[187]
While we were examining this matter thoroughly,
and holding the documents actually in our hands, we see on a sudden erasures of such
a sort as to appear to be fresh wounds inflicted on papers. Immediately, having a
suspicion of something wrong, we bent our eyes and attention on the names
themselves. Money was entered as having been received from Caius Verrutius the son
of Caius, in such a way that the letters had been let stand down to the second R,
all the rest was an erasure. A second, a third, a fourth—there were a
great many names in the same state. As the matter was plain, so also was the
abominable and scandalous worthlessness of the accounts. We began to inquire of
Carpinatius who that Verrutius was, with whom he had such extensive pecuniary
dealings. The man began to hesitate, to look away, to colour. Because there is a
provision made by law with respect to the accounts of the farmers, forbidding their
being taken to Rome; in order that the
matter might be as clear and as completely proved as possible, I summon Carpinatius
before the tribunal of Metellus and produce the accounts of the company in the
forum. There is a great rush of people to the place; and as the partnership existing
between Carpinatius and that praetor, and his usury, were well known, all people
were watching with the most eager expectation to see what was contained in the
accounts
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M. Tullius Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, literally translated by C. D. Yonge. London. George Bell & Sons. 1903.
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