Though Clodius was much the younger, they were men of the same class.

It may be possible that Clodius was appointed to the work--as it had been intended that Caecilius should be appointed at the prosecution of Verres--in order to assure not the conviction but the acquittal of the guilty man.

The historians and biographers say that Clodius was at last bought by a bribe, and that he betrayed the Africans after that fashion.

It may be that such bribery was arranged from the first.

Our interest in that trial lies in the fact that Cicero no doubt intended, from political motives, to defend Catiline.