"A thousand sestertia! For one slave girl! Ye gods! a thousand
sestertia!"
"The necklace goes with her, that is worth something, and there is
property at Tyre."
"Property in Tyre," said the other, "property in the moon. Come on, let
us look at something a little less expensive. As I wish to keep my head
on my shoulders, I am not going to bid against the prince in any case."
"No, nor anyone else either. I expect he will get his fancy pretty cheap
after all."
Then the two men moved away, and a minute afterwards Nehushta found that
it was her turn to approach Miriam.
"Here comes a curious sort of buyer," said one of the attendants.
"Don't judge the taste of the fruit by the look of the rind, young man,"
answered Nehushta, and at the sound of that voice for the first time
Pearl-Maiden lifted her head, then dropped it quickly.
"She is well enough," Nehushta said aloud, "but there used to be
prettier women when I was young; in fact, though dark, I was myself," a
statement at which those within hearing, noting her gaunt and aged form
bent beneath the heavy basket, tittered aloud. "Come, lift up your
head, my dear," she went on, trying to entice the captive to consent by
encouraging waves of her hand.
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