Pent-Ah took them with a low obeisance, and dropped them one by one into a pocket in a canvas belt which he wore under his ragged waistcoat.

Neb-Anat looked at them greedily as they disappeared.
"The Master's commands shall be obeyed, and the High Gods shall be faithfully served," said Pent-Ah, as he straightened himself up again.
"From door to door the Queen shall be watched, and, if it be permitted, Neb-Anat shall become her slave, and so the watch shall be made closer.
Is not that so, Neb-Anat ?" "The will of the Master is the law of his slave," she replied, sinking almost to her knees.
"It is enough," replied the Master, who was known to the few who knew him as Phadrig Amena, a Coptic dealer in ancient Egyptian relics and curios in a humble way of business.

"Serve faithfully, both of you, and your reward shall not be wanting.

Farewell, and the peace of the High Gods be on you." When they had gone he sat down to the old bureau, took out a sheaf of papers, some white and new, others yellow-grey with age, and yet others which were sheets of the ancient papyrus.

The writing on these was in the old Hermetic character; of the rest some were in cursive Greek and some in Coptic.