y exploding with all the force and emphasis of
political passion). The King will not suffer a foreigner to take from
him the throne of our Egypt. (A shout of applause.) Tell the King,
Achillas, how many soldiers and horsemen follow the Roman?

THEODOTUS. Let the King's general speak!

ACHILLAS. But two Roman legions, O King. Three thousand soldiers and
scarce a thousand horsemen.

The court breaks into derisive laughter; and a great chattering begins,
amid which Rufio, a Roman officer, appears in the loggia. He is a burly,
black-bearded man of middle age, very blunt, prompt and rough, with
small clear eyes, and plump nose and cheeks, which, however, like the
rest of his flesh, are in ironhard condition.

RUFIO (from the steps). Peace, ho! (The laughter and chatter cease
abruptly.) Caesar approaches.

THEODOTUS (with much presence of mind). The King permits the Roman
commander to enter!

Caesar, plainly dressed, but, wearing an oak wreath to conceal his
baldness, enters from, the loggia, attended by Britannus, his secretary,
a Briton, about forty, tall, solemn, and already slightly bald, with a
heavy, drooping, hazel-colored moustache trained so as to lose its
ends in a pair of trim whiskers. He is carefully dressed in blue, with
portfolio, inkhorn, and reed pen at his girdle. His serious air and
sense of the importance of the business in hand is in marked contrast to
the kindly interest of Caesar, who looks at the scene, which is new to
him, with the frank curiosity of a child, and then turns to the King's
chair: Britannus and Rufio posting themselves near the steps at the
other side.

CAESAR (looking at Pothinus and Ptolemy). Which is the King? The man or
the boy?

POTHINUS. I am Pothinus, the guardian of my lord the King.

Caesar (patting Ptolemy kindly on the shoulder). So you are the King.
Dull work at your age, eh? (To Pothinus) your servant, Pothinus. (He
turns away unconcernedly and comes slowly along the middle of the hall,
looking from side to side at the courtiers until he reaches Achillas.)
And this gentleman?

THEODOTUS. Achillas, the King's general.

CAESAR (to Achillas, very friendly). A general, eh? I am a general
myself. But I began too old, too old. Health and many victories,
Achillas!

ACHILLAS. As the gods will, Caesar.

CAESAR (turning to Theodotus). And you, sir, are--?

THEODOTUS. Theodotus, the King's tutor.

CAESAR. You teach men how to be kings, Theodotus. That is very clever