vadimonia, 'bail,' i.e. security given for appearance in court when called upon. Hence vadimonia deserere, 'to desert one's legal obligations,' 'make default.'
edictum praetoris. Every praetor, on entering upon his office, published an edictum, stating the rules to which he would adhere in the administration of justice. Hence Cicero says, 'they will collapse when I display to them the edict of the praetor,' i.e. remind them of the penalties to which they will be liable by their non-appearance in court to answer to their bail.
hos, strongly opposed to exercitum illum. He is not afraid of the ruined spendthrifts who compose Catilina's army; he is afraid of the conspirators left behind in the city, who have, as it were, deserted that army. (Lentulus, Cethegus, etc. are pointed at.)
suos milites eduxisset, 'taken with him as his force.'
quod quid cogitent, etc., i.e. because they must have some secret force at their back, which gives them confidence.
[§6].
superioris noctis consilia, i.e. at the meeting in Laeca's house ([1. 8]), either the night before last or the last night but two. See [Introduction, p. 12 note].
ne, 'truly' (like the Greek ναί, νή), to be distinguished from the conjunction. Used with pronouns only.
nisi si quis, 'nisi' is used like an adverb; hence the repetition of 'si.' Cf. Thuc. 1. 17 εἰ μὴ εἴ τι.
ne patiantur, 'in order that they may not permit.' Not prohibitive, which according to Cicero's usage would require the perfect subjunctive.