“I should,” said Menelaus. “She’s looking for Orestes, and he’s not in this part of the world.”

“How do you know he’s not?”

“He wouldn’t have the impudence,” said Menelaus.

“On the other hand,” said Eteoneus, “it’s all that you need for your most exquisite embarrassment, to have him turn up just as Pyrrhus arrives. That’s the kind of luck you’ve been having lately.”

“That’s not my worst embarrassment—the worst will be to welcome Pyrrhus with the news that my daughter has run away. We must find her—we must, Eteoneus. I’m known to Pyrrhus chiefly as the man whose wife ran off, and if I must tell him my daughter has gone too—I can’t face it, I simply can’t!”

“It’s too much to hope she’s gone to welcome Pyrrhus. How she hates that man!”

“What do you propose to do next?” said Menelaus.

“I’ve come to the end. I have no suggestions.”

“You must have, Eteoneus! We can’t give up at this point.”

“You needn’t give up—you’ll probably think of something. But I’m of no use to you, I fear; I haven’t found a single trace of her, and to tell you the truth, my heart’s not in it. While we were on this last search, I was wondering all the time what on earth to do with her if we found her.”

“Bring her home! Those were your orders.”

“Of course, but what then? I should think you’d rather tell Pyrrhus that Hermione happened to be away at the moment, than exhibit her in chains, or however you intended to hold her down. If she is brought back, it will be as a prisoner. You’d better let her go. It hurts me to think what we’ve come to, Menelaus. This is my last service for you, I suppose—trying to arrest your runaway daughter. I’ll be glad when Pyrrhus comes, and I retire.”

“I can’t possibly spare you now till we find Hermione! You wouldn’t think of leaving me before?”

“Well, Menelaus, I’d do anything in reason, but I’m very tired of my job, and I don’t believe Hermione is ever coming back. You’re asking me to stay for life.”

“That’s really what I’d like to ask you, but I mean only a reasonable time. Let’s put it this way. Stay until Hermione is found, whether she comes back here or not; the moment we know positively where she is, you may go. If she isn’t found before Pyrrhus comes, stay until he goes. You think he is to arrive any day; the moment he leaves, you are free. That will see me through the worst in either case, and I’ll prove to you that I know how to be grateful.”