Let us, therefore, hope for the best; and come and sup with me again to-morrow night.

To-morrow is my birth-day." The next morning, the scarlet mantle--the customary signal displayed in Roman camps on the morning of a day of battle--was seen at the tops of the tents of the two commanding generals, waving there in the air like a banner.

While the troops, in obedience to this signal, were preparing themselves for the conflict, the two generals went to meet each other at a point midway between their two encampments, for a final consultation and agreement in respect to the arrangements of the day.

When this business was concluded, and they were about to separate, in order to proceed each to his own sphere of duty, Cassius asked Brutus what he intended to do in case the day should go against them.

"We hope for the best," said he, "and pray that the gods may grant us the victory in this most momentous crisis.