the garden of allah-第44章

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The　Diviner　was　beginning　to　move　his　hands　again；　to　make　fresh
patterns　in　the　sand；　to　speak　swiftly　once　more。

〃Shall　I　stop　him？〃

〃Please。〃

〃Then　would　you　mind　going　out　into　the　garden？　I　will　join　you　in　a
moment。　Take　care　not　to　disturb　him。〃

She　got　up　with　precaution；　held　her　skirts　together　with　her　hands；
and　slipped　softly　out　on　to　the　garden　path。　For　a　moment　she　was
inclined　to　wait　there；　to　look　back　and　see　what　was　happening　in　the
/fumoir/。　But　she　resisted　her　inclination；　and　walked　on　slowly　till
she　reached　the　bench　where　she　had　sat　an　hour　before　with　Androvsky。
There　she　sat　down　and　waited。　In　a　few　minutes　she　saw　the　Count
coming　towards　her　alone。　His　face　was　very　grave；　but　lightened　with
a　slight　smile　when　he　saw　her。

〃He　has　gone？〃　she　asked。

〃Yes。〃

He　was　about　to　sit　beside　her；　but　she　said　quickly：

〃Would　you　mind　going　back　to　the　jamelon　tree？〃

〃Where　we　sat　this　morning？〃

〃Was　it　onlyyes。〃

〃Certainly。〃

〃Oh；　but　you　are　going　away　to…morrow！　You　have　a　lot　to　do　probably？〃

〃Nothing。　My　men　will　arrange　everything。〃

She　got　up；　and　they　walked　in　silence　till　they　saw　once　more　the
immense　spaces　of　the　desert　bathed　in　the　afternoon　sun。　As　Domini
looked　at　them　again　she　knew　that　their　wonder；　their　meaning；　had
increased　for　her。　The　steady　crescendo　that　was　beginning　almost　to
frighten　her　was　maintainedthe　crescendo　of　the　voice　of　the　Sahara。
To　what　tremendous　demonstration　was　this　crescendo　tending；　to　what
ultimate　glory　or　terror？　She　felt　that　her　soul　was　as　yet　too
undeveloped　to　conceive。　The　Diviner　had　been　right。　There　was　a　veil
around　it；　like　the　veil　of　the　womb　that　hides　the　unborn　child。

Under　the　jamelon　tree　she　sat　down　once　more。

〃MayI　light　a　cigar？〃　the　Count　asked。

〃Do。〃

He　struck　a　match；　lit　a　cigar；　and　sat　down　on　her　left；　by　the
garden　wall。

〃Tell　me　frankly；〃　he　said。　〃Do　you　wish　to　talk　or　to　be　silent？〃

〃I　wish　to　speak　to　you。〃

〃I　am　sorry　now　I　asked　you　to　test　Aloui's　powers。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Because　I　fear　they　made　an　unpleasant　impression　upon　you。〃

〃That　was　not　why　I　made　you　stop　him。〃

〃No？〃

〃You　don't　understand　me。　I　was　not　afraid。　I　can　only　say　that；　but　I
can't　give　you　my　reason　for　stopping　him。　I　wished　to　tell　you　that
it　was　not　fear。〃

〃I　believeI　know　that　you　are　fearless；〃　he　said　with　an　unusual
warmth。　〃You　are　sure　that　I　don't　understand　you？〃

〃Remember　the　refrain　of　the　Freed　Negroes'　song！〃

〃Ah；　yesthose　black　fellows。　But　I　know　something　of　you；　Miss
Enfildenyes；　I　do。〃

〃I　would　rather　you　didyou　and　your　garden。〃

〃Andsome　dayI　should　like　you　to　know　a　little　more　of　me。〃

〃Thank　you。　When　will　you　come　back？〃

〃I　can't　tell。　But　you　are　not　leaving？〃

〃Not　yet。〃

The　idea　of　leaving　Beni…Mora　troubled　her　heart　strangely。

〃No；　I　am　too　happy　here。〃

〃Are　you　really　happy？〃

〃At　any　rate　I　am　happier　than　I　have　ever　been　before。〃

〃You　are　on　the　verge。〃

He　was　looking　at　her　with　eyes　in　which　there　was　tenderness；　but
suddenly　they　flashed　fire；　and　he　exclaimed：

〃My　desert　land　must　not　bring　you　despair。〃

She　was　startled　by　his　sudden　vehemence。

〃What　I　would　not　hear！〃　she　said。　〃You　know　it！〃

〃It　is　not　my　fault。　I　am　ready　to　tell　it　to　you。〃

〃No。　But　do　you　believe　it？　Do　you　believe　that　man　can　read　the
future　in　the　sand？　How　can　it　be？〃

〃How　can　a　thousand　things　be？　How　can　these　desert　men　stand　in　fire；
with　their　naked　feet　set　on　burning　brands；　with　burning　brands　under
their　armpits；　and　not　be　burned？　How　can　they　pierce　themselves　with
skewers　and　cut　themselves　with　knives　and　no　blood　flow？　But　I　told
you　the　first　day　I　met　you；　the　desert　always　makes　me　the　same　gift
when　I　return　to　it。〃

〃What　gift？〃

〃The　gift　of　belief。〃

〃Then　you　do　believe　in　that　manAloui？〃

〃Do　you？〃

〃I　can　only　say　that　it　seemed　to　me　as　if　it　might　be　divination。　If
I　had　not　felt　that　I　should　not　have　stopped　it。　I　should　have
treated　it　as　a　game。〃

〃It　impressed　you　as　it　impresses　me。　Well；　for　both　of　us　the　desert
has　gifts。　Let　us　accept　them　fearlessly。　It　is　the　will　of　Allah。〃

She　remembered　her　vision　of　the　pale　procession。　Would　she　walk　in　it
at　last？

〃You　are　as　fatalistic　as　an　Arab；〃　she　said。

〃And　you？〃

〃I！〃　she　answered　simply。　〃I　believe　that　I　am　in　the　hands　of　God；
and　I　know　that　perfect　love　can　never　harm　me。〃

After　a　moment　he　said；　gently：

〃Miss　Enfilden；　I　want　to　ask　something　of　you。〃

〃Yes？〃

〃Will　you　make　a　sacrifice？　To…morrow　I　start　at　dawn。　Will　you　be
here　to　wish　me　God　speed　on　my　journey？〃

〃Of　course　I　will。〃

〃It　will　be　good　of　you。　I　shall　value　it　from　you。　Andand　whenif
you　ever　make　your　long　journey　on　that　roadthe　route　to　the　south
I　will　wish　you　Allah's　blessing　in　the　Garden　of　Allah。〃

He　spoke　with　solemnity；　almost　with　passion；　and　she　felt　the　tears
very　near　her　eyes。　Then　they　sat　in　silence；　looking　out　over　the
desert。

And　she　heard　its　voices　calling。



CHAPTER　XIII

On　the　following　morning；　before　dawn；　Domini　awoke；　stirred　from
sleep　by　her　anxiety；　persistent　even　in　what　seemed　unconsciousness；
to　speed　Count　Anteoni　upon　his　desert　journey。　She　did　not　know　why
he　was　going；　but　she　felt　that　some　great　issue　in　his　life　hung　upon
the　accomplishment　of　the　purpose　with　which　he　set　out；　and　without
affectation　she　ardently　desired　that　accomplishment。　As　soon　as　she
awoke　she　lit　a　candle　and　glanced　at　her　watch。　She　knew　by　the　hour
that　the　dawn　was　near；　and　she　got　up　at　once　and　made　her　toilet。
She　had　told　Batouch　to　be　at　the　hotel　door　before　sunrise　to
accompany　her　to　the　garden；　and　she　wondered　if　he　were　below。　A
stillness　as　of　deep　night　prevailed　in　the　house；　making　her
movements；　while　she　dressed；　seem　unnaturally　loud。　When　she　put　on
her　hat；　and　looked　into　the　glass　to　see　if　it　were　just　at　the　right
angle；　she　thought　her　face；　always　white；　was　haggard。　This　departure
made　her　a　little　sad。　It　suggested　to　her　the　instability　of
circumstance；　the　perpetual　change　that　occurs　in　life。　The　going　of
her　kind　host　made　her　own　going　more　possible　than　before；　even　more
likely。　Some　words　from　the　Bible　kept　on　running　through　her　brain
〃Here　have　we　no　continuing　city。〃　In　the　silent　darkness　their
cadence　held　an　ineffable　melancholy。　Her　mind　heard　them　as　the　ear；
in　a　pathetic　moment；　hears　sometimes　a　distant　strain　of　music
wailing　like　a　phantom　through　the　invisible。　And　the　everlasting
journeying　of　all　created　things　oppressed　her　heart。

When　she　had　buttoned　her　jacket　and　drawn　on　her　gloves　she　went　to
the　French　window　and　pushed　back　the　shutters。　A　wan　semi…darkness
looked　in　upon　her。　Again　she　wondered　whether　Batouch　had　come。　It
seemed　to　her　unlikely。　She　could　not　imagine　that　anyone　in　all　the
world　was　up　and　purposeful　but　herself。　This　hour　seemed　created　as　a
curtain　for　unconsciousness。　Very　softly　she　stepped　out　upon　the
verandah　and　looked　over　the　parapet。　She　could　see　the　white　road；
mysteriously　white；　below。　It　was　deserted。　She　leaned　down。

〃Batouch！〃　she　called　softly。　〃Batouch！〃

He　might　be　hidden　under　the　arcade；　sleeping　in　his　burnous。

〃Batouch！　Batouch！〃

No　answer　came。　She　stood　by　the　parapet；　waiting　and　looking　down　the
road。

All　the　stars　had　faded；　yet　there　was　no　suggestion　of　the　sun。　She
faced　an　unrelenting　austerity。　For　a　moment　she　thought　of　this
atmosphere；　this　dense　stillness；　this　gravity　of　vague　and　shadowy
trees；　as　the　environment　of　those　who　had　erred；　of　the　lost　spirits
of　men　who　had　died　in　mortal　sin。

Almost　she　expected　to　see　the　desperate　shade　of　her　dead　father　pass
between　the　black　stems　of　the　palm　trees；　vanish　into　the　grey　mantle
that　wrapped　the　hidden　world。

〃Batouch！　Batouch！〃

He　was　not　there。　That　was　certain。　She　resolved　to　set　out　alone　and
went　back　into　her　bedroom　to　get　her　revolver。　When　she　came　out
again　with　it　in　her　hand　Androvsky　was　standing　on　the　verandah　just
outside　her　window。　He　took　off　his　hat　and　looked　from　her　face　to
the　revolver。　She　was　startled　by　his　appearance；　for　she　had　not
heard　his　step；　and　had　been　companioned　by　a　sense　of　irreparable
solitude。　This　was　the　first　time　she　had　seen　him　since　he　vanished
from　the　garden　on　the　previous　day。

〃You　are　going　out；　Madame？〃　he　said。

〃Yes。〃

〃Not　alone？〃

〃I　believe　so。　Unless　I　find　Batouch　below。〃

She　slipped　the　revolver　into　the　pocket　of　the　loose　coat　she　wore。

〃But　it　is　dark。〃

〃It　will　be　day　very　soon。　Look！〃

She　pointed　towards　the　east；　where　a　light；　delicate　and　mysterious
as　the　distant　lights　in　the　opal；　was　gently　pushing　in　the　sky。

〃You　ought　not　to　go　alone。〃

〃Unless　Batouch　is　there　I　must。　I　have　given　a　promise　and　I　must
keep　it。　There　is　no　danger。〃

He　hesitated；　looking　at　her　with　an　anxious；　almost　a　suspicious；
expression。

〃Good…bye；　Monsieur　Androvsky。〃

She　went　towards　the　staircase。　He　followed　her　quickly　to　the　head　of
it。

〃Don't　trouble　to　come　down　with　me。〃

〃Ifif　Batouch　is　not　theremight　not　I　guard　you；　Madame？〃　She
remembered　the　Count's　words　and　answered：

〃Let　me　tell　you　where　I　am　going。　I　am　going　to　say　good…bye　to　Count
Anteoni　before　he　starts　for　his　desert　journey。〃

Androvsky　stood　there　without　a　word。

〃Now；　do　you　care　to　come　if　I　don't　find　Batouch？　Mind；　I'm　not　the
least　afraid。〃

〃Perhaps　he　is　thereif　you　told　him。〃　He　muttered　the　words。　His
whole　manner　had　changed。　Now　he　looked　more　than　suspiciouscloudy
and　fierce。

〃Possibly。〃

She　began　to　descend　the　stairs。　He　did　not　follow　her；　but　stood
looking　after　her。　When　she　reached　the　arcade　it　was　deserted。
Batouch　had　forgotten　or　had　overslept　himself。　She　could　have　walked
on　under　the　roof　that　was　the　floor　of　the　verandah；　but　instead　she
stepped　out　into　the　road。　Androvsky　was　above　her　by　the　parapet。　She
glanced　up　and　said：

〃He　is　not　here；　but　it　is　of　no　consequence。　Dawn　is　breaking。　/Au
revoir/！〃

Slowly　he　took　off　his　hat。　As　she　went　away　down　the　road　he　was
holding　it　in　his　hand；　looking　after　her。

〃He　does　not　like　the　Count；〃　she　thought。

At　the　corner　she　turned　into　the　street　where　the　sand…diviner　had
his　bazaar；　and　as　she　neared　his　door　she　was　aware　of　a　certain
trepidation。　She　did　not　want　to　see　those　piercing　eyes　looking　at
her　in　the　semi…darkness；　and　she　hurried　her　steps。　But　her　anxiety
was　needless。　All　the　doors　were　shut；　all　the　inhabitants　doubtless
wrapped　in　sleep。　Yet；　when　she　had　gained　the　end　of　the　street；　she
looked　back；　half　expecting　to　see　an　apparition　of　a　thin　figure；　a
tortured　face；　to　hear　a　voice；　like　a　goblin's　voice；　calling　after
her。　Midway　down　the　street　there　was　a　man　coming　slowly　behind　her。
For　a　moment　she　thought　it　was　the　Diviner　in　pursuit；　but　something
in　the　gait　soon　showed　her　her　mistake。　There　was　a　heaviness　in　the
movement　of　this　man　quite　unlike　the　lithe　and　serpentine　agility　of
Aloui。　Although　she　could　not　see　the　face；　or　even　distinguish　the
costume　in　the　morning　twilig