the garden of allah-第48章

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very　different　types。　One　was　unworldly　as　a　child。　The　other　knew　the
world。　Neither　of　them　had　any　acquaintance　with　Androvsky's　history；
and　both　had　warned　her。　It　was　instinct　then　that　had　spoken　in　them；
telling　them　that　he　was　a　man　to　be　shunned；　perhaps　feared。　And　her
own　instinct？　What　had　it　said？　What　did　it　say？

For　a　long　time　she　remained　in　the　church。　But　she　could　not　think
clearly；　reason　calmly；　or　even　pray　passionately。　For　a　vagueness　had
come　into　her　mind　like　the　vagueness　of　twilight　that　filled　the
space　beneath　the　starry　roof；　softening　the　crudeness　of　the
ornaments；　the　garish　colours　of　the　plaster　saints。　It　seemed　to　her
that　her　thoughts　and　feelings　lost　their　outlines；　that　she　watched
them　fading　like　the　shrouded　forms　of　Arabs　fading　in　the　tunnels　of
Mimosa。　But　as　they　vanished　surely　they　whispered；　〃That　which　is
written　is　written。〃

The　mosques　of　Islam　echoed　these　words；　and　surely　this　little　church
that　bravely　stood　among　them。

〃That　which　is　written　is　written。〃

Domini　rose　from　her　knees；　hid　the　wooden　cross　once　more　in　her
breast；　and　went　out　into　the　evening。

As　she　left　the　church　door　something　occurred　which　struck　the
vagueness　from　her。　She　came　upon　Androvsky　and　the　priest。　They　were
standing　together　at　the　latter's　gate；　which　he　was　in　the　act　of
opening　to　an　accompaniment　of　joyous　barking　from　Bous…Bous。　Both　men
looked　strongly　expressive；　as　if　both　had　been　making　an　effort　of
some　kind。　She　stopped　in　the　twilight　to　speak　to　them。

〃Monsieur　Androvsky　has　kindly　been　paying　me　a　visit；〃　said　Father
Roubier。

〃I　am　glad；〃　Domini　said。　〃We　ought　all　to　be　friends　here。〃

There　was　a　perceptible　pause。　Then　Androvsky　lifted　his　hat。

〃Good…evening；　Madame；〃　he　said。　〃Good…evening；　Father。〃　And　he　walked
away　quickly。

The　priest　looked　after　him　and　sighed　profoundly。

〃Oh；　Madame！〃　he　exclaimed；　as　if　impelled　to　liberate　his　mind　to
someone；　〃what　is　the　matter　with　that　man？　What　is　the　matter？〃

He　stared　fixedly　into　the　twilight　after　Androvsky's　retreating　form。

〃With　Monsieur　Androvsky？〃

She　spoke　quietly；　but　her　mind　was　full　of　apprehension；　and　she
looked　searchingly　at　the　priest。

〃Yes。　What　can　it　be？〃

〃ButI　don't　understand。〃

〃Why　did　he　come　to　see　me？〃

〃I　asked　him　to　come。〃

She　blurted　out　the　words　without　knowing　why；　only　feeling　that　she
must　speak　the　truth。

〃You　asked　him！〃

〃Yes。　I　wanted　you　to　be　friendsand　I　thought　perhaps　you　might〃

〃Yes？〃

〃I　wanted　you　to　be　friends。〃　She　repeated　it　almost　stubbornly。

〃I　have　never　before　felt　so　ill　at　ease　with　any　human　being；〃
exclaimed　the　priest　with　tense　excitement。　〃And　yet　I　could　not　let
him　go。　Whenever　he　was　about　to　leave　me　I　was　impelled　to　press　him
to　remain。　We　spoke　of　the　most　ordinary　things；　and　all　the　time　it
was　as　if　we　were　in　a　great　tragedy。　What　is　he？　What　can　he　be？〃　（He
still　looked　down　the　road。）

〃I　don't　know。　I　know　nothing。　He　is　a　man　travelling；　as　other　men
travel。〃

〃Oh；　no！〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　Father？〃

〃I　mean　that　other　travellers　are　not　like　this　man。〃

He　leaned　his　thin　hands　heavily　on　the　gate；　and　she　saw；　by　the
expression　of　his　eyes；　that　he　was　going　to　say　something　startling。

〃Madame；〃　he　said；　lowering　his　voice；　〃I　did　not　speak　quite　frankly
to　you　this　afternoon。　You　may；　or　you　may　not；　have　understood　what　I
meant。　But　now　I　will　speak　plainly。　As　a　priest　I　warn　you；　I　warn
you　most　solemnly；　not　to　make　friends　with　this　man。〃

There　was　a　silence；　then　Domini　said：

〃Please　give　me　your　reason　for　this　warning。〃

〃That　I　can't　do。〃

〃Because　you　have　no　reason；　or　because　it　is　not　one　you　care　to　tell
me？〃

〃I　have　no　reason　to　give。　My　reason　is　my　instinct。　I　know　nothing　of
this　manI　pity　him。　I　shall　pray　for　him。　He　needs　prayers；　yes；　he
needs　them。　But　you　are　a　woman　out　here　alone。　You　have　spoken　to　me
of　yourself；　and　I　feel　it　my　duty　to　say　that　I　advise　you　most
earnestly　to　break　off　your　acquaintance　with　Monsieur　Androvsky。〃

〃Do　you　mean　that　you　think　him　evil？〃

〃I　don't　know　whether　he　is　evil；　I　don't　know　what　he　is。〃

〃I　know　he　is　not　evil。〃

The　priest　looked　at　her；　wondering。

〃You　knowhow？〃

〃My　instinct；〃　she　said；　coming　a　step　nearer；　and　putting　her　hand；
too；　on　the　gate　near　his。　〃Why　should　we　desert　him？〃

〃Desert　him；　Madame！〃

Father　Roubier's　voice　sounded　amazed。

〃Yes。　You　say　he　needs　prayers。　I　know　it。　Father；　are　not　the　first
prayers；　the　truest；　those　that　go　most　swiftly　to　Heavenacts？〃

The　priest　did　not　reply　for　a　moment。　He　looked　at　her　and　seemed　to
be　thinking　deeply。

〃Why　did　you　send　Monsieur　Androvsky　to　me　this　afternoon？〃　he　said　at
last　abruptly。

〃I　knew　you　were　a　good　man；　and　I　fancied　if　you　became　friends　you
might　help　him。〃

His　face　softened。

〃A　good　man；〃　he　said。　〃Ah！〃　He　shook　his　head　sadly；　with　a　sound
that　was　like　a　little　pathetic　laugh。　〃Ia　good　man！　And　I　allow　an
almost　invincible　personal　feeling　to　conquer　my　inward　sense　of
right！　Madame；　come　into　the　garden　for　a　moment。〃

He　opened　the　gate；　she　passed　in；　and　he　led　her　round　the　house　to
the　enclosure　at　the　back；　where　they　could　talk　in　greater　privacy。
Then　he　continued：

〃You　are　right；　Madame。　I　am　here　to　try　to　do　God's　work；　and
sometimes　it　is　better　to　act　for　a　human　being；　perhaps；　even　than　to
pray　for　him。　I　will　tell　you　that　I　feel　an　almost　invincible
repugnance　to　Monsieur　Androvsky；　a　repugnance　that　is　almost　stronger
than　my　will　to　hold　it　in　check。〃　He　shivered　slightly。　〃But；　with
God's　help；　I'll　conquer　that。　If　he　stays　on　here　I'll　try　to　be　his
friend。　I'll　do　all　I　can。　If　he　is　unhappy；　far　away　from　good；
perhapsI　say　it　humbly；　Madame；　I　assure　youI　might　help　him。　But〃
and　here　his　face　and　manner　changed；　became　firmer；　more　dominating
〃you　are　not　a　priest；　and〃

〃No；　only　a　woman；〃　she　said；　interrupting　him。

Something　in　her　voice　arrested　him。　There　was　a　long　silence　in　which
they　paced　slowly　up　and　down　on　the　sand　between　the　palm　trees。　The
twilight　was　dying　into　night。　Already　the　tomtoms　were　throbbing　in
the　street　of　the　dancers；　and　the　shriek　of　the　distant　pipes　was
faintly　heard。　At　last　the　priest　spoke　again。

〃Madame；〃　he　said；　〃when　you　came　to　me　this　afternoon　there　was
something　that　you　could　not　tell　me。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Had　it　anything　to　do　with　Monsieur　Androvsky？〃

〃I　meant　to　ask　you　to　advise　me　about　myself。〃

〃My　advice　to　you　was　and　isbe　strong　but　not　too　foolhardy。〃

〃Believe　me　I　will　try　not　to　be　foolhardy。　But　you　said　something
else　too；　something　about　women。　Don't　you　remember？〃

She　stopped；　took　his　hands　impulsively　and　pressed　them。

〃Father；　I've　scarcely　ever　been　of　any　use　all　my　life。　I've　scarcely
ever　tried　to　be。　Nothing　within　me　said；　'You　could　be；'　and　if　it
had　I　was　so　dulled　by　routine　and　sorrow　that　I　don't　think　I　should
have　heard　it。　But　here　it　is　different。　I　am　not　dulled。　I　can　hear。
Andsuppose　I　can　be　of　use　for　the　first　time！　You　wouldn't　say　to
me；　'Don't　try！'　You　couldn't　say　that？〃

He　stood　holding　her　hands　and　looking　into　her　face　for　a　moment。
Then　he　said；　half…humorously；　half…sadly：

〃My　child；　perhaps　you　know　your　own　strength　best。　Perhaps　your
safest　spiritual　director　is　your　own　heart。　Who　knows？　But　whether　it
be　so　or　not　you　will　not　take　advice　from　me。〃

She　knew　that　was　true　now　and；　for　a　moment；　felt　almost　ashamed。

〃Forgive　me；〃　she　said。　〃Butit　is　strange；　and　may　seem　to　you
ridiculous　or　even　wrongever　since　I　have　been　here　I　have　felt　as
if　everything　that　happened　had　been　arranged　beforehand；　as　if　it　had
to　happen。　And　I　feel　that；　too；　about　the　future。〃

〃Count　Anteoni's　fatalism！〃　the　priest　said　with　a　touch　of　impatient
irritation。　〃I　know。　It　is　the　guiding　spirit　of　this　land。　And　you
too　are　going　to　be　led　by　it。　Take　care！　You　have　come　to　a　land　of
fire；　and　I　think　you　are　made　of　fire。〃

For　a　moment　she　saw　a　fanatical　expression　in　his　eyes。　She　thought
of　it　as　the　look　of　the　monk　crushed　down　within　his　soul。　He　opened
his　lips　again；　as　if　to　pour　forth　upon　her　a　torrent　of　burning
words。　But　the　look　died　away；　and　they　parted　quietly　like　two　good
friends。　Yet；　as　she　went　to　the　hotel；　she　knew　that　Father　Roubier
could　not　give　her　the　kind　of　help　she　wanted；　and　she　even　fancied
that　perhaps　no　priest　could。　Her　heart　was　in　a　turmoil；　and　she
seemed　to　be　in　the　midst　of　a　crowd。

Batouch　was　at　the　door；　looking　elaborately　contrite　and　ready　with
his　lie。　He　had　been　seized　with　fever　in　the　night；　in　token　whereof
he　held　up　hands　which　began　to　shake　like　wind…swept　leaves。　Only　now
had　he　been　able　to　drag　himself　from　his　quilt　and；　still　afflicted
as　he　was；　to　creep　to　his　honoured　patron　and　crave　her　pardon。
Domini　gave　it　with　an　abstracted　carelessness　that　evidently　hurt　his
pride；　and　was　passing　into　the　hotel　when　he　said：

〃Irena　is　going　to　marry　Hadj；　Madame。〃

Since　the　fracas　at　the　dancing…house　both　the　dancer　and　her　victim
had　been　under　lock　and　key。

〃To　marry　her　after　she　tried　to　kill　him！〃　said　Domini。

〃Yes；　Madame。　He　loves　her　as　the　palm　tree　loves　the　sun。　He　will
take　her　to　his　room；　and　she　will　wear　a　veil；　and　work　for　him　and
never　go　out　any　more。〃

〃What！　She　will　live　like　the　Arab　women？〃

〃Of　course；　Madame。　But　there　is　a　very　nice　terrace　on　the　roof
outside　Hadj's　room；　and　Hadj　will　permit　her　to　take　the　air　there；
in　the　evening　or　when　it　is　hot。〃

〃She　must　love　Hadj　very　much。〃

〃She　does；　or　why　should　she　try　to　kill　him？〃

So　that　was　an　African　lovea　knife…thrust　and　a　taking　of　the　veil！
The　thought　of　it　added　a　further　complication　to　the　disorder　that
was　in　her　mind。

〃I　will　see　you　after　dinner；　Batouch；〃　she　said。

She　felt　that　she　must　do　something；　go　somewhere　that　night。　She
could　not　remain　quiet。

Batouch　drew　himself　up　and　threw　out　his　broad　chest。　His　air　gave
place　to　importance；　and；　as　he　leaned　against　the　white　pillar　of　the
arcade；　folded　his　ample　burnous　round　him；　and　glanced　up　at　the　sky
he　saw；　in　fancy；　a　five…franc　piece　glittering　in　the　chariot　of　the
moon。

The　priest　did　not　come　to　dinner　that　night；　but　Androvsky　was
already　at　his　table　when　Domini　came　into　the　/salle…a…manger/。　He
got　up　from　his　seat　and　bowed　formally；　but　did　not　speak。
Remembering　his　outburst　of　the　morning　she　realised　the　suspicion
which　her　second　interview　with　the　priest　had　probably　created　in　his
mind；　and　now　she　was　not　free　from　a　feeling　of　discomfort　that
almost　resembled　guilt。　For　now　she　had　been　led　to　discuss　Androvsky
with　Father　Roubier；　and　had　it　not　been　almost　an　apology　when　she
said；　〃I　know　he　is　not　evil〃？　Once　or　twice　during　dinner；　when　her
eyes　met　Androvsky's　for　a　moment；　she　imagined　that　he　must　know　why
she　had　been　at　the　priest's　house；　that　anger　was　steadily　increasing
in　him。

He　was　a　man　who　hated　to　be　observed；　to　be　criticised。　His
sensitiveness　was　altogether　abnormal；　and　made　her　wonder　afresh
where　his　previous　l