Cicero himself was never blood-thirsty, but the necessity was strong upon him of ridding the Republic from these blood-thirsty men.
The scheme for destroying Cicero and the Senators on the 27th of October had proved abortive.

On the 6th of the next month a meeting was held in the house of one Marcus Porcius Laeca, at which a plot was arranged for the killing of Cicero the next day--for the killing of Cicero alone--he having been by this time found to be the one great obstacle in their path.

Two knights were told off for the service, named Vargunteius and Cornelius.

These, after the Roman fashion, were to make their way early on the following morning into the Consul's bedroom for the ostensible purpose of paying him their morning compliments, but, when there, they were to slay him.

All this, however, was told to Cicero, and the two knights, when they came, were refused admittance.