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Chapters (39)
  1. Cover
  2. The Private Life of Helen of Troy
  3. Contents
  4. NOTE
  5. PART I
  6. I
  7. II
  8. III
  9. IV
  10. V
  11. VI
  12. VII
  13. PART II
  14. I
  15. II
  16. III
  17. IV
  18. V
  19. VI
  20. PART III
  21. I
  22. II
  23. III
  24. IV
  25. V
  26. PART IV
  27. I
  28. II
  29. III
  30. IV
  31. V
  32. PART V
  33. I
  34. II
  35. III
  36. IV
  37. V
  38. VI
  39. VII

“Then you think I ought to go to Agamemnon,” said Menelaus.

“I advised you not to go,” said Helen.

“Why not?”

“You remember perfectly well—it is dangerous to go, and there is a chance that you’ll make yourself ridiculous.”

“You think that Achilles, or some fellow like him, would go even if advised against it?”

“There are a few things for each of us, Menelaus, in which we can take no advice. No woman could have advised Achilles about danger—for him it didn’t exist. And it would never occur to Achilles—nor to anyone else—that he could be ridiculous.”

“I’ll go to my brother,” said Menelaus. “It’s not too late to be myself, as you say.”

“There’s someone at the door,” said Hermione.

“Who’s at the door?” said Menelaus. “Come in! Oh, it’s you, Eteoneus. Why didn’t you knock? This is a private conversation, and I don’t like eavesdropping.”

III

III

“I hesitated to come in,” said Eteoneus. “I didn’t want to come at all.”

“What’s the matter?” said Menelaus.

“We have news,” said Eteoneus, “and I don’t like to tell it.”

“Tell us, Eteoneus,” said Helen; “don’t keep us waiting. We can stand the news, good or bad!”

“Agamemnon is dead,” said Eteoneus.

“Menelaus!” cried Helen. She went over to him, and stood by his side.

“My brother is dead!” repeated Menelaus.

“I didn’t like to tell you,” said Eteoneus.

“Who—how did he die?” asked Menelaus.

“He was killed,” said Eteoneus. “Ægisthus killed him.”

“Never!” said Menelaus. “It’s a mistake. Ægisthus couldn’t stand a moment before my brother in a fair fight!”

“No, he couldn’t,” said Eteoneus, “but it wasn’t a fair fight. Agamemnon went into his house, as the trader reported to us, and thinking himself safe at home, he took off his armour and hung up his sword. Then they killed him.”

“They? Who were they?” cried Helen.

“I didn’t like to bring this news,” said Eteoneus. “If there had been anyone else to send, I’d have stayed out at the gate.”

“Tell us all,” said Menelaus. “Who killed my brother?”

“I believe Ægisthus was most to blame,” said Eteoneus; “he’s the one Orestes is after now, and it may be he has already paid him back for it. The messenger says Clytemnestra was implicated.”

“My sister, my sister! I knew it!” cried Helen.

“Knew what, Helen?” said Menelaus.

“I knew in my heart she would murder him some day. She’s the one, not Ægisthus! Eteoneus is trying to spare me, but I’m sure that’s the fact.”