such fools that they cannot read faces; that we cannot tell the
difference between a good man and a bad one."

"Yes, a girl may know something about every man save the one she
loves, Thyra. She may see other's faults clearly enough; but she
is blind to those of the man she loves. Do you not know that the
Greeks depict Cupid with a bandage over his eyes?"

"I am not blind to your faults," Thyra said indignantly. "I know
that you are a great deal more lazy than becomes you; that you
are not sufficiently earnest in the affairs of life; that you will
never rise to be a great general like my cousin Hannibal."

"That is all quite true," Adherbal laughed; "and yet you see you
love me. You perceive my faults only in theory and not in fact,
and you do not in your heart wish to see me different from what I
am. Is it not so?"

"Yes," the girl said shyly, "I suppose it is. Anyhow, I don't like
the thought of your going away from me to that horrid Iberia."

Although defeated for the moment by the popular vote, the party
of Hanno were not discouraged. They had suffered a similar check
when they had attempted to prevent Hannibal joining Hasdrubal in
Spain.

Not a moment was lost in setting to work to recover their lost
ground. Their agents among the lower classes spread calumnies
against the Barcine leaders. Money was lavishly distributed, and
the judges, who were devoted to Hanno's party, set their machinery