HELIOGABALUS
Very interesting. Has the dance any significance? Is it symbolical?
CAIUS
I should say it is. If you understand it, it brings tears to your eyes. Very affecting, indeed. I'll explain it. You observe that sort of flop-flop of the arms? Well, that signifies—[The music drowns him out. To the musicians, over his shoulder] Not so loud, professor. Where do you think you are?
[The music grows soft. The dancing girl now launches into a series of amazing wriggles, occasionally leaping into the air. CAIUS, very solemnly and unsteadily, explains as she goes on. HELIOGABALUS, while this is in progress, sips his wine, and gradually grows very mellow in humour. Now and then he laughs and claps his hands]
CAIUS
Her dark complexion, gentlemen, signifies death. Wash them, and they are almost white. People think Egyptians are niggers—all a mistake. I knew a girl in Memphis—her name was Saidee—almost as white as anybody. [The girl begins to shed veils] There it is, plain enough. The man is dying. Casting off this mortal coil. Dying by inches. First his feet, then his arms, then his stomach, then his lungs, then his—and so on. [The girl squats, and wriggles about] Death struggles. Poor fellow doesn't want to go. Thinks he is too young. [She leaps into the air] Last gasp. You can almost hear it. [She begins to whirl] Getting dizzy. Scared. Sends for the priest. [The music slackens a bit] Prayers. [Louder and faster again] Too late. It's all up. [A wild leaping about] Throw out the reverend and send for the embalmers. [She leaps into the fountain] The soul takes flight. [She is now almost naked. The water plays upon her] Nothing left but the body. Hardly a stitch on. Have to strip 'em, of course, to pickle 'em. Very interesting process. They keep for ever. [The girl now launches into her final cavortings] This shows the soul in the Egyptian heaven. Very subtle symbolism. Every wriggle means something. I remember—
[During this last speech, LUCIA has quietly slipped into the fore-scene, from the door to the right. RUFINIUS, of course, observes her at once, and is visibly startled and alarmed. But those in the banquet hall, at first, do not see her. HELIOGABALUS and DACIA are watching the dancer, and chuckling over CAIUS' exposition. The guests, with veil after veil coming off, see nothing else. It is CAIUS whose eyes first take her in. He halts, glances swiftly at HELIOGABALUS, and then at LUCIA again. But before his eyes are followed by HELIOGABALUS, LUCIA has spoken]
LUCIA