“You come silently, Friend,” said Asti, looking at him with a curious eye.  “A Double could not move with less noise, and—­where is your shadow?” she added, staring first at the sun without, and then at the floor upon which he stood.

“I forgot it,” he answered in his deep voice.  “One so poor as I am cannot always afford a shadow.  But look, there it is now.  And for the rest, what do you know of Doubles which those who are uninstructed cannot discern?  Now I have heard of a Lady in Egypt who by some chance bore your name, and who has the power, not only to see the Double, but to draw it forth from the body of the living, and furnish it with every semblance of mortal life.  Also I have heard that she who reigns in Egypt to-day has such a Ka or Double that can take her place, and none know the difference, save that this Ka, which Amen gave her at her birth, works the vengeance of the gods without pity or remorse.  Tell me, Friend Asti, when you were a slave-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.”