Pyrex was confused. Here the VII of them were (3 camels, 2 Japanese twins, one Mongol, one slave, and Heraklia). She'd managed to get the camels for a mere pittance and still had over 1200 yen and 25 bolts of silk...

"Domina, why do you want to STEAL the food?

Heraklia sniffed. "Why on earth should we pay good foreign currency for food when we can pull the wool - er, silk - over their eyes instead? Rome wasn't made in a day. We're talking AEONS of rape, plunder, misrepresentation, and breach of promise. . . we have a TRADITION to uphold here!

Turning on the Japanese twins, she ordered,

OK, make it snappy. I want entertainment, sweet music, a few razzmatazz songs-and-dance, anything to get the staff out here!

The Japanese twins looked at each other, blinked solemnly, and broke into a perfect chorus of . . .

Three little maids from school are we
Pert as a school-girl well can be
Filled to the brim with girlish glee
Three little maids from school

Everything is a source of fun
Nobody's safe, for we care for none
Life is a joke that's just begun
Three little maids from school

Three little maids who, all unwary
Come from a ladies' seminary
Freed from its genius tutelary
Three little maids from school
Three little maids from school....

Enthralled, the entire staff of the storehouse burst outside to listen in delight while Heraklia hitched up her tunica and crept in behind them....