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.
This was the manner of their trade.

For one hour in the morning, and one in the afternoon, Asti, heavily veiled, and a woman of the servants whom they had found in the house, would sit on stools amidst the goods and traffic with all comers, selling to those who would buy, and taking payment in gold dust or other articles of value, or buying from those who would sell.

Then when the hour drew towards its close Tua would sweep her harp behind the screen that hid her and begin to sing, whereon all would cease from their chaffering and listen, for never before had they heard so sweet a voice.

Indeed, at these times the broad street in front of their house was packed with people, for the fame of this singing of hers went through the city and far into the country that lay beyond.

Then the traffic came to an end, with her song, and leaving their goods in charge of the servants, Tua and Asti departed to the back rooms of the house, and ate their meals or wandered in the large, walled garden that lay behind.
Thus the weeks went on and soon, although they sold few of the pearls, and those the smallest, for of the larger gems they said little or nothing, they began to grow rich, and to hoard up such a weight of gold in dust and nuggets, and so many precious things, that they scarcely knew what they should do with them.