When he had gone Asti opened the door in the screen and took the writing
which she found she could read well enough, for it was in the Egyptian
character and language.
It proved to be the title-deed of the house and garden conveyed to them
jointly, and also of the rich goods which the porters had brought. At
the foot of this document was written--
"Received by Kepher the Wanderer in payment of the above house and land
and goods, three pearls and one full meal of meat and dates."
Then followed the seal of Kepher in wax, a finely cut scarabaeus holding
the symbol of the sun between its two front feet.
"A proud seal for a tattered wanderer, though it is but his name writ in
wax," said Tua.
But Asti only answered:
"If small pearls have such value in this city, what price will the large
ones bring? Well, let us to our business, for we have time upon our
hands, and cannot live upon pearls and costly stuffs."
So it happened that Neter-Tua, Star of Amen, Queen of Egypt, and Asti
her Nurse, the Mistress of Magic, became merchants in the town of Tat.
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