And thereupon there was a great shout of applause from all the more rabid senators, in which the rest thought it safer to join, with simulated heartiness.  But Pompeius did not stop here.  He brought before the senators tribunes from the two legions taken from Caesar, and these tribunes loudly declaimed—­having learned their lesson well—­that their troops were ill-affected toward their former commander, and would follow Pompeius to the last.  And the Magnus produced veteran officers of his old campaigns, whom hope of reward and promotion had induced to come and declare for their former commander.  Late, very late, the informal session of the Senate broke up.  The “Fathers of the Republic” went each man to his own dwelling; but there was no longer any doubt as to what was to come of the doings of the day.

Flaccus, the banker, had of course no access to the conference; but he had waited outside the gate of the palace, to learn the issue from an acquaintance in the Senate.  His patience was at last rewarded.

“Tell me, friend,” was his question, “what will be the outcome of this; shall I risk any loans to-morrow?”

The friendly senator seemed doubtful.

“Caesar is a ruined man.  Who imagines his legions will fight?  We know Labienus is with Pompeius.”

“You are wrong,” said Flaccus.

“Wrong?  I?” replied the senator.  “I know whereof I speak.”

“Phy!" cried the banker, “not Caesar, but you are ruined.  The legions will fight.”

“Don’t prophesy,” sneered the acquaintance, “seeing that you brokers always keep out of politics.”

“You politicians are blind,” retorted Flaccus.

* * * * *

The debate raged on.  But by law the Senate could not convene on the third and fourth of the month, and the question of setting aside the tribunician veto went over until the fifth.  It was the last lull before the outbreak of the great tempest.  The little group of Caesarians put forth their final efforts.  Drusus went in person to call on Cicero, the great orator, and plead with him to come out from his residence in the suburbs and argue for peace.  The destroyer of Catilina had declared that he would not forfeit his rights to a triumph for his Cilician victories by appearing prematurely in the Senate.  Besides, he could never antagonize Pompeius.  Curio smiled grimly when his colleague reported his fruitless embassy.

“I think, my friends,” said the politician, “we shall soon prove the old saying, ‘Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad.’”

Chapter XV

The Seventh of January

I