He attacked Turpulius more fiercely than any other officer, and this he did knowing that he was the trusted friend of Metellus.
It was due to the influence of Marius that the other members condemned Turpulius, and Metellus was forced to sentence his friend to death.
Soon after the unfortunate man was executed it was clearly proved that he was innocent.
Metellus was overpowered with grief, and his officers did what they could to comfort him, all save Marius. He was heard to boast that he had caused the catastrophe, and he showed no sympathy for the distress of his general.
It was natural that from this time Metellus should look on Marius with aversion, and the two men were soon open enemies. Marius did not disguise that he hoped some day to supplant the general in his command.
During the winter of 108 B.C., Marius applied for leave, that he might go home to stand for election as Consul.
Metellus was indignant at what seemed to him the presumption of his officer, and he refused to let him go.
Marius was not disturbed by the refusal. He knew that in due time he would go to Italy, and meanwhile he wrote home unfavourable reports of his general, hinting, too, that if he had been in command of the army, Jugurtha would have been captured long ago.
The soldiers, he knew well, adored him, and when they sent messages home would say nothing but good of him.
After some time had passed, Marius again asked for leave to go to Rome.
Then Metellus scoffed at his desire, saying: 'Will you not be content to wait and be Consul with this little son of mine?'
As the son of the general was a lad of about twenty, and as Marius was already forty-nine years of age, the taunt was not easy to bear.
But at length, as Marius persisted in asking leave,
