And yet he had heard nothing which would justify his bringing so grave an accusation against these men.

The money which he had seen exchanged might be for the price of a horse or of a slave, and he might only make himself ridiculous were he to speak to Hannibal or his father as to what had occurred.

He decided, therefore, that any action he might take must be on his own account.

If the words he had overheard meant anything, and if a plot were really on hand, it was to be carried out on the following night.
Malchus determined to take steps to meet it.
The next day he took Trebon into his counsels and told him of the mysterious meetings which he had accidentally discovered.

There was free access to Hannibal's palace; officers were constantly coming in and out, and soldiers arriving and leaving with messages and orders.