laravel htaccess allow directory – CPanel

I have a password protected directory at example.com/staging.

If I enter example.com/js I get a folder listing.

But if I enter example.com/staging, I get a 404 error page generated by the Laravel site at example.com (not example.com/staging), rather than a password box. Why is this?

Here is my .htaccess file in the public_html folder (the home directory) at example.com:

AddType application/x-httpd-php70 .php
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
  <IfModule mod_negotiation.c>
      Options -MultiViews
  </IfModule>

  RewriteEngine On

  RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www.(.*)$ [NC]
  RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%1%{REQUEST_URI} [R=301,QSA,NC,L]

  RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
  RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]

  # Redirect Trailing Slashes If Not A Folder...
  RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
  RewriteRule ^(.*)/$ /$1 [L,R=301]

  # Handle Front Controller...
  RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
  RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
  RewriteRule ^ index.php [L]

  # Handle Authorization Header
  RewriteCond %{HTTP:Authorization} .
  RewriteRule .* - [E=HTTP_AUTHORIZATION:%{HTTP:Authorization}]

</IfModule>

And my .htaccess file at example.com/staging:

AuthType Basic
AuthName "Staging"
AuthUserFile "/home/example/.htpasswds/public_html/staging/passwd"
require valid-user