Will Theseus guess? Will he see that this is one of his son's servants? At any rate he shows no sign of so doing.
Theseus
What? Some new stroke hath touched, unknown to me The sister cities of my sovranty?
Henchman
Hippolytus is. . . . Nay, not dead; but stark Outstretched, a hairsbreadth this side of the dark.
The forbidden name is spoken; there is evidently a moment of shock, but how will Theseus take the news? Will he soften?
Theseus (as though unmoved)
How slain? Was there some other man, whose wife He had like mine defiled, who sought his life?
Stung by the taunt the Henchman answers boldly.