Lustrum

nothing criminal about it.'
    'This phrase, “the lowest of the low” – what do you mean by it?'
    'Poor people – shepherds, tenant farmers and suchlike.'
    'Isn't it rather a lordly way for a so-called champion of the poor to refer to our fellow citizens?' Cicero turned to Volturcius: 'You were supposed to convey this letter to Catilina at his headquarters, were you not?'
    Volturcius lowered his eyes. 'I was.'
    'What precisely does Sura mean by this phrase, “the lowest of the low”? Did he tell you?'
    'Yes, he did, Consul. He means that Catilina should encourage an uprising of slaves.'
    The roars of fury that greeted this revelation were almost physical in their force. To encourage an uprising of slaves so soon after the havoc wrought by Spartacus and his followers was worse even than making an alliance with the Gauls. 'Resign! Resign! Resign!' the senate chorused at the urban praetor. Several senators actually ran across the temple and began wrenching off Sura's purple-bordered toga. He fell to the ground and briefly disappeared in a crowd of assailants and guards. Large pieces of his toga were borne away, and very quickly he was reduced to his undergarments. His nose was bleeding, and his hair, normally oiled and coiffed, was standing on end. Cicero called out for a fresh tunic to be brought, and when one was found, he actually went down and helped Sura put it on.
    After some kind of calm had been restored, Cicero took a vote on whether or not Sura should be stripped of his office.The senate roared back an overwhelming 'Aye!' which was of great significance, as it meant Sura was no longer immune from punishment. Dabbing at his nose, he was taken away, and the consul resumed his questioning of Volturcius: 'We have here five conspirators, fully revealed at last, unable any longer to hide from public gaze. To your certain knowledge, are there more?'
    'There are.'
    'And what are their names?'
    'Autronius Paetus, Servius Sulla, Cassius Longinus, Marcus Laeca, Lucius Bestia.'
    Everyone looked around the temple to see if any of the named men were present; none was.
    'The familiar roll-call,' said Cicero. 'Does the house agree that these men should also be arrested?'
    'Aye!' they chorused back.
    Cicero turned back to Volturcius. 'And were there any others?'
    'I did hear of others.'
    'And their names?'
    Volturcius hesitated and glanced nervously around the senate. 'Gaius Julius Caesar,' he said quietly, 'and Marcus Licinius Crassus.'
    There were gasps and whistles of astonishment. Both Caesar and Crassus angrily shook their heads.
    'But you have no actual evidence of their involvement?'
    'No, Consul. It was only ever rumours.'
    'Then strike their names from the record,' Cicero instructed me. 'We shall deal in evidence, gentlemen,' he said, having to raise his voice to be heard above the swelling murmur of excitement, 'evidence and not speculation!'
    It was a while before he could continue. Caesar and Crassus continued to shake their heads and protest their innocence withexaggerated gestures to the men seated around them. Occasionally they turned to look at Cicero, but it was hard to read their expressions. The temple was gloomy even on a sunny day. But now the winter afternoon light was fading fast, and even faces quite close by were becoming difficult to see.
    'I have a proposal!' shouted Cicero, clapping his hands to try to regain order. 'I have a proposal, gentlemen!' At last the noise began to die away. 'It's obvious that we cannot settle the fate of these men today. Therefore they must be kept guarded overnight until we can agree a course of action. To keep them all in the same place would invite a rescue attempt. Therefore what I propose is this. The prisoners should be separated and each entrusted to the custody of a different member of the senate, a man of praetorian rank. Does anyone have any objections to that?' There was silence. 'Very well.' Cicero squinted around the darkening temple. 'Who will volunteer for this duty?' Nobody raised his hand. 'Come now, gentlemen – there's no danger. Each prisoner will be guarded. Quintus Cornificius,' he said at last, pointing to a former praetor of impeccable reputation, 'will you be so good as to take charge of Cethegus?'
    Cornificius glanced around, then got to his feet. 'If that is what you want, Consul,' he replied reluctantly.
    'Spinther, will you take Sura?'
    Spinther stood. 'Yes, Consul.'
    'Terentius – would you house Caeparius?'
    'If that is the will of