Maybe the wife Lucia let him in.
[Cries of "The Emperor!" just outside. With it an unexpected babble of women's voices. PISO and POLORUS, at this new sound, look at each other in sudden astonishment as RUFINIUS enters]
RUFINIUS
His Imperial Majesty!
[RUFINIUS is followed by two centurions. PISO drops to one knee and POLORUS follows suit. HELIOGABALUS stalks in with PAULA hanging to one arm and CÆLESTIS to the other. Behind the three, crowded closely, are ANNIA FAUSTINA, AQUILIA SEVERA, and three or four other wives. Last of all comes DACIA. HELIOGABALUS wears a magnificent toga of imperial purple, with gold borders very heavily embroidered, and a wreath of laurel. He moves to the centre of the stage without a word, and as if scarcely conscious of PAULA and CÆLESTIS. A murmur of confused speech among the other wives. Obviously, there has been an encounter outside. PISO and POLORUS get to their feet, and move off discreetly toward the right, pushing their wheeled table ahead of them. Presently they go out. RUFINIUS takes station at the side of the archway leading into the banquet hall, directly before the place where SIMON is concealed. The centurions go to the extreme right, and stand impassive. Throughout this scene, sounds of revelry come from the banquet hall]
HELIOGABALUS
[Suddenly shaking off PAULA and CÆLESTIS, and swinging 'round to face the other wives, his arms folded] The answer is Yes and No!
PAULA
[Melodramatically] What!
HELIOGABALUS