As they could not, he suggested, invent any new punishment adequate to so abominable a crime, it would be better that they should leave the conspirators to be dealt with by the ordinary laws.

It was thus that, cunningly, he threw out the idea that as Senators they had no power of death.

He did not dare to tell them directly that any danger would menace them, but he exposed the danger skilfully before their eyes.

"Their crimes," he says again, "deserve worse than any torture you can inflict.

But men generally recollect what comes last.