"I saw her once before, my Consul. On the night of the fearful storm, when the falchion of flame shook over Rome, and the Senate was convened suddenly." "Ha! She! it is well—it is very well! we shall know all anon." And his face lighted up joyously, as he spoke. "Excuse me, Friends and Fathers. This is one privy to the plot, with tidings of weight doubtless. Thanks for your news, and good night; for I must pray you leave me. Your warning hath come in good season, and I will not be taken unaware. The Gods have Rome in their keeping, and, to save her, they will not let _me_ perish. Fare ye well, nobles. I must be private with this woman." After the ceremonial of the time, his visitors departed; but as they passed through the atrium, they met the lady, conducted by the old Greek freedman. Little expecting to meet any one at that untimely hour, she had allowed her veil to fall down upon her shoulders; and, although she made a movement to recover it, as she saw the Senators approaching her by the faint light of the single lamp which burned before the household gods on the small altar by the _impluvium_, Marcus Marcellus caught a passing view of a pair of large languishing blue eyes, and a face of rare beauty. "By the great Gods!" he whispered in Crassus’ ear, "that was the lovely Fulvia." "Ha! Curius’ paramour!" replied the other. "Can it be possible that the stern Consul amuses his light hours, with such high-born harlotry?" "Not he! not he!" said Scipio. "I doubt not Curius is one of them! He is needy, and bold, and bloody." "But such a braggart!" answered Marcellus. "I have known braggarts fight," said Crassus. "There was a fellow, who served in the fifth legion; he fought before the standard of the hastati; and I deemed him a coward ever, but in the last strife with Spartacus he slew six men with his own hand. I saw it." "I have heard of such things," said Scipio. "But it grows late. Let us move homeward." And then he added, as he was leaving the Consul’s door, "If he can trust his household, Cicero should arm it. My life on it! They will attempt to murder him." "He has given orders even now to arm his slaves," said the Freedman, in reply; "and so soon as they have got their blades and bucklers, I go to invite hither the surest of his clients." "Thou shalt do well to do so—But see thou do it silently." And with the words, they hurried homeward through the dark streets, leaving the wise and virtuous magistrate in conference with his abandoned, yet trustworthy informant, Fulvia. CHAPTER IV. THE CRISIS. He is about it. The doors are open. MACBETH. The morning had scarcely dawned, after that dismal and tempestuous night, when three men were observed by some of the earlier citizens, passing up the Sacred Way, toward the Cerolian Place.