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.
"No, but pearls will buy more than you need to eat." "Not in a desert," said Asti.
"True, but as it chances there is a city in this desert, and not so very far away." "Is it named Napata ?" asked Tua eagerly.
"Napata?
No, indeed.

Yet, I have heard of such a place, the City of Gold they called it.

In fact, once I visited it in my youth, over a hundred years ago." "A hundred years ago! Do you remember the way thither ?" "Yes, more or less, but on foot it is over a year's journey away, and the path thither lies across great deserts and through tribes of savage men.

Few live to reach that city." "Yet I will reach it, or die, Father." "Perhaps you will, Daughter Neferte, perhaps you will, but I think not at present.