PISO
[Ingratiatingly] Your Majesty's excellent suggestion of an operation is—
HELIOGABALUS
[Turning with great deliberation, and kicking PISO in the rear] Out!
[PISO, after an instant of amazement, leaps for the door and disappears]
LUCIA
That Paula is an old hyena, Cæsar. She tried to bite me.
HELIOGABALUS
[He seats himself on the edge of the big bed, his legs swinging in the open space between the two beds. His manner is that of weariness and resignation] Yes, she's somewhat—explosive. I am afraid she's sometimes unwise in the use of—er, stimulants?
LUCIA