[Patting her shoulder] Forget them! I expunge them from the minutes! I'll get rid of them—all of them!
[At this, PAULA, who has been concealed under HELIOGABALUS' bed, suddenly pops out her head. HELIOGABALUS and LUCIA, of course, cannot see her. Her face mirrors the utmost indignation and she strains her head to hear better]
LUCIA
All of them? Even that fat old Paula?
HELIOGABALUS
Purge your mind of all concern, darling. I'll have Paula poisoned in the morning. She has lived too long.
LUCIA
[Horrified] Oh, never! I won't have her poisoned.
HELIOGABALUS
Well, then, I'll marry her off to old Caius Macrinus—and ship them both to Persia.