were sent for by Hannibal. They came prepared to
die, for they knew already by rumour that the attempt had failed, and
doubted not when the summons reached them that Carpadon had denounced
them as his accomplices. But they went to their certain doom with the
courage of their class--pale, perhaps, but otherwise unmoved. Hannibal
was alone with Hamilcar when they entered.

"That assassination is not an altogether unknown crime in Carthage," he
said quietly, "I was well aware, but I did not before think that nobles
in the Carthaginian horse would stoop to it. I know that it was you who
provided the gold for the payment of the men who made an attempt upon my
life, that you personally paid my attendant Carpadon to hire assassins,
and to lead them to my chamber. Were I to denounce you, my soldiers
would tear you in pieces. The very name of your families would be held
accursed by all honest men in Carthage for all time. I do not ask you
whether I have given you cause for offence, for I know that I have not
done so; you acted simply for the benefit of Hanno. Whether you were
instructed by him I do not deign to ask. I shall not harm you. The tale
of your infamy is known to but four persons, and none others will ever
know it. I am proud of the honour of the nobles of Carthage, and would
not that the scum of the people should bandy the name of your families
on their lips as guilty of so foul an act of treason. You will, of
course, at once resign your positions in the Carthaginian horse. Make
what pretext you will--illness or private affairs. Tomorrow sail for
Carthage, and there strive by efforts for the good of your country to
efface the remembrance of this blow which you would have struck her."

So saying, with a wave of the hand he dismissed them.

They went without a word, too astonished at his clemency, too humiliated
by their own disgrace even to utter a word of thanks. When they were
fairly beyond the palace they looked at each other as men awakened from
a dream.

"What a man!" one of them exclaimed. "No wonder the soldiers adore him!
He has given us our lives--more, he has saved our names from disgrace.
Henceforth, Pontus, we, at least, can never again take part against
him."

"It is almost too much to bear," the other said; "I feel that I would
rather that he had ordered us to instant execution."

"Ay, for our own sakes, Pontus, but not for those of others. For myself
I shall retire to the country; it seems to me t