Then, too, Lucius Ahenobarbus had a voluble flow of polite small talk, and he knew how to display his accomplishments to full advantage.

He had a fair share of wit and humour; and when he fancied that Cornelia was not impervious to his advances, he became more agreeable and more ardent.

Once or twice Cornelia frightened herself by laughing without conscious forcing.

Yet it was an immense relief to her when the banquet was over, and the guests--for Favonius had ordered that none should be given enough wine to be absolutely drunken--called for their sandals and litters and went their ways.
[93] Women sat at Roman banquets, unless the company was of a questionable character.
"And you, O Adorable, Calypso, Circe, Nausicaa, Medea,--what shall I call you ?--you will not be angry if I call to see you to-morrow ?" said Ahenobarbus, smiling as he parted from Cornelia.
"If you come," was her response, "I shall not perhaps order the slaves to pitch you out heels over head." "Ah! That is a guarded assent, indeed," laughed Lucius, "but farewell, _pulcherrima!_"[94] [94] Most beautiful.
Cornelia that night lay down and sobbed herself to sleep.

Her mother had congratulated her on her brilliant social success at the dinner-party, and had praised her for treating Lucius Ahenobarbus as she had.
"You know, my dear," the worthy woman had concluded, "that since it has seemed necessary to break off with Drusus, a marriage with Lucius would be at once recommended by your father's will, and in many ways highly desirable." II Only a very few days later Lucius Ahenobarbus received a message bidding him come to see his father at the family palace on the Palatine.