[To the clerk] How many terms has he served?
THE CLERK
Twenty-seven, your Majesty.
HELIOGABALUS
I begin to doubt the efficacy of the modern jail system. Let me think. [He meditates] The sheriff is ordered to take the prisoner to the place of execution—— [The prisoner yells, but is silenced by the guard, and HELIOGABALUS goes on]—— and there chop off the index finger of his right hand—with one clean blow of a well-honed sword—no amateurish butchering.
THE CLERK
Any further command?
HELIOGABALUS
On his recovery, he is to be given a place on the police force.