Are you planning to turn out another Catilina ?" "My dear sir," expostulated Drusus, doing his best to retain his outward calm, "I cannot understand of what fault I have become guilty.
Is it wrong in Rome to accept a kindly invitation from an old family friend to a dinner?
Am I responsible for the persons the host summoned to meet me there ?" Drusus had been simply sparring to ward off the real point at issue; like many persons he would not assert his convictions and motives till fairly brought to bay.

But that moment came almost instantly.
"Don't equivocate! _Mehercle!_" cried Lentulus, getting thoroughly angry.

"Can't you speak, except to lie and quibble before my face?
Have you joined the gang Curio is rallying for Caesar ?" Drusus was losing his own patience now.
"Yes! And we shall shortly see whether the Republic is to be longer ruined by incompetence and corruption!" "Uncle! Quintus!" implored Cornelia, forcing herself between them, and casting out of her wide-open eyes on each a look full of distress.
"Don't contend! For my sake be friends!" "For your sake!" raged Lentulus, his florid face growing redder and redder.

"I will take care to keep you out of the clutches of a man who deliberately chooses to associate with all that is base and villanous.
Until your handsome lover throws over connections with Caesar and his fellow-conspirators, let him never ask for your hand!" "Sir," burst in Drusus, flushing with passion, "do you dare to set at naught the will of your brother and its express commands?
Dare you withhold from me what is legally my own ?" "Legally ?" replied Lentulus, with sharp scorn.

"Don't use that word to a consul-elect, who has the whole Senate and Pompeius behind him.