#a strategy session
Chapter 9: A Strategy Session (Pt. 1)
Gathering at Cicero’s home that evening, it didn’t take long for Quintus, to begin questioning his brother’s judgement.
“I can’t believe it, Marcus,” Cicero’s brother, Quintus said, shaking his head. “How are you going to have any kind of political career making such enemies!”
“Oh, my husband has never cared who he might offend, Quintus,” Terentia said, bitterly. “But this is simply beyond the pale. Half the decent families in Rome will be shunning us now!”
“My dear,” Cicero replied, “I don’t understand how you can criticize my actions this time – I was only doing what was right.”
“Right for whom?” Terentia shot back. “Some Sicilian nobody who couldn’t muster a single Roman vote?”
“Well, I haven’t told Sosethius that I would take his case,” Cicero replied. “I still may not. But at least I did what I could to protect an innocent man from unfair prosecution.”
“I, for one, think you should take the case, Marcus Tullius,” Servius Sulpicius said. “If you can convict Gaius Verres – and from what I’m hearing, he’s villain enough to make the charges stick – you’ll build yourself an unstoppable reputation!”
“Not to mention give yourself a senior position in the senate,” Atticus said.
Terentia sat up, suddenly all ears. “What’s that?” she asked.
“Well, if your husband convicts him, he’ll assume Verres’ position in the senate, as well as all of his personal property,” Atticus said, casually. “I don’t agree with the practice, of course, but it’s tradition in the courts. And it’s a fast, cheap way to gain influence.”
“Oh Atticus,” Cicero said, laughing. “You just consider it rude, which, to you, is the gravest of offenses.”
“Well, it is,” Atticus said, indignantly.
“Well,“ Cicero went on, "if I should choose to take Sosethius’ case, it won’t be to benefit my career or my purse, but instead to seek justice.”
“Then you’re a fool, husband,” Terentia said, rolling her eyes. “As far as I’m concerned, those are the only reasons to do it at all!”
