Might I see them? Oh! do not be afraid, I
shall not rob those whose food I have eaten, it is against the custom of
the desert."
"Certainly," answered Tua. "I never thought that you would rob us, for
if you were of the tribe of thieves, surely you would be richer, and
less hungry than you seem. I only thought that you were almost blind,
Father Kepher, and therefore could not know the difference between a
pearl and a pebble."
"My feeling still remains to me, Daughter Neferte," he answered with a
little smile.
Then Tua gave him the basket. He opened it and drew out the strings of
pearls, feeling them, smelling and peering at them, touching them with
his tongue, especially the large single ones which were wrapped up by
themselves. At length, having handled them all, he restored them to the
basket, saying drily:
"It is strange, indeed, Nurse Asti, that those Syrian man-stealers
attempted no pursuit of you, for here, whether they were theirs or not,
are enough gems to buy a kingdom."
"We cannot eat pearls," answered Asti.
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