opatra.)

CAESAR (stumbling over the name). Ftatafeeta will forgive the erring
tongue of a Roman. Tota: the Queen will hold her state here in
Alexandria. Engage women to attend upon her; and do all that is needful.

FTATATEETA. Am I then the mistress of the Queen's household?

CLEOPATRA (sharply). No: I am the mistress of the Queen's household.
Go and do as you are told, or I will have you thrown into the Nile this
very afternoon, to poison the poor crocodiles.

CAESAR (shocked). Oh no, no.

CLEOPATRA. Oh yes, yes. You are very sentimental, Caesar; but you are
clever; and if you do as I tell you, you will soon learn to govern.

Caesar, quite dumbfounded by this impertinence, turns in his chair and
stares at her.

Ftatateeta, smiling grimly, and showing a splendid set of teeth, goes,
leaving them alone together.

CAESAR. Cleopatra: I really think I must eat you, after all.

CLEOPATRA (kneeling beside him and looking at him with eager interest,
half real, half affected to show how intelligent she is). You must not
talk to me now as if I were a child.

CAESAR. You have been growing up since the Sphinx introduced us the
other night; and you think you know more than I do already.

CLFOPATRA (taken down, and anxious to justify herself). No: that would
be very silly of me: of course I know that. But, (suddenly) are you
angry with me?

CAESAR. No.

CLEOPATRA (only half believing him). Then why are you so thoughtful?

CAESAR (rising). I have work to do, Cleopatra.

CLEOPATRA (drawing back). Work! (Offended) You are tired of talking to
me; and that is your excuse to get away from me.

CAESAR (sitting down again to appease her). Well, well: another minute.
But then--work!

CLFOPATRA. Work! What nonsense! You must remember that you are a King
now: I have made you one. Kings don't work.

CAESAR. Oh! Who told you that, little kitten? Eh?

CLEOPATRA. My father was King of Egypt; and he never worked. But he was
a great King, and cut off my sister's head because she rebelled against
him and took the throne from him.

CAESAR. Well; and how did he get his throne back again?

CLEOPATRA (eagerly, her eyes lighting up). I will tell you. A beautiful
young man, with strong round arms, came over the desert with many
horsemen, and slew my sister's husband and gave my father back his
throne. (Wistfully) I was only twelve then. Oh, I wish he would come
again, now that I am a Queen. I would make him my husband.

CAESAR