Whether this was achieved by the Machiavellian arts which his brother Quintus taught in his treatise De Petitione Consulatus, or was attributable to his general popularity, may be a matter of doubt.

As far as we can judge from the signs which remain to us of the public feeling of the period, it seems that he was at this time regarded with singular affection by his countrymen.

He had robbed none, and had been cruel to no one.

He had already abandoned the profit of provincial government--to which he was by custom entitled after the lapse of his year's duty as Praetor--in order that he might remain in Rome among the people.

Though one of the Senate himself--and full of the glory of the Senate, as he had declared plainly enough in that passage from one of the Verrine orations which I have quoted--he had generally pleaded on the popular side.