; we will have a cup of wine, as
soon as I have got rid of these fellows. Here, Aulus," turning to his
foreman, "take some coin out of my purse, there it hangs by my clean tunic
in the corner, and go round to the wine shop, and bring thence a skinful
of the best Sabine vintage; and some of you bar up the door, all but the
little wicket. And now, my friends, good night; it is very late, and I am
going to shut up the shop. Good night; and remember that the only hope of
us working men lies in the election of Catiline tomorrow. Be in the Campus
early, with all your friends; and hark ye, you were best take your knives
under your tunics, lest the proud nobles should attempt to drive us from
the ballot."

"We will, we will!" exclaimed several voices. "We will not be cozened out
of our votes, or bullied out of them either. But how is this? do not you
vote in your class?"

"I vote _with_ my class! with my fellow Plebeians and mechanics, I would
say! What if I be one of the armorers of the first class, think you that I
will vote with the proud senators and insolent knights? No, brethren, not
one of us, nor of the carpenters either, nor of the trumpeters, or
horn-blowers! Plebeians we are, and Plebeians we will vote! and let me
tell you to look sharp to me, on the Campus; and whatever I do, so do ye.
Be sure that good will come of it to the people!"

"We will, we will!" responded all his hearers, now unanimous. "Brave
heart! stout Caius Crispus! We will have you a tribune one of these days!
but good night, good night!"

And, with the words, all left the forge, except the smith and his peculiar
workmen, and two or three others, all clients of the Praetor Lentulus, and
all in some degree associates in the conspiracy. None of them, however,
were initiated fully, except Caius himself, his foreman, Aulus, the aged
Bassus, and the stranger; who, though unknown to any one present, had
given satisfactory evidence that he was privy to the most atrocious
portions of the plot. The wine was introduced immediately, and after a
deep draught, circulated more than once, the conversation was resumed by
the initiated, who were now left alone.

"And do you believe," said the stranger, addressing Caius Crispus, "that
Catiline and his companions have any real view to the redress of
grievances, the regeneration of the state, or the equalization of
conditions?"

"Not in the least, I," answered the swordsmith. "Do you?"

"I did once."

"I never