Helen came to the young man with a goblet of wine in her hand, and said:

"Who drinks of this wine, they say, forgets all his sorrows for ever. It comes from Egypt, where they know the secrets of herbs and drugs and charms, and there's a magic in it!"

He took it from her, his hand touched hers, and she smiled at him. It was as she had said; he forgot all his sorrows — as it seemed, for ever. But the magic, he knew, was not in the wine.

Menelaus was busy with his food on the other side of the table.