he chain and its load begin to
descend.)

APOLLODORUS (calling up). Gently--slowly--mind the eggs.

RUFIO (calling up). Easy there--slowly--slowly.

Apollodorus and the bale are deposited safely on the flags in the middle
of the platform. Rufio and Caesar help Apollodorus to cast off the chain
from the bale.

RUFIO. Haul up.

The chain rises clear of their heads with a rattle. Britannus comes from
the lighthouse and helps them to uncord the carpet.

APOLLODORUS (when the cords are loose). Stand off, my friends: let
Caesar see. (He throws the carpet open.)

RUFIO. Nothing but a heap of shawls. Where are the pigeons' eggs?

APOLLODORUS. Approach, Caesar; and search for them among the shawls.

RUFIO (drawing his sword). Ha, treachery! Keep back, Caesar: I saw the
shawl move: there is something alive there.

BRITANNUS (drawing his sword). It is a serpent.

APOLLODORUS. Dares Caesar thrust his hand into the sack where the
serpent moves?

RUFIO (turning on him). Treacherous dog--

CAESAR. Peace. Put up your swords. Apollodorus: your serpent seems to
breathe very regularly. (He thrusts his hand under the shawls and draws
out a bare arm.) This is a pretty little snake.

RUFIO (drawing out the other arm). Let us have the rest of you.

They pull Cleopatra up by the wrists into a sitting position. Britannus,
scandalized, sheathes his sword with a drive of protest.

CLEOPATRA (gasping). Oh, I'm smothered. Oh, Caesar; a man stood on me in
the boat; and a great sack of something fell upon me out of the sky;
and then the boat sank, and then I was swung up into the air and bumped
down.

CAESAR (petting her as she rises and takes refuge on his breast). Well,
never mind: here you are safe and sound at last.

RUFIO. Ay; and now that she is here, what are we to do with her?

BRITANNUS. She cannot stay here, Caesar, without the companionship of
some matron.

CLEOPATRA (jealously, to Caesar, who is obviously perplexed). Aren't you
glad to see me?

CAESAR. Yes, yes; I am very glad. But Rufio is very angry; and Britannus
is shocked.

CLEOPATRA (contemptuously). You can have their heads cut off, can you
not?

CAESAR. They would not be so useful with their heads cut off as they are
now, my sea bird.

RUFIO (to Cleopatra). We shall have to go away presently and cut some
of your Egyptians' heads off. How will you like being left here with
the chance of being captured by that little brother of yours if we are
beaten