CHAPTER IV.
Lucius Ahenobarbus Airs His Grievance I The pomp and gluttony of Roman banquets have been too often described to need repetition here; neither would we be edified by learning all the orgies that Marcus Laeca (an old Catilinian conspirator) and his eight guests indulged in that night: only after the dinner had been cleared, and before the Gadesian[57] dancing girls were called in, the dice began to rattle, and speedily all were engrossed in drink and play.
[57] From Cadiz, Spain.
Lucius Ahenobarbus soon lost so heavily that he was cursing every god that presided over the noble game.
"I am ruined next Ides," he groaned.

"Phormio the broker has only continued my loan at four per cent a month.

All my villas and furniture are mortgaged, and will be sold at auction.

_Mehercle_, destruction stares me in the face!" "Well, well, my dear fellow," said Pratinas, who, having won the stakes, was in a mood to be sympathetic, "we must really see what can be done to remedy matters." "I can see nothing!" was his answer.
"Won't your father come to the rescue ?" put in Gabinius, between deep pulls on a beaker.
"My father!" snapped Ahenobarbus.

"Never a sesterce will I get out of him! He's as good as turned me adrift, and Cato my uncle is always giving him bad reports of me, like the hypocritical Stoic that Cato is." "By the bye," began Gabinius again, putting down the wine-cup, "you hinted to-day that you had been cheated out of a fortune, after a manner.