Penny Dreadfuls, 1923 · page 23 of 116
The Taking of Helen by John Masefield — page 23: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Description This is page 11 of running prose from a Victorian penny dreadful titled *The Taking of Helen*. The page contains a dialogue between characters named Menelaus and a "heavy man," overheard by Nireus, discussing plans involving the promise of booty to recruit men and some kind of secret, morally questionable scheme involving "one of our own men" whose son is a child. Menelaus appears reluctant about the proposal but considers whether the target "can be tempted." The scene ends with Nireus withdrawing as both men stand and an officer returns from supper.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE TAKING OF HELEN 11 “No, no,” Menelaus said. “Do not beat the donkey; show him the corn. There will be booty in this. I am arranging that all those fellows shall know that there will be booty. What with some men’s fears and other men’s lusts, we shall have no trouble.”’ “There are one or two men,” the heavy man said, “who need a little trouble.” ‘No, I think not,” Menelaus said. ‘But if there should be such, there will be time enough later.”’ The heavy man shifted nearer to Menelaus and whispered to him. Nireus could not catch what was said, but guessed that a thing so secret must be evil indeed. Menelaus seemed not pleased with the thing suggested. He seemed to debate it, while he rubbed his chin with his left thumb, in a way he had. “And then we should put in one of our own men,”’ the heavy man went on, aloud, ‘because his son is only a child.” Menelaus was thoughtful, but did not answer. The heavy man went on with his persuasions. “It is the only way to deal with such. He isa crafty one, and nothing binds him, neither word nor bond.”’ “He can be tempted,’’ Menelaus said. Nireus now drew away to the outer room, because both men were on their feet. The officer or guard re- turned to the outer room from his supper. He was an COnniclooo! SS} (C(O)