did I show you the interesting beads I picked up in the tavern?

The Babylonian queen held out her hand, her eyes never straying from those of her husband, and felt a small leather pouch being placed in her palm.

"Look at these, my love!" She unknotted the leather cord and tugged the pouch open, spilling a series of interestingly coloured pierced beads into her hand, along with what appeared to be amulets of some sort.

Jojo took one and held it to the sun, squinting against the glare, but interested to see the effect of the light through the bead.

"Fascinating. Not particularly fine as far as jewelry goes, is it -- these people are savages after all -- but certainly a conversation piece."

"Indeed, my love... I agree completely," laughed Voluptua. "But, I am thinking that our jewelers can polish these into something quite special!"

"Well, I DO see that you've bought quite enough for them to experiment with," jojo laughed.

"But, of course, my darling!" said Voluptua, wide-eyed and innocent. "Whatever else is it good for to be rich, if not to spend?"