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 when told. HELENA [making room on the couch for him to sit next to her]. You mustn't say wicked things to me. PARIS. Can your theories survive a test? HELENA [beautifully]. Truth is eternal and survives all tests. PARIS. No. Perhaps, after all, your soul is not ready for the supremest heights. HELENA. Do you mean to say I'm not religious? Religion teaches the meaning of love. PARIS. Has it taught you to love your husband? HELENA [starting up and immediately sitting down again]. How dare you speak to me like that? PARIS. You see. I was right. [He goes toward the balcony.] HELENA [stopping him]. Whatever made you think so? PARIS. I've heard people talk of the King. You could never love a man like that. HELENA [beautifully]. A woman's first duty is to love her husband. PARIS. There is a higher right than duty. HELENA [with conviction]. Right is right. PARIS [with admiration]. The world has libelled you. HELENA. Me! The Queen? PARIS. You are as wise as you are beautiful. HELENA [smiling coyly]. Why, you hardly know me. PARIS. I know you! I, better than all men. HELENA. You? PARIS [rapturously]. Human law has given you to Menelaus, but divine law makes you mine. HELENA [in amazement]. What! PARIS. I alone appreciate your beauty. I alone can reach your soul. HELENA. Ah!