“Hail, wife!” he cheerfully sang out, as he opened the door. But the happy words of greeting had hardly died on his lips when he saw Hera and Lupa weeping. Hera quickly ran to meet him; Lupa slipped quietly out of the room. Through tears and sobs Hera then told him the terrible news. He seemed stunned. He looked upon Gannon’s face and walked away. So greatly shocked was he that at first he did not understand the weight of his affliction. Gradually its full force descended upon his heart with crushing power. He could not weep. He groaned. He began to rave. He looked to heaven and called upon the gods. When he became more calm, he said with a trembling voice, “This was no accident, O wife! This was no accident!”
“Why, what meanest thou, O husband?”
“When didst thou say he was on the roof?” he asked suspiciously.
“At midnight,” she replied.
“How came he on the roof at that time unless he was ordered?” he asked, more suspicious than before.
“I know not, O husband.”
“Has he not told us that after his dinner ’twas his custom to work until he went to bed? The night was not warm, O Hera. Believe me, he was ordered there,” said Alcmaeon, with an air of conviction.
“Ay; then ’twas an unusual command.”
“Hearken unto me, O wife. Gannon has been murdered!” exclaimed Alcmaeon.
“Say not so, O Alcmaeon!” said Hera, excitedly.