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〃May all the Gods confound me； if Caesar be not the deepest traitor； or
the most miserable idiot； that ever intermeddled with a plot！〃
Zoe shuddered。 She drew nearer to the window。 She stood
concealed from observation by the curtain of fine network which hung
over the aperture； to exclude the annoying insects of the climate。
〃And you too！〃 continued Cethegus； turning fiercely on his accomplice；
〃you to take his part against me！you； who proposed the scheme
yourself！〃
〃My dear Caius Cethegus； you will not understand me。 I proposed
the scheme； and I will join in executing it。 But policy is as necessary to
our plans as boldness。 I did not wish to startle Caesarto lose his co…
operationperhaps to send him off with an information against us to
Cicero and Catulus。 He was so indignant at your suggestion that all my
dissimulation was scarcely sufficient to prevent a total rupture。〃
〃Indignant！ The Gods confound him！He prated about humanity；
and generosity； and moderation。 By Hercules； I have not heard such a
lecture since I was with Xenochares at Rhodes。〃
〃Caesar is made up of inconsistencies。 He has boundless ambition；
unquestioned courage； admirable sagacity。 Yet I have frequently
observed in him a womanish weakness at the sight of pain。 I remember
that once one of his slaves was taken ill while carrying his litter。 He
alighted； put the fellow in his place and walked home in a fall of snow。 I
wonder that you could be so ill…advised as to talk to him of massacre； and
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pillage； and conflagration。 You might have foreseen that such
propositions would disgust a man of his temper。〃
〃I do not know。 I have not your self…command； Lucius。 I hate such
conspirators。 What is the use of them？ We must have blood blood；
hacking and tearing workbloody work！〃
〃Do not grind your teeth； my dear Caius； and lay down the carving…
knife。 By Hercules； you have cut up all the stuffing of the couch。〃
〃No matter； we shall have couches enough soon；and down to stuff
them with；and purple to cover them；and pretty women to loll on them；…
…unless this fool； and such as he； spoil our plans。 I had something else to
say。 The essenced fop wishes to seduce Zoe from me。〃
〃Impossible！ You misconstrue the ordinary gallantries which he is in
the habit of paying to every handsome face。〃
〃Curse on his ordinary gallantries； and his verses； and his compliments；
and his sprigs of myrtle！ If Caesar should dareby Hercules； I will tear
him to pieces in the middle of the Forum。〃
〃Trust his destruction to me。 We must use his talents and influence
thrust him upon every dangermake him our instrument while we are
contendingour peace…offering to the Senate if we failour first victim if
we succeed。〃
〃Hark！ what noise was that？〃
〃Somebody in the terrace lend me your dagger。〃
Catiline rushed to the window。 Zoe was standing in the shade。 He
stepped out。 She darted into the roompassed like a flash of lightning by
the startled Cethegusflew down the stairsthrough the courtthrough the
vestibulethrough the street。 Steps； voices； lights； came fast and
confusedly behind her； but with the speed of love and terror she gained
upon her pursuers。 She fled through the wilderness of unknown and
dusky streets； till she found herself； breathless and exhausted； in the midst
of a crowd of gallants； who； with chaplets on their heads and torches in
their hands； were reeling from the portico of a stately mansion。
The foremost of the throng was a youth whose slender figure and
beautiful countenance seemed hardly consistent with his sex。 But the
feminine delicacy of his features rendered more frightful the mingled
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sensuality and ferocity of their expression。 The libertine audacity of his
stare； and the grotesque foppery of his apparel； seemed to indicate at least
a partial insanity。 Flinging one arm round Zoe； and tearing away her veil
with the other； he disclosed to the gaze of his thronging companions the
regular features and large dark eyes which characterise Athenian beauty。
〃Clodius has all the luck to…night；〃 cried Ligarius。
〃Not so； by Hercules；〃 said Marcus Coelius； 〃the girl is fairly our
common prize： we will fling dice for her。 The Venus （Venus was the
Roman term for the highest throw of the dice。） throw； as it ought to do；
shall decide。〃
〃Let me golet me go； for Heaven's sake；〃 cried Zoe； struggling with
Clodius。
〃What a charming Greek accent she has！ Come into the house； my
little Athenian nightingale。〃
〃Oh！ what will become of me？ If you have mothersif you have
sisters〃
〃Clodius has a sister；〃 muttered Ligarius； 〃or he is much belied。〃
〃By Heaven； she is weeping；〃 said Clodius。
〃If she were not evidently a Greek；〃 said Coelius； 〃I should take her
for a vestal virgin。〃
〃And if she were a vestal virgin；〃 cried Clodius fiercely； 〃it should not
deter me。 This way；no strugglingno screaming。〃
〃Struggling！ screaming！〃 exclaimed a gay and commanding voice；
〃You are making very ungentle love； Clodius。〃
The whole party started。 Caesar had mingled with them unperceived。
The sound of his voice thrilled through the very heart of Zoe。 With a
convulsive effort she burst from the grasp of her insolent admirer； flung
herself at the feet of Caesar； and clasped his knees。 The moon shone full
on her agitated and imploring face： her lips moved； but she uttered no
sound。 He gazed at her for an instantraised herclasped her to his
bosom。 〃Fear nothing； my sweet Zoe。〃 Then； with folded arms； and a
smile of placid defiance； he placed himself between her and Clodius。
Clodius staggered forward； flushed with wine and rage； and uttering
alternately a curse and a hiccup。
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〃By Pollux； this passes a jest。 Caesar； how dare you insult me thus？〃
〃A jest！ I am as serious as a Jew on the Sabbath。 Insult you； for
such a pair of eyes I would insult the whole consular bench； or I should be
as insensible as King Psammis's mummy。〃
〃Good Gods； Caesar！〃 said Marcus Coelius； interposing； 〃you cannot
think it worth while to get into a brawl for a little Greek girl！〃
〃Why not？ The Greek girls have used me as well as those of Rome。
Besides； the whole reputation of my gallantry is at stake。 Give up such a
lovely woman to that drunken boy！ My character would be gone for ever。
No more perfumed tablets； full of vows and raptures。 No more toying
with fingers at the circus。 No more evening walks along the Tiber。 No
more hiding in chests or jumping from windows。 I； the favoured suitor
of half the white stoles in Rome； could never again aspire above a freed…
woman。 You a man of gallantry； and think of such a thing！ For shame；
my dear Coelius！ Do not let Clodia hear of it。〃
While Caesar spoke he had been engaged in keeping Clodius at arm's…
length。 The rage of the frantic libertine increased as the struggle
continued。 〃Stand back； as you value your life；〃 he cried； 〃I will pass。〃
〃Not this way； sweet Clodius。 I have too much regard for you to
suffer you to make love at such disadvantage。 You smell too much of
Falernian at present。 Would you stifle your mistress？ By Hercules； you
are fit to kiss nobody now； except old Piso； when he is tumbling home in
the morning from the vintners。〃
Clodius plunged his hand into his bosom and drew a