ELAUS [in an outburst]. Is for man to break asunder!

ANALYTIKOS [deeply shocked]. You talk like an atheist.

MENELAUS. I never allow religion to interfere with life. Go call the
victim and see that he be left alone with the Queen. [MENELAUS exits and
ANALYTIKOS goes over to the door of the library and summons PARIS, who
enters clad in a gorgeous robe.]

PARIS. I found this in there. It looks rather well, doesn't it? Ah! So
you're alone. I suppose that stupid friend of yours has gone to tell the
King. When do I see the Queen?

ANALYTIKOS. At once. [He goes to the door of the QUEEN'S apartment and
claps his hand. TSUMU enters and at the sight of her PARIS recoils the
full length of the room.]

PARIS. I thought the Queen was a blonde!

ANALYTIKOS. Tell Her Majesty a stranger awaits her here. [TSUMU exits,
her eyes wide on PARIS.] You should thank the Gods for this moment.

PARIS [his eyes on the door]. You do it for me. I can never remember all
their names.

[HELENA enters clad in her Sicily blue, crowned with a garland of golden
flowers. She and PARIS stand riveted, looking at each other. Their
attitude might be described as fatalistic. ANALYTIKOS watches them for
a moment and then with hands and head lifted to heaven he goes into the
library.]

PARIS [quivering with emotion]. I have the most strange sensation of
having seen you before. Something I can't explain----

HELENA [quite practically]. Please don't bother about all sorts of fine
distinctions. Under the influence of Analytikos and my husband, life has
become a mess of indecision. I'm a simple, direct woman and I expect you
to say just what you think.

PARIS. Do you? Very well, then---- [He comes a step nearer to her.] Fate
is impelling me toward you.

HELENA. Yes. That's much better. So you're a fatalist. It's very Greek.
I don't see what our dramatists would do without it.

PARIS. In my country there are no dramatists. We are too busy with
reality.

HELENA. Your people must be uncivilized barbarians.

PARIS. My people are a genuine people. There is but one thing we
worship.

HELENA. Don't tell me it's money.

PARIS. It's----

HELENA. Analytikos says if there weren't any money, there wouldn't be
any of those ridiculous socialists.

PARIS. It isn't money. It's sincerity.

HELENA. I, too, believe in sincerity. It's the loveliest thing in the
world.

PARIS. And the most dangerous.

HELENA. The truth is never dangerous.

PARIS. Except