ry calmly, "it was not all, Cataline.
And, but that we are joined here in a purpose so mighty that it overwhelms
all private interests, all mere considerations of the individual, you, my
good sir, should learn what it is to taunt a man with fear, who fears not
anything--least of all thee! But it was not all. For as we turned from a
side lane into the Wicked(1) street that scales the summit of the
Esquiline, my eye caught something lurking in the dark shadow cast over an
angle of the wall by a large cypress. I seized the arm of Cassius, to
check his speech"--

"Ha! did the fat idiot speak?--what said he?" interrupted Cataline.

"Nothing," replied the other, "nothing, at least, of any moment. Well, I
caught Cassius by the arm, and was in the act of pointing, when from the
shadows of the tree out sprang this self-same varlet, whereon I----".

"Rushed on him! dragged him into the light! and smote him, thus, and thus,
and thus! didst thou not, excellent Cethegus?" Cataline exclaimed fiercely
in a hard stern whisper, making three lounges, while he spoke, as if with
a stiletto.

"I did not any of these things," answered the other.

"And why not, I say, why not? why not?" cried Cataline with rude
impetuosity.

"That shall I answer, when you give me time," said Cethegus, coolly.
"Because when I rushed forth, he fled with an exceeding rapid flight;
leaped the low wall into the graveyard of the base Plebeians, and there
among the cypresses and overthrown sepulchres escaped me for a while. I
beat about most warily, and at length started him up again from the jaws
of an obscene and broken catacomb. I gained on him at every step; heard
the quick panting of his breath; stretched out my left to grasp him, while
my right held unsheathed and ready the good stiletto that ne'er failed me.
And now--now--by the great Jove! his tunic's hem was fluttering in my
clutch, when my feet tripped over a prostrate column, that I was hurled
five paces at the least in advance of the fugitive; and when I rose again,
sore stunned, and bruised, and breathless, the slave had vanished."

"And where, I prithee, during this well-concerted chase, was valiant
Cassius?" enquired Cataline, with a hoarse sneering laugh.

"During the chase, I knew not," answered Cethegus, "but when it was over,
and I did return, I found him leaning on the wall, even in the angle
whence the slave fled on our approach."

"Asleep! I warrant me--by the great gods! asleep!" excl