CAESAR. Our privacy invites eavesdropping. I can remedy that. (_He claps his hands twice. The curtains are drawn, revealing the roof garden with a banqueting table set across in the middle for four persons, one at each end, and two side by side. The side next Caesar and Rufio is blocked with golden wine vessels and basins. A gorgeous major-domo is superintending the laying of the table by a staff of slaves. The colonnade goes round the garden at both sides to the further end, where a gap in it, like a great gateway, leaves the view open to the sky beyond the western edge of the roof, except in the middle, where a life size image of Ra, seated on a huge plinth, towers up, with hawk head and crown of asp and disk. His altar, which stands at his feet, is a single white stone._) Now everybody can see us, nobody will think of listening to us. (_He sits down on the bench left by the two slaves._) RUFIO (_sitting down on his stool_). Pothinus wants to speak to you. I advise you to see him: there is some plotting going on here among the women. CAESAR. Who is Pothinus? RUFIO. The fellow with hair like squirrel's fur--the little King's bear leader, whom you kept prisoner. CAESAR (_annoyed_). And has he not escaped? RUFIO. No. CAESAR (_rising imperiously_). Why not? You have been guarding this man instead of watching the enemy. Have I not told you always to let prisoners escape unless there are special orders to the contrary? Are there not enough mouths to be fed without him? RUFIO. Yes; and if you would have a little sense and let me cut his throat, you would save his rations. Anyhow, he _won't_ escape. Three sentries have told him they would put a pilum through him if they saw him again. What more can they do? He prefers to stay and spy on us. So would I if I had to do with generals subject to fits of clemency. CAESAR (_resuming his seat, argued down_). Hm! And so he wants to see me. RUFIO. Ay. I have brought him with me. He is waiting there (_jerking his thumb over his shoulder_) under guard. CAESAR. And you want me to see him? RUFIO (_obstinately_). I don't want anything. I daresay you will do what you like. Don't put it on to me. CAESAR (_with an air of doing it expressly to indulge Rufio_). Well, well: let us have him. RUFIO (_calling_). Ho there, guard! Release your man and send him up. (_Beckoning_) Come along! _Pothinus enters and stops mistrustfully between the two, looking from one to the other._ CAESAR (_graciously_). Ah, Pothinus! You are welcome. And what is the news this afternoon? POTHINUS. Caesar: I come to warn you of a danger, and to make you an offer. CAESAR. Never mind the danger. Make the offer. RUFIO. Never mind the offer. What's the danger? POTHINUS. Caesar: you think that Cleopatra is devoted to you. CAESAR (_gravely_). My friend: I already know what I think. Come to your offer.