[A room in CATILINE's house with a colonnade in the rear; a lamp lights up the room.]
[CATILINE paces the floor back and forth; LENTULUS and CETHEGUS are with him.]
CATILINE. No, no! I say, you do not understand Yourselves what you demand of me. Should I Turn traitor and incite a civil war,— Besmear my hand with Roman blood? No, no! I'll never do it! Let the entire state Condemn me if—
LENTULUS. You will not, Catiline?
CATILINE. No.
LENTULUS. Tell me,—have you nothing to avenge? No insult? No one here you fain would strike?
CATILINE. Let him who will avenge; I shall not stir. Yet silent scorn is likewise a revenge;— And that alone shall be enough.
CETHEGUS. Aha,— Our visit was, I see, inopportune. Yet doubtless will the morrow bring you back To other thoughts.
CATILINE. But why the morrow?
CETHEGUS. There are mysterious rumors in the air. A vestal recently was led to death—