His first campaign was served in Asia, on the staff of the praetor, M. Thermus; and being dispatched into Bithynia, 1 to bring thence a fleet, he loitered so long at the court of Nicomedes, as to give occasion to reports of lewd proceedings between him and that prince; which received additional credit from his hasty return to Bithynia, under the pretext of recovering a debt due to a freedman, his client. The rest of his service was more favourable to his reputation; and when Mitylene 2 was taken by storm, he was presented by Thermus with the civic crown. 3