Penny Dreadfuls, 1923 · page 44 of 116
The Taking of Helen by John Masefield — page 44: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Page 32 from *The Taking of Helen* This is a page of running prose from what appears to be the middle of a narrative. The text depicts a dramatic interrogation scene: a commandant questions Prince Nireus about the whereabouts of a fugitive couple, with an officer named Short suggesting suspiciously that Nireus may have hidden them. Nireus repeatedly swears he knows nothing of their location or departure. When another officer notes that three people couldn't fit in a cart, Short counters that one could have ridden separately and concealed them. The scene ends with unexplained noise among the troops, prompting Short to investigate and return leading a horse. The passage emphasizes tension and evasion through dialogue.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
S32 THE TAKING OF HELEN this be the way? I have been up all night and would gladly rest in my ship.” “You give me your word that you do not know where these runaways are?”’ “I give you my word. I do not know where they are.” , “Well, you may go. Let Prince Nireus pass there.” “T beg your pardon, my lord,” the officer called Short put in. ‘With all deference and respect, my lord, might not this gentleman have left the couple somewhere? You see, my lord, it is odd his coming here, at this time of night, to-night of all nights.”’ “You hear that, Nireus?”’ the commandant said. “Yes,” Nireus answered, “I give you my word that I have not seen nor spoken with either of the couple for more than two days, that I know nothing of how they went nor whither, and that I do not know where they are now.” ‘“Besides,’’ another officer said, “you could not put three in that cart.” “True,” Short answered, ‘‘but the third could have ridden, and then he could have hidden them.”’ There was a shifting among the troopers on the track. “What is that noise in your troop, Short?” the commandant asked. Short went to enquire and then returned, leading a horse. CONNIE DOOKS (EO)