[Half out] You are having some one killed!
HELIOGABALUS
Bosh! Stay in bed! [To RUFINIUS] Get them back in the North Wing, and post a guard at—
[He is cut short by a terrific uproar outside. Women screaming. The sound of a bugle. The clank of swords. Loud and prolonged military orders. A man's voice: "Let go!" A woman's: "Stick him in the eye!"
[HELIOGABALUS and RUFINIUS turn toward the closed door and gape at it dumbfounded, apparently disinclined to open it and face the music. As they move toward it irresolutely, PAULA rolls from under the bed, leaps to her feet, dashes between them, blows a loud whistle, gets to the door, and throws it open]
PAULA
Come in, girls! I am with you!
[At this, LUCIA, still in bed, screams shrilly, and HELIOGABALUS and RUFINIUS fall back. As the door swings open CÆLESTIS bounds in with a Praetorian guard dragging behind her. At sight of the imperial bed-chamber, he is so far overcome that he lets go and rushes out again. In the doorway, he collides with AQUILIA SEVERA, ANNIA FAUSTINA and ALINIA, all in a great state of excitement. They knock him over, and leap into the room, glaring about them truculently]
PAULA
[Levelling a melodramatic forefinger at HELIOGABALUS] There he is! He was plotting to poison all of us!
[Obviously, PAULA strikes HELIOGABALUS with a good deal of terror. He backs away from her, and keeps a safe distance while she declaims. She takes the centre of the stage at once, the other wives grouped behind her. After her accusation there is a moment of electric silence. She fixes HELIOGABALUS with a glare]