woman in Egypt did you ever hear talk of
such things as these?"

Now he looked at Asti, and Asti looked at him, till at length he moved
his old hands in a certain fashion, whereon she bowed her head and was
silent.

But Tua, who was terrified at this talk, for she knew not what would
befall them if the truth were guessed, broke in, saying:

"Welcome, Father, however it may please you to come, and with or without
a shadow. Surely we have much to thank you for who have found us this
fine house and servants and food--by the way, will you not eat again?"

"Nay," he answered, smiling, "as you may have guessed yesterday, I touch
meat seldom; as a rule, once only in three days, and then take my fill.
Life is so short that I cannot waste time in eating."

"Oh!" said Tua, "if you feel thus whose youth began more than a hundred
years ago, how must it seem to the rest of us? But, Father Kepher, what
are we to do in this town Tat?"

"I have told you, Maiden. Asti here will deal in pearls and other goods,
and you will sing, but always behind the curtain, since here in Tat you
must suffer no man to see your beauty, and least of all him who rules
it. Now give me two more pearls, for I go out to buy for you other
things that are needful, and after that perhaps you will see me no
more for a long while. Yet if trouble should fall upon you, go to the
window-place wherever you may be, and strike upon that harp of yours,
and call thrice upon the name of Kepher. Doubtless there will be some
listening who will hear you and bring me the news in the Desert, where I
dwell who do not love towns, and then I may be able to help you."

"I thank you, my Father, and I will remember. But pardon me if I ask how
can one so----" and she paused.

"So old, so ragged and so miserable give help to man or woman--that is
what you would say, Daughter Neferte, is it not? Well, judge not from
the outward seeming; good wine is often found in jars of common clay,
and the fire hid in a rough flint can destroy a city."

"And therefore a wanderer who can swallow his own shadow can aid another
wanderer in distress," remarked Tua drily. "My Father, I understand,
who although I am still young, have seen many things and ere now been
dragged out of deep water by strange hands."

"Such as those of Phoenician pirates," suggested Kepher. "Well, good-bye.
I go to purchase what you need with the price of these pearls, and then
the Desert calls me for a while. Remember