rushed past
the bay Arab almost at the goal, and won by a clear length amidst the
roars of the glad spectators.

"I have lost, plague on it!" exclaimed Catiline; "and here is Clodius
expects to be paid on the instant, I'll be sworn."

And as he spoke, the debauchee with whom he had betted came up, holding
his left hand extended, tapping its palm with the forefinger of the right.

"I told you so," he said, "I told you so; where be the sesterces?"

"You must needs wait a while; I have not my purse with me," Catiline
began. But Paullus interrupted him--

"I have, I have, my Sergius; permit me to accommodate you." And suiting
the action to the word, he gave the conspirator several large gold coins,
adding, "you can repay me when it suits you."

"That will be never," said Clodius with a sneer; "you don't know Lucius
Catiline, I see, young man."

"Ay, but he does!" replied the other, with a sarcastic grin; "for Catiline
never forgets a friend, or forgives a foe. Can Clodius say the same?"

But Clodius merely smiled, and walked off, clinking the money he had won
tauntingly in his hand.

"What now, I wonder, is the day destined to bring forth?" said the
conspirator, making no more allusion to the dagger.

"A contest now between myself, Aristius, and Aurelius, in the five games
of the _quinquertium_, and then a foot race in the heaviest panoply."

"Ha! can you beat them?" asked Catiline, regarding Arvina with an interest
that grew every moment keener, as he saw more of his strength and daring
spirit.

"I can try."

"Shall I bet on you?"

"If you please. I can beat them in some, I think; and, as I said, I will
try in all."

More words followed, for Paullus hastened away to strip and anoint himself
for the coming struggle; and in a little while the strife itself
succeeded.

To describe this would be tedious; but suffice it, that while he won
decidedly three games of the five, Paullus was beat in none; and that in
the armed foot race, the most toilsome and arduous exercise of the Campus,
he not only beat his competitors with ease; but ran the longest course,
carrying the most ponderous armature and shield, in shorter time than had
been performed within many years on the Field of Mars.

Catiline watched him eagerly all the while, inspecting him as a purchaser
would a horse he was about to buy; and then, muttering to himself, "We
must have him!" walked up to join him as he finished the last exploit.

"Will you