be long as
well as important, for the whole future of our party, and of Carthage
itself, depends upon the issue."

"Malchus," Hamilcar said, "do you mount your horse and ride out at
once and tell your mother that all has gone well with us, but that I
am detained here on important business, and may not return until
nightfall."

"May I come back here, father, after I see my mother? I would fain be of
some use, if I may. I am known to many of the sailors down at the
port; I might go about among them trying to stir them up in favour of
Hannibal."

"You may come back if you like, Malchus; your sailors may aid us with
their voices, or, should it come to anything like a popular disturbance,
by their arms. But, as you know, in the voting the common people
count for nothing, it is the citizens only who elect, the traders,
shopkeepers, and employers of labour. Common people count for no more
than the slaves, save when it comes to a popular tumult, and they
frighten the shopkeeping class into voting in accordance with their
views. However, we will leave no stone 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,