Then, thinking that he had a suitable opportunity for what he had in mind, he spread a report that he was being plotted against, and seizing some soldiers, he threw them into chains, on the pretext that they had been sent for this very purpose of killing him. He hinted at Octavian but did not definitely name him. The report quickly ran through the city that the consul had been plotted against, but had seized the men who had come to attack him. Then his friends gathered at his house, and soldiers under arms were summoned. In the late afternoon the report reached Octavian also that Antonius had been in danger of being assassinated, and that he was sending for troops to guard him that night.
Immediately Octavian sent word to him that he was ready to stand beside his bed with his own retinue to keep him safe, for he thought that the plot had been laid by some of the party of Brutus and Cassius. He was thus in readiness to do an act of kindness entirely unsuspicious of the rumor Antonius had started or of the plot. Antonius, however, did not even permit the messenger to be received indoors, but dismissed him discourteously. The messenger returned after hearing fuller reports and announced to Octavian that his name was being mentioned among the men about Antonius' door as being himself the man who had despatched the assassins against Antonius, who were now in prison.
Octavian at first did not believe it because of its improbable sound,but soon he perceived that the whole plan had been directed against himself, so he considered with his friends as to what he should do. His mother came also, at a loss over the strange turn of affairs, and desiring to know what the report meant and what were Antonius' intentions.They advised Octavian to withdraw from the city at once for a few days until the matter could be investigated and cleared up.He, unconscious of any guilt, thought that it would be a serious matter for him to conceal himself and in a way incriminate himself,for he would gain nothing toward his safety by withdrawing, while he might the more easily be destroyed in secret.