public function connect(userName:String, host:String, port:uint = 9998, initialRoom:uint = 0):void {
            PalaceClient.loaderContext.checkPolicyFile = true;

            host = host.toLowerCase();
            var match:Array = host.match(/^palace:\/\/(.*)$/);
            if (match && match.length > 0) {
                host = match[1];
            }

            this.host = host;
            this.port = port;
            this.initialRoom = initialRoom;
            this.userName = userName;

            if (connected || (socket && socket.connected)) {
                disconnect();
            }
            else {
                resetState();
            }
            connecting = true;
            dispatchEvent(new PalaceEvent(PalaceEvent.CONNECT_START));

            socket = new Socket(this.host, this.port);
            socket.timeout = 5000;
            socket.addEventListener(ProgressEvent.SOCKET_DATA, onSocketData);
            socket.addEventListener(IOErrorEvent.IO_ERROR, onIOError);
            socket.addEventListener(SecurityErrorEvent.SECURITY_ERROR, onSecurityError);
            socket.addEventListener(Event.CONNECT, onConnect);
            socket.addEventListener(Event.CLOSE, onClose);
        }

        public function authenticate(username:String, password:String):void {
            if (socket && socket.connected) {
//              trace("Sending auth response");
                var userPass:ByteArray = PalaceEncryption.getInstance().encrypt(username + ":" + password);
                socket.writeInt(OutgoingMessageTypes.AUTHRESPONSE);
                socket.writeInt(userPass.length + 1);
                socket.writeInt(0);
                socket.writeByte(userPass.length);
                socket.writeBytes(userPass);
                socket.flush();
            }
        }