you said looked like thieves."

"Yes, they talked," said Ivan, "but it did not seem to mean much. I
didn't get much from it anyway."

"Try to think what they said," said the boy. He passed a hand
carefully across the bright fairness of his hair where a dark red
streak stained it. "Can't you remember anything they said?"

Ivan stood thinking, the jeweled cane still tapping his boot. "Yes,"
he said, "when the men came up, they said, 'What have you?' The woman
laughed -- evilly, and said, 'All the wine we can drink, and all the
bread we can eat, and all the fire we burn for years and years.'"

"The man who had spoken said 'Jewels,' and rubbed his hands. 'That is
indeed good! Jewels fit for a king!"

"The woman said, "Jewels now, thou fool! Where can one sell jewels
these days when one cannot cross the border, and when the world
cracks? No one wants jewels!"

"'Then what?' said the man.

"'Oh, stupid!' said the woman. 'Pick up my sacks carefully and be
off."

"Then the other man who had already picked up the larger sack,
laughed. 'Better than rubies," he said. 'You are always wise, my
woman!"