Free Julius Caesar by Tony Bradman Page B

men, butthey considered each other as equals. At least they had until recent years. But then individuals like Pompey and Caesar had begun to grow in power and influence – something Brutus didn’t like at all.
    â€˜Enough, Cassius,’ said Brutus. ‘I’ll consider what you’ve said, and I’ll let you know what I think in due course. Although you should know this – I would rather leave Rome forever than live under a tyrant. Wait, here comes Caesar again…’ The crowd had returned, filling the street once more. ‘Something must have happened,’ said Brutus. ‘He is upset, and the others look shocked.’
    â€˜Yes, you’re right,’ said Cassius, his expression one of cold calculation. ‘Let’s grab Casca as he goes past. He’ll tell us what’s been going on.’
    The two men retreated further behind the temple’s columns and waited for their chance. But Caesar had seen them, and turned to Mark Antony. ‘That Cassius has a lean and hungry look,’ he said, his eyes narrowed andsuspicious, and his face as pale as a corpse’s. ‘He thinks too much. Such men can be very dangerous.’
    â€˜Oh, he’s not someone you should fear, Caesar,’ said Mark Antony.
    â€˜Caesar fears no one, but men like Cassius are always jealous of those who are greater. Come, tell me everything you know about him…’
    Brutus and Cassius had heard nothing of this, intent as they were on catching Casca. Cassius tugged Casca’s cloak and pulled him into the shadows behind the columns. The crowd flowed on, everyone’s eyes still focused on Caesar.
    â€˜What has happened, Casca?’ said Brutus. ‘Why is Caesar so moved?’
    â€˜He was offered a crown, that’s all,’ said Casca. ‘And he turned it down.’
    â€˜Good,’ snapped Brutus. ‘But why did the crowd raise another clamour?’
    â€˜Because Caesar was offered the crown
again
,’ said Casca, with a snort. ‘In fact, hewas offered the crown three times. I’ve never seen anything like it.’
    â€˜None of us have,’ said Cassius, glancing at Brutus. ‘Who offered it to him?’
    â€˜Why, Mark Antony, of course,’ said Casca. ‘But I think it was all just play-acting. Each time Mark Antony offered Caesar the crown, Caesar made a big show of waving it away, although the last time he let his eyes linger on it for quite a while. The crowd thought this was all wonderful, of course, and might even have made him accept the crown in the end. But then Caesar fainted.’
    â€˜What do you mean, he fainted?’ said Cassius, surprise in his voice.
    â€˜He fell down and foamed at the mouth, and couldn’t speak,’ said Casca.
    â€˜
That
wasn’t play-acting,’ said Brutus. ‘Few people know it, but Caesar has the falling sickness, and often has fits. What did he say when he recovered?’
    â€˜Only that his illness was to blame if he haddone or said anything wrong,’ said Casca, shrugging. ‘And he asked everyone to forgive him. Which they did, of course. There is some other news, though. Flavius and Marullus have been arrested for taking down the decorations that were put up to honour Caesar…’
    The men talked for a while longer, but at last they said their farewells. Brutus went home, and Casca to dinner with some friends, leaving Cassius alone by the temple. It was almost evening and the sky had clouded over, but Cassius barely noticed. He was thinking about his conversation with Brutus, and working out what to do next. Cassius had long known that Caesar was suspicious of him, and also that Brutus and Caesar were friends. But now it was clear that Brutus wasn’t happy with the way things were going. Cassius smiled. A little more effort and Brutus would be on the right side, no doubt about it. ‘Caesar might think he’s safe now,’ Cassius