noon
The slender preparations for the first Roman meal were displayed temptingly on a board , not far from his elbow ; but they were all untouched . His hair was dishevelled ; his face pale , either from watching or excitement ; and his eye wild and haggard . He wore a loose morning gown of colored linen , and his bare feet were thrust carelessly into unmatched slippers . It was past noon already ; nor , though his favorite freedman Thrasea had warned him several times of the lateness of the hour , had he shewn the least willingness to exert himself , so far even as to dress his hair , or put on attire befitting the business of the day . It could not but be seen , at a glance , that he was ill at ease ; and in truth he was much perturbed by what had passed on the preceding night , and very anxious with regard to the future . Nor was it without ample cause that he was restless and disturbed ; within the last three days he had by his own instability of purpose , and vacillating tastes and temper brought himself down from as enviable a position as well can be imagined , to one as insecure , unfortunate , and perilous . That he had made to himself in Catiline an enemy , as deadly , as persevering , as relentless as any man could have upon his track ; an enemy against whom force and fraud would most likely be proved equally unavailing , he entertained no doubt .