unturned that may conduce to our success. Do not hurry away from
home, my boy, for your mother would think it unkind after three
months' absence. Our council is likely to last for some hours;
when it is at an end I will look for you here and tell you what
has been determined upon."

Malchus mounted his horse and rode out through the narrow streets
of the lower city, through the gateway leading into the suburb,
then he loosed the rein and the horse started at a gallop along
the broad road, lined with stately mansions, and in a quarter of
an hour stopped in front of the villa of Hamilcar.

Throwing his bridle to a slave he ran up the broad steps of the
portico and entered the hall. His mother, a stately woman, clad in
a long flowing garment of rich material embroidered in gold, arms
and neck bare, her hair bound up in a knot at the back of her head,
which was encircled by a golden fillet, with pendants of the same
metal encrusted with gems falling on her forehead, rose eagerly to
meet him, and his two sisters, girls older than himself, clad in
white robes, confined at the waist with golden belts, leaped to
their feet with a cry of gladness.

"Welcome back, my own son," his mother said; "all is well, I hope,
with your father; It is so, I am sure, for I should read evil news
in your face."

"He is well, mother, well and victorious, though we had a rare
fight for it, I can tell you. But he is kept at the Barcine Syssite
on matters connected with this terrible business of the death of
Hasdrubal. He bade me give you his love, and say he would be back