"Malchus, son of Hamilcar," Hanno said, "you are now brought before
us to hear the crime with which you are charged. We have here
before us the written list of the names of the members of the
conspiracy, headed by Giscon, which had for its aim the murder of
many of the senate of Carthage and the overthrow of her constitution.
We have also here the confession of several of the conspirators
confirming this list, and saying that you were one of the party."

"I do not deny," Malchus said firmly, "that I did once visit the
place in which those you speak of met, and that my name was then
entered on the roll; but when I went there I was wholly ignorant
of the purposes of the association, and as soon as I learned their
aims and objects I withdrew from them, and did not again visit
their place of meeting."

"You could not well do that," Hanno said, "since it is writ down
that you sailed very shortly afterwards for Spain."

"I own that I did so," Malchus replied, "but I told Giscon on the
very day that I accompanied him to the meeting that I would go there
no more. Moreover, your commissioners with Hannibal's army have
already inquired into the circumstances, and they, in consideration
of the fact that I was then little more than sixteen years old,
that I was led ignorantly into the plot, and at once separated
myself from it, absolved me from blame."

"The commissioners had no authority to do so," Hanno replied;
"they were ordered to send you to Carthage, and failed to carry
out their orders only because Hannibal then, as always, set himself