having contracted debts in consequence of such an ill-spent life, was resolved to extricate himself from them by any means, however unlawful.  Accordingly, he assembled about thirty of his debauched associates, and informed them of his aims, his hopes, and his settled plans of operations. 13.  It was resolved among them, that a general insurrection should be raised throughout Italy, the different parts of which he assigned to different leaders.  Rome was to be fired at several places at once; and Cat’iline, at the head of an army raised in Etru’ria, was, in the general confusion, to possess himself of the city, and massacre all the senators.  Len’tulus, one of his profligate assistants, who had been praetor, or judge in the city, was to preside in their general councils; Cethe’gus, a man who sacrificed the possession of great present power to the hopes of gratifying his revenge against Cicero,[1] was to direct the massacre through the city; and Cas’sius was to conduct those who fired it.

14.  But the vigilance of Ci’cero being the chief obstacle to their designs, Catiline was very desirous to see him taken off before he left Rome; upon which two knights of the company undertook to kill him the next morning in his bed, in an early visit, on pretence of business. 15.  But the meeting was no sooner over, than Ci’cero had information of all that passed in it; for, by the intrigues of a woman named Ful’via, he had gained over Cu’rius, her lover, one of the conspirators, to send him a punctual account of all their deliberations. 16.  Having taken proper precautions to guard himself against the designs of his morning visitors, who were punctual to the appointment, he next took care to provide for the defence of the city; when, assembling the senate, he consulted what was best to be done in such a time of danger.

[Illustration:  Curius, disclosing Catiline’s conspiracy to Fulvia.]

17.  The first step taken was to offer considerable rewards for farther discoveries, and then to prepare for the defence of the state. 18.  Cat’iline, to show how well he could dissemble, or justify any crime, went boldly to the senate, declaring his innocence;[2] but, when confronted by the eloquence of Ci’cero, he hastily withdrew, declaring aloud, that since he was denied a vindication of himself, and driven headlong into rebellion by his enemies, he would extinguish the flame which was raised about him in universal ruin. 19.  After a short conference with Len’tulus and Cethe’gus, he left Rome by night, with a small retinue, to hasten towards Etru’ria, where Man’lius, one of the conspirators, was raising an army to support him.[3]

20.  In the mean time Ci’cero took proper precautions to secure all those of the conspiracy who remained in Rome.  Len’tulus, Cethe’gus, Cas’sius, and several others, were put into confinement; and soon after strangled in prison.