elf in his path.

"Did you hear the kindly wishes that the great express for the health
of their poorer countrymen?" he began, tauntingly.

"It is like your kind, Varro," replied Sergius, speaking slowly and in
tones of profound contempt, "to attribute to our party any intemperance
of a single opponent; but do you also credit us with the virtues of
individuals? I might with better grace attribute the murderous attack
just made--and with your connivance--upon myself, to the party of the
people. That I do not do so, you may lay to a moderation and
magnanimity that are not learned in the tradesman's booth or the
butcher's shambles."

Varro flushed crimson, and he looked from side to side, as if to call
upon his friends for new violence; but a company of young patricians
were descending from the Comitia, and his fellows were dull of
comprehension.

"Do you beware, though, Varro," continued Sergius, "lest, in striving
to attain power and place on the wings of calumny against those better
than yourself, or by the suggestion of false grievances to those who
are ignorant and weak, you may, by these things, incite one riot too
many. Beware, above all things, lest you win."

Then, drawing his toga close, as if to avoid a contaminating touch, he
strode by to join the approaching band of young men, leaving his
opponent vicious to snarl, but powerless to bite.

After the usual greetings and inquiries concerning his health, they
walked on together toward the Curtian Pool, and Sergius' thoughts took
on a deeper colour from the despondent speech of his friends. That
Varro would receive the votes of the centuries, beyond all doubt, was
unanimously conceded; and so great was the dissatisfaction with Fabius,
that their regret seemed only for the manner of the popular victory and
the man who was to gain it. A few hot-heads dropped hints to the
effect that it might become necessary to reorganize the patrician clubs
and meet violence with violence, in which event there could be but
little doubt as to the result; but the sentiment of the majority was
adverse to such measures, and they viewed the possibilities with an
indifference that to Sergius seemed even more ominous than the frenzy
of the rabble and the worthlessness of its leaders. His attempts to
defend the Fabian policy, speaking as one of its victims, were
hopelessly thrown away. All Rome was mad for battle, even at the cost
of sending the butcher's son to command the le