CLEOPATRA (_with a splutter of laughter_). Her name is not Totateeta: it is Ftatateeta. (_Calling_) Ftatateeta. (_Ftatateeta instantly rises and comes to Cleopatra._) CAESAR (_stumbling over the name_). Tfatafeeta will forgive the erring tongue of a Roman. Tota: the Queen will hold her state here in Alexandria. Engage women to attend upon her; and do all that is needful. FTATATEETA. Am I then the mistress of the Queen's household? CLEOPATRA (_sharply_). No: _I_ am the mistress of the Queen's household. Go and do as you are told, or I will have you thrown into the Nile this very afternoon, to poison the poor crocodiles. CAESAR (_shocked_). Oh no, no. CLEOPATRA. Oh yes, yes. You are very sentimental, Caesar; but you are clever; and if you do as I tell you, you will soon learn to govern. _Caesar, quite dumbfounded by this impertinence, turns in his chair and stares at her._ _Ftatateeta, smiling grimly, and showing a splendid set of teeth, goes, leaving them alone together._ CAESAR. Cleopatra: I really think I must eat you, after all. CLEOPATRA (_kneeling beside him and looking at him with eager interest, half real, half affected to shew how intelligent she is_). You must not talk to me now as if I were a child. CAESAR. You have been growing up since the Sphinx introduced us the other night; and you think you know more than I do already. CLEOPATRA (_taken down, and anxious to justify herself_). No: that would be very silly of me: of course I know that. But--(_suddenly_) are you angry with me? CAESAR. No. CLEOPATRA (_only half believing him_). Then why are you so thoughtful? CAESAR (_rising_). I have work to do, Cleopatra. CLEOPATRA (_drawing back_). Work! (_Offended_) You are tired of talking to me; and that is your excuse to get away from me. CAESAR (_sitting down again to appease her_). Well, well: another minute. But then--work! CLEOPATRA. Work! What nonsense! You must remember that you are a King now: I have made you one. Kings don't work. CAESAR. Oh! Who told you that, little kitten? Eh? CLEOPATRA. My father was King of Egypt; and he never worked. But he was a great king, and cut off my sister's head because she rebelled against him and took the throne from him. CAESAR. Well; and how did he get his throne back again? CLEOPATRA (_eagerly, her eyes lighting up_). I will tell you. A beautiful young man, with strong round arms, came over the desert with many horsemen, and slew my sister's husband and gave my father back his throne. (_Wistfully_) I was only twelve then. Oh, I wish he would come again, now that I am a Queen. I would make him my husband. CAESAR. It might be managed, perhaps; for it was I who sent that beautiful young man to help your father. CLEOPATRA (_enraptured_). You know him! CAESAR (_nodding_). I do.