[Conciliatingly, coming down the steps] Now, now, my dear. Really, you must—
LUCIA
Don't touch me, Beelzebub!
HELIOGABALUS
Oh, I say, darling! [He is patently nonplussed. He turns 'round to his guests] Gentlemen—[A deprecating, apologetic gesture] You will pardon me. My stomach, unluckily—
[He comes down to the corridor floor, and the two centurions swiftly and discreetly draw the hangings. In doing so they accidentally uncover a corner of SIMON, but it is only for an instant, and they don't notice it. Neither does RUFINIUS, who has retired to the right. DACIA has come out with HELIOGABALUS, but she slips quietly to the left and stands against the wall, silent during the ensuing scene]
LUCIA
[Oratorically] For less than this the flames consumed Sodom and Gomorrah! That woman was naked!
HELIOGABALUS
[Weakly] But she was a coloured woman, my dear. Didn't you notice?