“Of course she has,” said Helen. “She undoubtedly planned it all, even the speech, long ago. She leaves nothing to accident. She murdered him. I’m glad at least she didn’t pretend otherwise.”

“I can’t believe it, not even now,” said Menelaus. “Why, it’s far worse than I thought!”

“Or I,” said Helen, “but I was prepared for whatever Clytemnestra might do. I grieve for you, Menelaus, and for myself; I feel as though the blame for my family’s wrong-doing ought to fall on me … If she simply wanted to live with Ægisthus, she could have gone off with him and left Agamemnon to himself. But to sit there at home, and eat his food, and consume his property, with that good-for-nothing Ægisthus sharing it all—and then when Agamemnon came back, to pretend an affectionate welcome, get him off his guard, and then stab him—well, that’s Clytemnestra.”

“I’m amazed you are so hard on your own sister,” said Menelaus. “I feel that way, of course, but I rather should have expected you to defend her.”

“I have my own reasons,” said Helen.

“Eteoneus,” said Hermione, “do you think Orestes can handle Ægisthus alone?”

“I asked the messenger about that,” said Eteoneus, “but he had no opinion. Not much is known about Ægisthus. He may be a weak sort of person, as he seems, the sentimental shadow of Clytemnestra, or he may be the brains and the cause of the whole thing. It’s very hard to say.”

“Don’t you think you’d better go and help him, father?” said Hermione.

“I’m going within the hour—I made up my mind to that while we were talking,” said Menelaus.

“Where are you going?” said Helen.

“I’m going to help Orestes to have his vengeance on Ægisthus.”

“And on Clytemnestra?”

“Dear me, no!” said Menelaus. “We’ll leave her to her guilty conscience. But Ægisthus is the villain, I do believe, all the more because she defended him so energetically. We’ll see that he pays for it. I’ll be back at once, in time for Pyrrhus.”

“Bring Orestes back with you,” said Helen, “and the wedding can take place without further delay. It will rehabilitate that branch of the family, socially I mean, to have the alliance with your daughter, and it will take the poor fellow’s mind off his terrible troubles.”

“That wedding can wait,” said Menelaus.