sword,
designed as carefully as a medieval cross, has a blued blade showing
through an openwork scabbard of purple leather and filagree. The
porters, conducted by Ftatateeta, pass along the quay behind the
sentinel to the steps of the palace, where they put down their bales
and squat on the ground. Apollodorus does not pass along with them: he
halts, amused by the preoccupation of the sentinel.

APOLLODORUS (calling to the sentinel). Who goes there, eh?

SENTINEL (starting violently and turning with his pilum at the charge,
revealing himself as a small, wiry, sandy-haired, conscientious young
man with an elderly face). What's this? Stand. Who are you?

APOLLODORUS. I am Apollodorus the Sicilian. Why, man, what are you
dreaming of? Since I came through the lines beyond the theatre there, I
have brought my caravan past three sentinels, all so busy staring at the
lighthouse that not one of them challenged me. Is this Roman discipline?

SENTINEL. We are not here to watch the land but the water. Caesar has
just landed on the Pharos. (Looking at Ftatateeta) What have you here?
Who is this piece of Egyptian crockery?

FTATATEETA. Apollodorus: rebuke this Roman dog; and bid him bridle
his tongue in the presence of Ftatateeta, the mistress of the Queen's
household.

APOLLODORUS. My friend: this is a great lady, who stands high with
Caesar.

SENTINEL (not at all impressed, pointing to the carpets). And what is
all this truck?

APOLLODORUS. Carpets for the furnishing of the Queen's apartments in the
palace. I have picked them from the best carpets in the world; and the
Queen shall choose the best of my choosing.

SENTINEL. So you are the carpet merchant?

APOLLODORUS (hurt). My friend: I am a patrician.

SENTINEL. A patrician! A patrician keeping a shop instead of following
arms!

APOLLODORUS. I do not keep a shop. Mine is a temple of the arts. I am
a worshipper of beauty. My calling is to choose beautiful things for
beautiful Queens. My motto is Art for Art's sake.

SENTINEL. That is not the password.

APOLLODORUS. It is a universal password.

SENTINEL. I know nothing about universal passwords. Either give me the
password for the day or get back to your shop.

Ftatateeta, roused by his hostile tone, steals towards the edge of the
quay with the step of a panther, and gets behind him.

APOLLODORUS. How if I do neither?

SENTINEL. Then I will drive this pilum through you.

APOLLODORUS. At your service, my f