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.
POTHINUS. I will deal plainly. I know not by what strange gods you have been enabled to defend a palace and a few yards of beach against a city and an army. Since we cut you off from Lake Mareotis, and you dug wells in the salt sea sand and brought up buckets of fresh water from them, we have known that your gods are irresistible, and that you are a worker of miracles. I no longer threaten you----
RUFIO (_sarcastically_). Very handsome of you, indeed.
POTHINUS. So be it: you are the master. Our gods sent the north west winds to keep you in our hands; but you have been too strong for them.
CAESAR (_gently urging him to come to the point_). Yes, yes, my friend. But what then?
RUFIO. Spit it out, man. What have you to say?
POTHINUS. I have to say that you have a traitress in your camp. Cleopatra----
THE MAJOR-DOMO (_at the table, announcing_). The Queen! (_Caesar and Rufio rise._)
RUFIO (_aside to Pothinus_). You should have spat it out sooner, you fool. Now it is too late.
_Cleopatra, in gorgeous raiment, enters in state through the gap in the colonnade, and comes down past the image of Ra and past the table to Caesar. Her retinue, headed by Ftatateeta, joins the staff at the table. Caesar gives Cleopatra his seat, which she takes._
CLEOPATRA (_quickly, seeing Pothinus_). What is _he_ doing here?
CAESAR (_seating himself beside her, in the most amiable of tempers_). Just going to tell me something about you. You shall hear it. Proceed, Pothinus.
POTHINUS (_disconcerted_). Caesar-- (_He stammers._)
POTHINUS. What I have to say is for your ear, not for the Queen's.