All knew that Curio had brought a letter from Ravenna, the contents whereof he carefully guarded.

That same afternoon the consuls convened the Senate in the Temple of Capitoline Jove, and every man knew to what purpose.

All Rome swept in the direction of the Capitol.

Drusus accompanied his friend, the tribune Antonius, as the latter's viator, for there was need of a trusty guard.
The excitement in the streets ran even higher than when Catilina's great plot was exposed.

The streets were jammed with crowds,--not of the idle and base born, but of equites and noble ladies, and young patricians not old enough to step into their fathers' places.