 On the night of a sumptuous dinner party, Flavia tries to be a good guest by ordering Nubia to play her flute.The next day, she sees that Nubia has run away, after Pulchra beat her, stole her puppy, and broke her lotuswood flute.Flavia goes running to Felix to ask for his help, but Felix refuses, saying that, if Nubia were caught, the law would require her to be crucified as a runaway.