Both were exercised when he consented to be absent from Rome, and almost from Italy, during the ten years of the Gallic wars.

But this, I think, is certain, that from the time in which his name appears prominent--from the period, namely, of the Catiline conspiracy--he had determined not to overthrow the Constitution, but so to carry himself, amid the great affairs of the day, as not to be overthrown himself.
Of what nature was the intercourse between him and Pompey when Pompey was still absent in the East we do not know; but we can hardly doubt that some understanding had begun to exist.

Of this Cicero was probably aware.

Pompey was the man whom Cicero chose to regard as his party-leader, not having himself been inured to the actual politics of Rome early enough in life to put himself forward as the leader of his party.

It had been necessary for him, as a "novus homo," to come forward and work as an advocate, and then as an administrative officer of the State, before he took up with politics.