"Who was it?" exclaimed Lentulus, growing a little anxious on the subject, for though he cared little enough about Arvina, he was yet unwilling to see a Patrician arraigned for so small a matter, as was in his eyes the murder of a mechanic.
"Why should he not speak? I warrant you I will find means to make him."
"It was my patron, Lentulus."
"Your patron! man!" he cried, much astonished. "What, Catiline, here?"
"Catiline it was! my Prætor."
"And have you consulted with him, ere you spoke with me?"
"Not so! most noble, for he would not admit us!"
"Speak, Sergius. Is this so? did you behold these fellows in deep converse with Cæcilius Arvina, in the Minervium? But no! it must be folly! for what should you have been doing there at sunrise?"
"I prithee do not ask me, Lentulus," answered Catiline, with an air of well feigned reluctance. "I hate law suits and judicial inquiries, and I love young Arvina."
"Then you did see them? Nay! nay! you must speak out. I do adjure you, Catiline, by all the Gods! were you, at sunrise, on the Cælian, and did you see Arvina and these two?"