He was not at heart sorry that he was freed from this association into which, without knowing the measures by which it intended to carry out its aims, he had rashly entered.

He was ready for armed insurrection against the tyrants of Carthage, but he revolted from the thought of this plan for a midnight massacre--it was not by such means that he would have achieved the regeneration of his country.

He felt, too, that the reason which he had given Giscon was a valid one.

He had no right, at his age, to involve his family in such a conspiracy.

Did it fail, and were he found to be among the conspirators, Hanno and his associates would be sure to seize the fact as a pretext for assailing Hamilcar.