Laying aside his sandals, Malchus stole noiselessly over the marble pavements until he approached the entrance which he had twice seen opened so late.

A slave was lying close to it.
Unobserved Malchus stole away again to his chamber and bade the Numidians follow him.

Noiselessly the troop of barefooted Arabs moved shadowlike through the lofty halls and corridors.

Two of them he placed at the entrance to the chamber where Hannibal slept, with orders to allow no one to pass until he returned, then with the others he proceeded to the entrance.

Few lights only were burning in the passages, and it was not until they were close at hand that the slave perceived the approaching figures.