l be
mine again before the moon have waned."

[Illustration: HELEN OF TROY
FROM THE PAINTING BY SIR FREDERICK LEIGHTON]

Odysseus nodded his head. "Enough said, Son of Atreus," said he. "I go
in this night."

Now, in these days of weariness of strife, when the leaguer was not
strict, the gates of Troy were often opened, now this one, now that, to
let in fugitives from the hill-country. Odysseus, therefore, disguised
himself as one of these, in sheepskin coat and swathes of rushes round
his legs; and he stood with wounded feet, leaning upon a holly staff, as
one of a throng. White dust was upon his beard, and sweat had made seams
in the dust of his face and neck. Then, when they asked him at the gate,
"Whence and what art thou, friend?" he answered, "I am a shepherd of the
hills, named Glykon, whose store of sheep the Achaeans have reived, whose
wife stolen away, whose little ones put to the sword and fire. Me only
have they left alive; and where should I come if not here?" So they let
him in, and he came and stood in the hall of Paris with many other
wretches. Then presently came Helen of the starry eyes and sweet pale
face, she and her women to minister. And she knelt down with ewer and
basin and a napkin to wash the feet of the poor. To whom, as she knelt
at the feet of Odysseus, and rinsed his wounds and wiped away the dry
blood, spake that crafty one in her ear, saying: "There are other wounds
than mine for thy washing, lady, and deeper. For they are in the heart
of King Menelaus, and in thy daughter's heart."

She kept her face hidden from him, bending to his feet; but he saw that
she trembled and moved her shoulders. So then he said again, "I know
that thou art pitiful. I know that thou wilt wash his wounds."

She answered him, whispering, "Yes; oh, yes."

He said, "Let me have speech with thee, lady, when may be."

And she, "It shall be when my lord sleepeth toward morning. Watch thou
for me here, before the sun rise." And he was satisfied with what she
said.

* * * * *

Now, it was toward morning; and Odysseus watched in the hall of Paris.
Then came Helen in, and stepped lightly over the bodies of sleeping men,
and touched him on the shoulder where he sat by the wall with his chin
upon his knees. Over her head was the hood of a dark blue cloak; and the
cloak fell to her feet. Her face was covered, not so but that he could
see the good intention of her eyes. And he arose