APOLLODORUS. Faith, dearest Queen, my appetite is gone. CAESAR. Go down to the courtyard, Apollodorus; and find out what has happened. _Apollodorus nods and goes out, making for the staircase by which Rufio ascended._ CLEOPATRA. Your soldiers have killed somebody, perhaps. What does it matter? _The murmur of a crowd rises from the beach below. Caesar and Rufio look at one another._ CAESAR. This must be seen to. (_He is about to follow Apollodorus when Rufio stops him with a hand on his arm as Ftatateeta comes back by the far end of the roof, with dragging steps, a drowsy satiety in her eyes and in the corners of the bloodhound lips. For a moment Caesar suspects that she is drunk with wine. Not so Rufio: he knows well the red vintage that has inebriated her._) RUFIO (_in a low tone_). There is some mischief between those two. FTATATEETA. The Queen looks again on the face of her servant. _Cleopatra looks at her for a moment with an exultant reflection of her murderous expression. Then she flings her arms round her; kisses her repeatedly and savagely; and tears off her jewels and heaps them on her. The two men turn from the spectacle to look at one another. Ftatateeta drags herself sleepily to the altar; kneels before Ra; and remains there in prayer. Caesar goes to Cleopatra, leaving Rufio in the colonnade._ CAESAR (_with searching earnestness_). Cleopatra: what has happened? CLEOPATRA (_in mortal dread of him, but with her utmost cajolery_). Nothing, dearest Caesar. (_With sickly sweetness, her voice almost failing_) Nothing. I am innocent. (_She approaches him affectionately_) Dear Caesar: are you angry with me? Why do you look at me so? I have been here with you all the time. How can I know what has happened? CAESAR (_reflectively_). That is true. CLEOPATRA (_greatly relieved, trying to caress him_). Of course it is true. (_He does not respond to the caress._) _You_ know it is true, Rufio. _The murmur without suddenly swells to a roar and subsides._ RUFIO. I shall know presently. (_He makes for the altar in the burly trot that serves him for a stride, and touches Ftatateeta on the shoulder._) Now, mistress: I shall want you. (_He orders her, with a gesture, to go before him._) FTATATEETA (_rising and glowering at him_). My place is with the Queen. CLEOPATRA. She has done no harm, Rufio. CAESAR (_to Rufio_). Let her stay. RUFIO (_sitting down on the altar_). Very well. Then my place is here too; and you can see what is the matter for yourself. The city is in a pretty uproar, it seems. CAESAR (_with grave displeasure_). Rufio: there is a time for obedience. RUFIO. And there is a time for obstinacy. (_He folds his arms doggedly._) CAESAR (_to Cleopatra_). Send her away. CLEOPATRA (_whining in her eagerness to propitiate him_). Yes, I will. I will do whatever you ask me, Caesar, always, because I love you. Ftatateeta: go away.