MENELAUS [anxiously]. Yes! Yes!
TSUMU. By the King's orders no man has dared gaze upon Her Majesty. They all fell prostrate before her.
MENELAUS. Good! Good! [Attempting to cover his delight.] Go! Go! You garrulous dog. [TSUMU gets up and points to shield. ANALYTIKOS and the KING look toward it. ANALYTIKOS tears off the papyrus and brings it to MENELAUS. TSUMU, watching them, exits.]
MENELAUS [reading]. "I am not a bad woman. I did what I had to do." How Greek to blame fate for what one wants to do. [TSUMU again comes tumbling in.]
TSUMU [again prostrate before the KING]. A rumor flies through the city. He—he——
ANALYTIKOS [anxiously]. Well? Well?
TSUMU. He—he——
MENELAUS [furiously to ANALYTIKOS]. Rid me of this croaking raven.
TSUMU. Evil has fallen on Sparta. He——
ANALYTIKOS. Yes—yes——