A blunder will spoil it all.

You must do your best; and we will do the fair thing by you." "Go on," said the Gaul, folding his huge paws on his breast.
"Have you ever been in Praeneste ?" questioned Pratinas.
"I matched two _mirmillones_[62] of mine there against two _threces_[63] of another lanista, and my dogs won the prize; but I can't say that I am acquainted with the place," answered the other.
[62] Gladiators equipped as Gaulish warriors.
[63] Buckler men.
"You should find out, then," said Pratinas, "for here lies your work." And then he proceeded, with occasional prompting from the better-informed Ahenobarbus, to point out the location of Drusus's estate, and the character and habits of the man whom Dumnorix was cheerfully proposing to put out of the way.

Dumnorix assented and bade him go on, with hoarse grunts; and when the Greek had concluded, growled out in his barbarous Latin:-- "But why all this pother?
Why not let me send a knave or two and knock the fellow some dark night in the head?
It will save us both time and trouble." "My excellent master of the gladiators," said Pratinas, as smoothly as ever, "you must not take it ill, if I tell you that to have a taking off such as you propose would be a very bad thing both for you and the most noble Ahenobarbus.

This Drusus is not a helpless wight, without friends, waiting to become the fair prey of any dagger man.[64] He has friends, I have learned, who, if he were to be disposed of in such a rude and bungling manner, would not fail to probe deeply into the whole thing.

Flaccus the great banker, notably, would spare no pains to bring the responsibility of the matter home, not merely to the poor wretch who struck the blow, but the persons who placed the weapon in his hands.