the garden of allah-第49章

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sensitiveness　was　altogether　abnormal；　and　made　her　wonder　afresh
where　his　previous　life　had　been　passed。　It　must　surely　have　been　a
very　sheltered　existence。　Contact　with　the　world　blunts　the　fine　edge
of　our　feeling　with　regard　to　others'　opinion　of　us。　In　the　world　men
learn　to　be　heedless　of　the　everlasting　buzz　of　comment　that　attends
their　goings　out　and　their　comings　in。　But　Androvsky　was　like　a　youth；
alive　to　the　tiniest　whisper；　set　on　fire　by　a　glance。　To　such　a
nature　life　in　the　world　must　be　perpetual　torture。　She　thought　of　him
with　a　sorrow　thatstrangely　in　herwas　not　tinged　with　contempt。
That　which　manifested　by　another　man　would　certainly　have　moved　her　to
impatience；　if　not　to　wrath；　in　this　man　woke　other　sensations
curiosity；　pity；　terror。

Yesterror。　To…night　she　knew　that。　The　long　day；　begun　in　the
semidarkness　before　the　dawn　and　ending　in　the　semidarkness　of　the
twilight；　had；　with　its　events　that　would　have　seemed　to　another
ordinary　and　trivial　enough；　carried　her　forward　a　stage　on　an
emotional　pilgrimage。　The　half…veiled　warnings　of　Count　Anteoni　and　of
the　priest；　followed　by　the　latter's　almost　passionately　abrupt　plain
speaking；　had　not　been　without　effect。　To…night　something　of　Europe
and　her　life　there；　with　its　civilised　experience　and　drastic　training
in　the　management　of　woman's　relations　with　humanity　in　general；　crept
back　under　the　palm　trees　and　the　brilliant　stars　of　Africa；　and
despite　the　fatalism　condemned　by　Father　Roubier；　she　was　more
conscious　than　she　had　hitherto　been　of　how　othersthe　outside　world
would　be　likely　to　regard　her　acquaintance　with　Androvsky。　She
stood；　as　it　were；　and　looked　on　at　the　events　in　which　she　herself
had　been　and　was　involved；　and　in　that　moment　she　was　first　aware　of　a
thrill　of　something　akin　to　terror；　as　if；　perhaps；　without　knowing
it；　she　had　been　moving　amid　a　great　darkness；　as　if　perhaps　a　great
darkness　were　approaching。　Suddenly　she　saw　Androvsky　as　some　strange
and　ghastly　figure　of　legend；　as　the　wandering　Jew　met　by　a　traveller
at　cross　roads　and　distinguished　for　an　instant　in　an　oblique
lightning　flash；　as　Vanderdecken　passing　in　the　hurricane　and　throwing
a　blood…red　illumination　from　the　sails　of　his　haunted　ship；　as　the
everlasting　climber　of　the　Brocken；　as　the　shrouded　Arab　of　the
Eastern　legend；　who　announced　coming　disaster　to　the　wanderers　in　the
desert　by　beating　a　death…roll　on　a　drum　among　the　dunes。

And　with　Count　Anteoni　and　the　priest　she　set　another　figure；　that　of
the　sand…diviner；　whose　tortured　face　had　suggested　a　man　looking　on　a
fate　that　was　terrible。　Had　not　he；　too；　warned　her？　Had　not　the
warning　been　threefold；　been　given　to　her　by　the　world；　the　Church；
and　the　under…worldthe　world　beneath　the　veil？

She　met　Androvsky's　eyes。　He　was　getting　up　to　leave　the　room。　His
movement　caught　her　away　from　things　visionary；　but　not　from　worldly
things。　She　still　looked　on　herself　moving　amid　these　events　at　which
her　world　would　laugh　or　wonder；　and　perhaps　for　the　first　time　in　her
life　she　was　uneasily　self…conscious　because　of　the　self　that　watched
herself；　as　if　that　self　held　something　coldly　satirical　that　mocked
at　her　and　marvelled。



CHAPTER　XIV

〃What　shall　I　do　to…night？〃

Alone　in　the　now　empty　/salle…a…manger/　Domini　asked　herself　the
question。　She　was　restless；　terribly　restless　in　mind；　and　wanted
distraction。　The　idea　of　going　to　her　room；　of　reading；　even　of
sitting　quietly　in　the　verandah；　was　intolerable　to　her。　She　longed
for　action；　swiftness；　excitement；　the　help　of　outside　things；　of　that
exterior　life　which　she　had　told　Count　Anteoni　she　had　begun　to　see　as
a　mirage。　Had　she　been　in　a　city　she　would　have　gone　to　a　theatre　to
witness　some　tremendous　drama；　or　to　hear　some　passionate　or　terrible
opera。　Beni…Mora　might　have　been　a　place　of　many　and　strange
tragedies；　would　be　no　doubt　again；　but　it　offered　at　this　moment
little　to　satisfy　her　mood。　The　dances　of　the　Cafes　Maures；　the　songs
of　the　smokers　of　the　keef；　the　long　histories　of　the　story…tellers
between　the　lighted　candlesshe　wanted　none　of　these；　and；　for　a
moment；　she　wished　she　were　in　London；　Paris；　any　great　capital　that
spent　itself　to　suit　the　changing　moods　of　men。　With　a　sigh　she　got　up
and　went　out　to　the　Arcade。　Batouch　joined　her　immediately。

〃What　can　I　do　to…night；　Batouch？〃　she　said。

〃There　are　the　femmes　mauresques；〃　he　began。

〃No；　no。〃

〃Would　Madame　like　to　hear　the　story…teller？〃

〃No。　I　should　not　understand　him。〃

〃I　can　explain　to　Madame。〃

〃No。〃

She　stepped　out　into　the　road。

〃There　will　be　a　moon　to…night；　won't　there？〃　she　said；　looking　up　at
the　starry　sky。

〃Yes；　Madame；　later。〃

〃What　time　will　it　rise？〃

〃Between　nine　and　ten。〃

She　stood　in　the　road；　thinking。　It　had　occurred　to　her　that　she　had
never　seen　moonrise　in　the　desert。

〃And　now　it　is〃she　looked　at　her　watch〃only　eight。〃

〃Does　Madame　wish　to　see　the　moon　come　up　pouring　upon　the　palms〃

〃Don't　talk　so　much；　Batouch；〃　she　said　brusquely。

To…night　the　easy　and　luscious　imaginings　of　the　poet　worried　her　like
the　cry　of　a　mosquito。　His　presence　even　disturbed　her。　Yet　what　could
she　do　without　him？　After　a　pause　she　said：

〃Can　one　go　into　the　desert　at　night？〃

〃On　foot；　Madame？　It　would　be　dangerous。　One　cannot　tell　what　may　be
in　the　desert　by　night。〃

These　words　made　her　long　to　go。　They　had　a　charm；　a　violence　perhaps；
of　the　unknown。

〃One　might　ride；〃　she　said。　〃Why　not？　Who　could　hurt　us　if　we　were
mounted　and　armed？〃

〃Madame　is　brave　as　the　panther　in　the　forests　of　the　Djurdjurah。〃

〃And　you；　Batouch？　Aren't　you　brave？〃

〃Madame；　I　am　afraid　of　nothing。〃　He　did　not　say　it　boastfully；　like
Hadj；　but　calmly；　almost　loftily。

〃Well；　we　are　neither　of　us　afraid。　Let　us　ride　out　on　the　Tombouctou
road　and　see　the　moon　rise。　I'll　go　and　put　on　my　habit。〃

〃Madame　should　take　her　revolver。〃

〃Of　course。　Bring　the　horses　round　at　nine。〃

When　she　had　put　on　her　habit　it　was　only　a　few　minutes　after　eight。
She　longed　to　be　in　the　saddle；　going　at　full　speed　up　the　long；　white
road　between　the　palms。　Physical　movement　was　necessary　to　her；　and
she　began　to　pace　up　and　down　the　verandah　quickly。　She　wished　she　had
ordered　the　horses　at　once；　or　that　she　could　do　something　definite　to
fill　up　the　time　till　they　came。　As　she　turned　at　the　end　of　the
verandah　she　saw　a　white　form　approaching　her；　when　it　drew　near　she
recognised　Hadj；　looking　self…conscious　and　mischievous；　but　a　little
triumphant　too。　At　this　moment　she　was　glad　to　see　him。　He　received
her　congratulations　on　his　recovery　and　approaching　marriage　with　a
sort　of　skittish　gaiety；　but　she　soon　discovered　that　he　had　come　with
a　money…making　reason。　Having　seen　his　cousin　safely　off　the　premises；
it　had　evidently　occurred　to　him　to　turn　an　honest　penny。　And　pennies
were　now　specially　needful　to　him　in　view　of　married　life。

〃Does　Madame　wish　to　see　something　strange　and　wonderful　to…night？〃　he
asked；　after　a　moment；　looking　at　her　sideways　out　of　the　corners　of
his　wicked　eyes；　which；　as　Domini　could　see；　were　swift　to　read
character　and　mood。

〃I　am　going　out　riding。〃

He　looked　astonished。

〃In　the　night？〃

〃Yes。　Batouch　has　gone　to　fetch　the　horses。〃

Hadj's　face　became　a　mask　of　sulkiness。

〃If　Madame　goes　out　with　Batouch　she　will　be　killed。　There　are　robbers
in　the　desert；　and　Batouch　is　afraid　of〃

〃Could　we　see　the　strange　and　wonderful　thing　in　an　hour？〃　she
interrupted。

The　gay　and　skittish　expression　returned　instantly　to　his　face。

〃Yes；　Madame。〃

〃What　is　it？〃

He　shook　his　head　and　made　an　artful　gesture　with　his　hand　in　the　air。

〃Madame　shall　see。〃

His　long　eyes　were　full　of　mystery；　and　he　moved　towards　the
staircase。

〃Come；　Madame。〃

Domini　laughed　and　followed　him。　She　felt　as　if　she　were　playing　a
game；　yet　her　curiosity　was　roused。　They　went　softly　down　and　slipped
out　of　the　hotel　like　children　fearing　to　be　caught。

〃Batouch　will　be　angry。　There　will　be　white　foam　on　his　lips；〃
whispered　Hadj；　dropping　his　chin　and　chuckling　low　in　his　throat。
〃This　way；　Madame。〃

He　led　her　quickly　across　the　gardens　to　the　Rue　Berthe；　and　down　a
number　of　small　streets；　till　they　reached　a　white　house　before　which；
on　a　hump；　three　palm　trees　grew　from　one　trunk。　Beyond　was　waste
ground；　and　further　away　a　stretch　of　sand　and　low　dunes　lost　in　the
darkness　of　the；　as　yet；　moonless　night。　Domini　looked　at　the　house
and　at　Hadj；　and　wondered　if　it　would　be　foolish　to　enter。

〃What　is　it？〃　she　asked　again。

But　he　only　replied；　〃Madame　will　see！〃　and　struck　his　flat　hand　upon
the　door。　It　was　opened　a　little　way；　and　a　broad　face　covered　with
little　humps　and　dents　showed；　the　thick　lips　parted　and　muttering
quickly。　Then　the　face　was　withdrawn；　the　door　opened　wider；　and　Hadj
beckoned　to　Domini　to　go　in。　After　a　moment's　hesitation　she　did　so；
and　found　herself　in　a　small　interior　court；　with　a　tiled　floor；
pillars；　and　high　up　a　gallery　of　carved　wood；　from　which；　doubtless；
dwelling…rooms　opened。　In　the　court；　upon　cushions；　were　seated　four
vacant…looking　men；　with　bare　arms　and　legs　and　long　matted　hair；
before　a　brazier；　from　which　rose　a　sharply　pungent　perfume。　Two　of
these　men　were　very　young；　with　pale；　ascetic　faces　and　weary　eyes。
They　looked　like　young　priests　of　the　Sahara。　At　a　short　distance；
upon　a　red　pillow；　sat　a　tiny　boy　of　about　three　years　old；　dressed　in
yellow　and　green。　When　Domini　and　Hadj　came　into　the　court　no　one
looked　at　them　except　the　child；　who　stared　with　slowly…rolling；
solemn　eyes；　slightly　shifting　on　the　pillow。　Hadj　beckoned　to　Domini
to　seat　herself　upon　some　rugs　between　the　pillars；　sat　down　beside
her　and　began　to　make　a　cigarette。　Complete　silence　prevailed。　The
four　men　stared　at　the　brazier；　holding　their　nostrils　over　the
incense　fumes　which　rose　from　it　in　airy　spirals。　The　child　continued
to　stare　at　Domini。　Hadj　lit　his　cigarette。　And　time　rolled　on。

Domini　had　desired　violence；　and　had　been　conveyed　into　a　dumbness　of
mystery；　that　fell　upon　her　turmoil　of　spirit　like　a　blow。　What　struck
her　as　especially　strange　and　unnatural　was　the　fact　that　the　men　with
whom　she　was　sitting　in　the　dim　court　of　this　lonely　house　had　not
looked　at　her；　did　not　appear　to　know　that　she　was　there。　Hadj　had
caught　the　aroma　of　their　meditations　with　the　perfume　of　the　incense；
for　his　eyes　had　lost　their　mischief　and　become　gloomily　profound；　as
if　they　stared　on　bygone　centuries　or　watched　a　far…off　future。　Even
the　child　began　to　look　elderly；　and　worn　as　with　fastings　and　with
watchings。　As　the　fumes　perpetually　ascended　from　the　red…hot　coals　of
the　brazier　the　sharp　smell　of　the　perfume　grew　stronger。　There　was　in
it　something　provocative　and　exciting　that　was　like　a　sound；　and
Domini　marvelled　that　the　four　men　who　crouched　over　it　and　drank　it
in　perpetually　could　be　unaffected　by　its　influence　when　she；　who　was
at　some　distance　from　it；　felt　dawning　on　her　desires　of　movement；　of
action；　almost　a　physical　necessity　to　get　up　and　do　something
extraordinary；　absurd　or　passionate；　such　as　she　had　never　done　or