, therefore, that any action he might take must be on his own
account. If the words he had overheard meant anything, and if a plot
were really on hand, it was to be carried out on the following night.
Malchus determined to take steps to meet it.

The next day he took Trebon into his counsels and told him of the
mysterious meetings which he had accidentally discovered. There was free
access to Hannibal's palace; officers were constantly coming in and out,
and soldiers arriving and leaving with messages and orders. Malchus,
had, therefore, had no difficulty in passing into his apartment, one
by one, ten picked men of his company. They had orders to remain there
perfectly quiet, and Trebon also took post with them, Malchus telling
him to make some excuse or other to prevent any attendant or slave from
entering the apartment while he was absent.

There was a concert that evening; the palace was crowded with guests.
From time to time Malchus stole away to his room, where the Numidians
were seated on the ground silent and immovable as so many bronze
statues. At other times he kept near Hannibal, watching closely the
movements of every native who passed near him; and ready to spring
forward instantly if he saw any signs of an evil intention. However, he
did not much apprehend, that even if his suspicions were correct and
a plot was on foot against Hannibal, any attempt would be made to
assassinate him in the midst of a crowded assembly, where there would
be no possibility of escape for the perpetrators of such a deed. At
last the guests began to depart, and an hour later all was quiet in the
palace. Laying aside his sandals, Malchus stole noiselessly over the
marble pavements until he approached the entrance which he had twice
seen opened so late. A slave was lying close to it.

Unobserved Malchus stole away again to his chamber and bade the
Numidians follow him. Noiselessly the troop of barefooted Arabs moved
shadowlike through the lofty halls and corridors. Two of them he placed
at the entrance to the chamber where Hannibal slept, with orders
to allow no one to pass until he returned, then with the others he
proceeded to the entrance. Few lights only were burning in the passages,
and it was not until they were close at hand that the slave perceived
the approaching figures. He leaped to his feet, but before he could cry
out Malchus stepped forward and said:

"Silence, if you value your life. You know me; I am Malchus the s