offering but no god will accept the blood of the messenger of
evil. When we have good tidings, we are careful to send them in
the mouth of the cheapest slave we can find. Evil tidings are
borne by young noblemen who desire to bring themselves into
notice. (They join the rest at the gate.)

THE SENTINEL. Pass, O young captain; and bow the head in the
House of the Queen.

VOICE. Go anoint thy javelin with fat of swine, O Blackamoor; for
before morning the Romans will make thee eat it to the very butt.

The owner of the voice, a fairhaired dandy, dressed in a
different fashion to that affected by the guardsmen, but no less
extravagantly, comes through the gateway laughing. He is somewhat
battlestained; and his left forearm, bandaged, comes through a
torn sleeve. In his right hand he carries a Roman sword in its
sheath. He swaggers down the courtyard, the Persian on his right,
Belzanor on his left, and the guardsmen crowding down behind him.

BELZANOR. Who art thou that laughest in the House of Cleopatra
the Queen, and in the teeth of Belzanor, the captain of her
guard?

THE NEW COMER. I am Bel Affris, descended from the gods.

BELZANOR (ceremoniously). Hail, cousin!

ALL (except the Persian). Hail, cousin!