from Italy passed altogether unnoticed, and without
attracting any particular attention Malchus and his companion made their
way along the wharves. The trade of Corinth was large and flourishing,
and the scene reminded Malchus of that with which he was so familiar
in Carthage. Ships of many nationalities were ranged along the quays.
Galleys from Tyre and Cyprus, from Syria and Egypt, from Carthage and
Italy, were all assembled in this neutral port.

Corinth was, like Carthage, essentially a trading community; and while
the power and glory of the rival cities of the Peloponnesus were rapidly
failing Corinth was rising in rank, and was now the first city of
Greece. Malchus had no difficulty in finding a Carthaginian trading
ship. He was amply supplied with money, and soon struck a bargain that
the captain should, without waiting to take in further cargo, at once
sail for Carthage.

The captain was much surprised at the appearance in Corinth of a young
Carthaginian evidently of high rank, but he was too well satisfied at
the bargain he had made to ask any questions. An hour later the mooring
ropes were cast off, and the vessel, spreading her sails, started on her
voyage. The weather was warm and pleasant, and Malchus, stretched on a
couch spread on the poop, greatly enjoyed the rest and quiet, after the
long months which had been spent in almost incessant activity. Upon the
following day Nessus approached him.

"My lord Malchus," he said, "there are some on board the ship who know
you. I have overheard the men talking together, and it seems that one
of them recognized you as having been in the habit of going out with a
fisherman who lived next door to him at Carthage."

"It matters not," Malchus said indifferently; "I have no particular
motive in concealing my name, though it would have been as well that
I should be able to meet my friends in Carthage and consult with them
before my arrival there was generally known. However, before I leave the
ship I can distribute some money among the crew, and tell them that for
certain reasons of state I do not wish them to mention on shore that I
have been a passenger."

Had Malchus been aware that the ship in which he had taken passage was
one of the great fleet of traders owned by Hanno, he would have regarded
the discovery of his personality by the sailors in a more serious light;
as it was, he thought no more of the matter. No change in the manner
of the captain showed that