If it do not, I will," answered his master, angrily.

"This must not be, my Sergius," interposed Lentulus, "let the man speak if
he have any light to throw on this mysterious business. Say on, my good
fellow, and I will be your mediator with your master."

The freedman needed no more exhortation, but poured out a flood of eager,
anxious narrative, as had been preconcerted between himself and Catiline,
speaking with so much vehemence, and displaying so much agitation in all
his air and gestures, that he entirely imposed his story upon Lentulus;
and that Catiline had much difficulty in restraining a smile at the skill
of the Greek.

"Ha! it is very clear," said Lentulus, "he first slew the slave with his
own hand, and then would have compassed--nay! I should rather say, _has_
compassed--Volero's slaughter, who must some how or other have become privy
to the deed. I must have these detained, and him arrested! There can be no
doubt of his guilt, and the people will be, I think, disposed to make an
example; there have of late been many cases of assassination!"

As soon as they were left alone, Lentulus looked steadily into the face of
his fellow-conspirator for a moment, and then burst into a hoarse laugh.

"Why all this mummery, my Sergius?" he added, as soon as he had ceased
from laughing, "Or wherefore would you have mystified me too?"

"I might have wished to see whether the evidence was like to seem valid to
the Judices,