To his thinking, probably even in his early days, the state of Rome required a master.
Its wealth, its pleasures, its soldiers, its power, were there for any one to take who could take them--for any one to hold who could hold them.

Mr.Beesly, the last defender of Catiline, has stated that very little was known in Rome of Caesar till the time of Catiline's conspiracy, and in that I agree with him.

He possessed high family rank, and had been Quaestor and AEdile; but it was only from this year out that his name was much in men's mouths, and that he was learning to look into things.

It may be that he had previously been in league with Catiline--that he was in league with him till the time came for the great attempt.

The evidence, as far as it goes, seems to show that it was so.