The Ruinous Face | Page 9

She answered him nothing, but went to her women and suffered herself
to be made ready. Then came the King in to her and began to woo her;
but she, looking strangely upon him by the light of the torch in the wall,
sat up and held him off with her hand. "Touch me not, Menelaus," she
said, "touch me no more until I know whether thou art true or false."
He was astonished at her, saying, "What is this, dear love? Dost thou
call me false who for ten bitter years have striven to have thee again;
and have forsworn all other women for thy sake?"
But her eyes were hard upon him, glittering. "Ay," she said, "and I do.
For to thee, through those bitter years, I was faithful in heart, and
utterly; and that which thou lovest is the bounty of my body, the which
if I should mar it, thou wouldst spurn me as horrible. And now I will
prove thee and my words together." So, while he gazed at her in
wonder, she drew out the sword. "With this sword," she said, "I will do
one of two things. Choose thou."
The King said, hollow-voiced, "What wilt thou do?"

She said, "With the sword I will lay open this poisonous face of mine;"
and she touched her right cheek; "or with it I will cut off this my
wicked breast;" and she put her hand upon her left breast, and said
again, "Choose thou."
But Menelaus with a loud cry threw himself upon her, and took each of
her wrists in a hand, and held her down on the bed. The sword dropped
out and fell to the floor; but he let it lie. Now his love waxed the greater
for the danger she had been in. And in the morning, when as she lay as
one dead, he picked up the sword and brake it, and threw it out of the
window. Also before he left her he gave straight order that she should
be watched throughout the day. But he gave the order to Eutyches,
believing him to be faithful for his former and latter service.
* * * * *
By and by came Eutyches and spoke again with her, saying, "Lady, I
fear me thou didst not use my remedy aright."
She heard him in a stare, and answered in a dry voice, "I fear so too."
Then said Eutyches, "There is but one way to use it. So shalt thou be
free from pain and sorrow of heart." She would not look at him, but he
knew that she understood his thought. "If thou wilt swear to me by
Artemis the Bright," he said, "that thou wilt never use it against thyself,
I will put another remedy on thy knees, lady."
She swore it; and he fetched her a sword, and put it on her knees. That
night, in the dark, she slew her husband Menelaus, as he lay asleep by
her side; and she knew that he was dead because, after groaning once,
he neither moved nor stirred, and because his foot which was upon her
ankle was heavy as lead.
Then came Eutyches in with a torch, and asked her if all was well. She
told him what she had done; and Eutyches came close with the torch
and saw that the King was dead. Then he said, "Before dawn we must
depart, thou and I."

She said, "Where can I go? What will become of me?"
He gazed upon her, saying, "I will love thee for ever, as I have these
twelve years and more."
She said to him, "I will go now if thou wilt help me, Eutyches."
He said, "I will help thee when I can."
Then Helen looked at him, and saw his eyes, and was horribly afraid.
She said, "I know not whether I can trust thee;" but he answered her:
"Have I not proved that to thee? Did I not give thee the sword with
which to free thyself?"
"Yea," she said, "but have I freed myself indeed?"
He stretched out his arms to her, saying, "Free? Yes, thou art free, most
glorious one. And now I too am free to love thee."
But she used craft in her fear, saying, "I am soiled with wicked blood.
Stay thou here, Eutyches, and I will purify myself, and be as thou
wouldst have me."
And he let her go with a kiss, saying, "Be quick. Have I not waited
twelve years?"
Then Helen arose and went out of the chamber, and out of the house
into the garden. And she stood before the altar of Artemis Eileithyia,
and prayed before it, saying, "O Holy One, I give thee thanks indeed
that now I know the