FTATATEETA. The Queen's word is my will. I shall be at hand for the Queen's call. (_She goes out past Ra, as she came._) RUFIO (_following her_). Remember, Caesar, _your_ bodyguard also is within call. (_He follows her out._) _Cleopatra, presuming upon Caesar's submission to Rufio, leaves the table and sits down on the bench in the colonnade._ CLEOPATRA. Why do you allow Rufio to treat you so? You should teach him his place. CAESAR. Teach him to be my enemy, and to hide his thoughts from me as you are now hiding yours. CLEOPATRA (_her fears returning_). Why do you say that, Caesar? Indeed, indeed, I am not hiding anything. You are wrong to treat me like this. (_She stifles a sob._) I am only a child; and you turn into stone because you think some one has been killed. I cannot bear it. (_She purposely breaks down and weeps. He looks at her with profound sadness and complete coldness. She looks up to see what effect she is producing. Seeing that he is unmoved, she sits up, pretending to struggle with her emotion and to put it bravely away._) But there: I know you hate tears: you shall not be troubled with them. I know you are not angry, but only sad; only I am so silly, I cannot help being hurt when you speak coldly. Of course you are quite right: it is dreadful to think of anyone being killed or even hurt; and I hope nothing really serious has-- (_Her voice dies away under his contemptuous penetration._) CAESAR. What has frightened you into this? What have you done? (_A trumpet sounds on the beach below._) Aha! That sounds like the answer. CLEOPATRA (_sinking back trembling on the bench and covering her face with her hands_). I have not betrayed you, Caesar: I swear it. CAESAR. I know that. I have not trusted you. (_He turns from her, and is about to go out when Apollodorus and Britannus drag in Lucius Septimius to him. Rufio follows. Caesar shudders._) Again, Pompey's murderer! RUFIO. The town has gone mad, I think. They are for tearing the palace down and driving us into the sea straight away. We laid hold of this renegade in clearing them out of the courtyard. CAESAR. Release him. (_They let go his arms._) What has offended the citizens, Lucius Septimius? LUCIUS. What did you expect, Caesar? Pothinus was a favorite of theirs. CAESAR. What has happened to Pothinus? I set him free, here, not half an hour ago. Did they not pass him out? LUCIUS. Ay, through the gallery arch sixty feet above ground, with three inches of steel in his ribs. He is as dead as Pompey. We are quits now, as to killing--you and I. CAESAR. (_shocked_). Assassinated!--our prisoner, our guest! (_He turns reproachfully on Rufio_) Rufio---- RUFIO (_emphatically--anticipating the question_). Whoever did it was a wise man and a friend of yours (_Cleopatra is qreatly emboldened_); but none of _us_ had a hand in it. So it is no use to frown at me. (_Caesar turns and looks at Cleopatra._)