the garden of allah-第78章

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cheerful　again。　Domini　gave　the　other　cigar　to　the　soldier。

〃Good…night；　Madame。　A　demain　then；　a　demain！　I　trust　your　husband　may
be　able　to　rest。　A　demain！　A　demain！〃

The　light　moved　away　over　the　dunes　and　dropped　down　towards　the　city。
Then　Domini　hurried　across　the　sand　to　the　sleeping…tent。　As　she　went
she　was　acutely　aware　of　the　many　distant　noises　that　rose　up　in　the
night　to　the　pale　crescent　of　the　young　moon；　the　pulsing　of　the
tomtoms　in　the　city；　the　faint　screaming　of　the　pipes　that　sounded
almost　like　human　beings　in　distress；　the　passionate　barking　of　the
guard　dogs　tied　up　to　the　tents　on　the　sand…slopes　where　the
multitudes　of　fires　gleamed。　The　sensation　of　being　far　away；　and
close　to　the　heart　of　the　desert；　deepened　in　her；　but　she　felt　now
that　it　was　a　savage　heart；　that　there　was　something　terrible　in　the
remoteness。　In　the　faint　moonlight　the　tent　cast　black　shadows　upon
the　wintry　whiteness　of　the　sands；　that　rose　and　fell　like　waves　of　a
smooth　but　foam…covered　sea。　And　the　shadow　of　the　sleeping…tent
looked　the　blackest　of　them　all。　For　she　began　to　feel　as　if　there　was
another　darkness　about　it　than　the　darkness　that　it　cast　upon　the
sand。　Her　husband's　face　that　night　as　he　came　in　from　the　dunes　had
been　dark　with　a　shadow　cast　surely　by　his　soul。　And　she　did　not　know
what　it　was　in　his　soul　that　sent　forth　the　shadow。

〃Boris！〃

She　was　at　the　door　of　the　sleeping…tent。　He　did　not　answer。

〃Boris！〃

He　came　in　from　the　farther　tent　that　he　used　as　a　dressing…room；
carrying　a　lit　candle　in　his　hand。　She　went　up　to　him　with　a　movement
of　swift；　ardent　sincerity。

〃You　felt　ill　in　the　city？　Did　Batouch　let　you　come　back　alone？〃

〃I　preferred　to　be　alone。〃

He　set　down　the　candle　on　the　table；　and　moved　so　that　the　light　of　it
did　not　fall　upon　his　face。　She　took　his　hands　in　hers　gently。　There
was　no　response　in　his　hands。　They　remained　in　hers；　nervelessly。　They
felt　almost　like　dead　things　in　her　hands。　But　they　were　not　cold；　but
burning　hot。

〃You　have　fever！〃　she　said。

She　let　one　of　his　hands　go　and　put　one　of　hers　to　his　forehead。

〃Your　forehead　is　burning；　and　your　pulseshow　they　are　beating！　Like
hammers！　I　must〃

〃Don't　give　me　anything；　Domini！　It　would　be　useless。〃

She　was　silent。　There　was　a　sound　of　hopelessness　in　his　voice　that
frightened　her。　It　was　like　the　voice　of　a　man　rejecting　remedies
because　he　knew　that　he　was　stricken　with　a　mortal　disease。

〃Why　did　that　priest　come　here　to…night？〃　he　asked。

They　were　both　standing　up；　but　now　he　sat　down　in　a　chair　heavily；
taking　his　hand　from　hers。

〃Merely　to　pay　a　visit　of　courtesy。〃

〃At　night？〃

He　spoke　suspiciously。　Again　she　thought　of　Mogar；　and　of　how；　on　his
return　from　the　dunes；　he　had　said　to　her；　〃There　is　a　light　in　the
tower。〃　A　painful　sensation　of　being　surrounded　with　mystery　came　upon
her。　It　was　hateful　to　her　strong　and　frank　nature。　It　was　like　a
miasma　that　suffocated　her　soul。

〃Oh；　Boris；〃　she　exclaimed　bluntly；　〃why　should　he　not　come　at　night？〃

〃Is　such　a　thing　usual？〃

〃But　he　was　visiting　the　tents　over　thereof　the　nomads；　and　he　had
heard　of　our　arrival。　He　knew　it　was　informal；　but；　as　he　said；　in　the
desert　one　forgets　formalities。〃

〃Andand　did　he　ask　for　anything？〃

〃Ask？〃

〃I　sawon　the　table…coffee　andand　there　was　liqueur。〃

〃Naturally　I　offered　him　something。〃

〃He　didn't　ask？〃

〃But；　Boris；　how　could　he？〃

After　a　moment　of　silence　he　said：

〃No；　of　course　not。〃

He　shifted　in　his　chair；　crossed　one　leg　over　the　other；　put　his　hands
on　the　arms　of　it；　and　continued：

〃What　did　he　talk　about？〃

〃A　little　about　Amara。〃

〃That　was　all？〃

〃He　hadn't　been　here　long　when　you　came〃

〃Oh。〃

〃But　he　told　me　one　thing　that　was　horrible；〃　she　added；　obedient　to
her　instinct　always　to　tell　the　complete　truth　to　him；　even　about
trifles　which　had　nothing　to　do　with　their　lives　or　their　relation　to
each　other。

〃Horrible！〃　Androvsky　said；　uncrossing　his　legs　and　leaning　forward　in
his　chair。

She　sat　down　by　him。　They　both　had　their　backs　to　the　light　and　were
in　shadow。

〃Yes。〃

〃What　was　it　aboutsome　crime　here？〃

〃Oh；　no！　It　was　about　that　liqueur　you　saw　on　the　table。〃

Androvsky　was　sitting　upon　a　basket　chair。　As　she　spoke　it　creaked
under　a　violent　movement　that　he　made。

〃How　couldwhat　could　there　be　that　was　horrible　connected　with
that？〃　he　asked；　speaking　slowly。

〃It　was　made　by　a　monk；　a　Trappist〃

He　got　up　from　his　chair　and　went　to　the　opening　of　the　tent。

〃What〃　she　began；　thinking　he　was　perhaps　feeling　the　pain　in　his
head　more　severely。

〃I　only　want　to　be　in　the　air。　It's　rather　hot　there。　Stay　where；　you
are；　Domini；　andwell；　what　else？〃

He　stepped　out　into　the　sand；　and　stood　just　outside　the　tent　in　its
shadow。

〃It　was　invented　by　a　Trappist　monk　of　the　monastery　of　El…Largani；
who　disappeared　from　the　monastery。　He　had　taken　the　final　vows。　He
had　been　there　for　over　twenty　years。〃

〃Hehe　disappeareddid　the　priest　say？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Where？〃

〃I　don't　thinkI　am　sure　he　doesn't　know。　But　what　does　it　matter？
The　awful　thing　is　that　he　should　leave　the　monastery　after　taking　the
eternal　vowsvows　made　to　God。〃

After　a　moment；　during　which　neither　of　them　spoke　and　Androvsky　stood
quite　still　in　the　sand；　she　added：

〃Poor　man！〃

Androvsky　came　a　step　towards　her；　then　paused。

〃Why　do　you　say　that；　Domini？〃

〃I　was　thinking　of　the　agony　he　must　be　enduring　if　he　is　still
alive。〃

〃Agony？〃

〃Of　mind；　of　heart。　YouI　know；　Boris；　you　can't　feel　with　me　on
certain　subjectsyet〃

〃Yet！〃　he　said。

〃Boris〃she　got　up　and　came　to　the　tent　door；　but　not　out　upon　the
sand〃I　dare　to　hope　that　some　day　perhaps〃

She　was　silent；　looking　towards　him　with　her　brave；　steady　eyes。

〃Agony　of　heart？〃　Androvsky　said；　recurring　to　her　words。　〃You　think
whatyou　pity　that　man　then？〃

〃And　don't　you？〃

〃Iwhat　has　he　to　do　withus？　Why　should　we？〃

〃I　know。　But　one　does　sometimes　pity　men　one　never　has　seen；　never
will　see；　if　one　hears　something　frightful　about　them。　Perhapsdon't
smile；　Borisperhaps　it　was　seeing　that　liqueur；　which　he　had
actually　made　in　the　monastery　when　he　was　at　peace　with　God；　perhaps
it　was　seeing　that；　that　has　made　me　realisesuch　trifles　stir　the
imagination；　set　it　workingat　any　rate〃

She　broke　off。　After　a　minute；　during　which　he　said　nothing；　she
continued：

〃I　believe　the　priest　felt　something　of　the　same　sort。　He　could　not
drink　the　liqueur　that　man　had　made；　although　he　intended　to。〃

〃Butthat　might　have　been　for　a　different　reason；〃　Androvsky　said　in
a　harsh　voice；　〃priests　have　strange　ideas。　They　often　judge　things
cruelly；　very　cruelly。〃

〃Perhaps　they　do。　Yes；　I　can　imagine　that　Father　Roubier　of　Beni…Mora
might；　though　he　is　a　good　man　and　leads　a　saintly　life。〃

〃Those　are　sometimes　the　most　cruel。　They　do　not　understand。〃

〃Perhaps　not。　It　may　be　so。　But　this　priesthe's　not　like　that。〃

She　thought　of　his　genial；　bearded　face；　his　expression　when　he　said；
〃We　are　ruffians　of　the　sun；〃　including　himself　with　the　desert　men；
his　boisterous　laugh。

〃His　fault　might　be　the　other　way。〃

〃Which　way？〃

〃Too　great　a　tolerance。〃

〃Can　a　man　be　too　tolerant　towards　his　fellow…man？〃　said　Androvsky。

There　was　a　strange　sound　of　emotion　in　his　deep　voice　which　moved
her。　It　seemed　to　herwhy；　she　did　not　knowto　steal　out　of　the
depth　of　something　their　mutual　love　had　created。

〃The　greatest　of　all　tolerance　is　God's；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　surequite
sureof　that。〃

Androvsky　came　in　out　of　the　shadow　of　the　tent；　took　her　in　his　arms
with　passion；　laid　his　lips　on　hers　with　passion；　hot；　burning　force
and　fire；　and　a　hard　tenderness　that　was　hard　because　it　was　intense。

〃God　will　bless　you；〃　he　said。　〃God　will　bless　you。　Whatever　life
brings　you　at　the　end　you　mustyou　must　be　blessed　by　Him。〃

〃But　He　has　blessed　me；〃　she　whispered；　through　tears　that　rushed　from
her　eyes；　stirred　from　their　well…springs　by　his　sudden　outburst　of
love　for　her。　〃He　has　blessed　me。　He　has　given　me　you；　your　love；　your
truth。〃

Androvsky　released　her　as　abruptly　as　he　had　taken　her　in　his　arms；
turned；　and　went　out　into　the　desert。



CHAPTER　XXIV

True　to　his　promise；　on　the　following　day　the　priest　called　to　inquire
after　Androvsky's　health。　He　happened　to　come　just　before　/dejeuner/
was　ready；　and　met　Androvsky　on　the　sand　before　the　tent　door。

〃It's　not　fever　then；　Monsieur；〃　he　said；　after　they　had　shaken　hands。

〃No；　no；〃　Androvsky　replied。　〃I　am　quite　well　this　morning。〃

The　priest　looked　at　him　closely　with　an　unembarrassed　scrutiny。

〃Have　you　been　long　in　the　desert；　Monsieur？〃　he　asked。

〃Some　weeks。〃

〃The　heat　has　tired　you。　I　know　the　look〃

〃I　assure　you；　Monsieur；　that　I　am　accustomed　to　heat。　I　have　lived　in
North　Africa　all　my　life。〃

〃Indeed。　And　yet　by　your　appearance　I　should　certainly　suppose　that
you　needed　a　change　from　the　desert。　The　air　of　the　Sahara　is
magnificent；　but　there　are　people〃

〃I　am　not　one　of　them；〃　Androvsky　said　abruptly。　〃I　have　never　felt　so
strong　physically　as　since　I　have　lived　in　the　sand。〃

The　priest　still　looked　at　him　closely；　but　said　nothing　further　on
the　subject　of　health。　Indeed；　almost　immediately　his　attention　was
distracted　by　the　apparition　of　Ouardi　bearing　dishes　from　the　cook's
tent。

〃I　am　afraid　I　have　called　at　a　very　unorthodox　time；〃　he　remarked；
looking　at　his　watch；　〃but　the　fact　is　that　here　in　Amara　we〃

〃I　hope　you　will　stay　to　/dejeuner/；〃　Androvsky　said。

〃It　is　very　good　of　you。　If　you　are　certain　that　I　shall　not　put　you
out。〃

〃Please　stay。〃

〃I　will；　then；　with　pleasure。〃

He　moved　his　lips　expectantly；　as　if　only　a　sense　of　politeness
prevented　him　from　smacking　them。　Androvsky　went　towards　the　sleeping…
tent；　where　Domini；　who　had　been　into　the　city；　was　washing　her　hands。

〃The　priest　has　called；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　asked　him　to　/dejeuner/。〃

She　looked　at　him　with　frank　astonishment　in　her　dark　eyes。

〃YouBoris！〃

〃Yes；　I。　Why　not？〃

〃I　don't　know。　But　generally　you　hate　people。〃

〃He　seems　a　good　sort　of　man。〃

She　still　looked　at　him　with　some　surprise；　even　with　curiosity。

〃Have　you　taken　a　fancy　to　a　priest？〃　she　asked；　smiling。

〃Why　not？　This　man　is　very　different　from　Father　Roubier；　more　human。〃

〃Father　Beret　is　very　human；　I　think；〃　she　answered。

She　was　still　smiling。　It　had　just　occurred　to　her　that　the　priest　had
timed　his　visit　with　some　forethought。

〃I　am　coming；〃　she　added。

A　sudden　cheerfulness　had　taken　possession　of　her。　All　the　morning　she
had　been　feeling　grave；　even　almost　apprehensive；　after　a　bad　night。
When　her　husband　had　abruptly　left　her　and　gone　away　into　the　darkness
she　had　been　overtaken　by　a　sudden　wave　of　acute　depression。　She　had
felt；　more　painfully　than　ever　before；　the　mental　separation　which
existed　between　them　despite　their　deep　love；　and　a　passionate　but
almost　hopeless　longing　had　filled　her　heart　that　in　all　things　they
might　be　one；　not　only　in　love　of　each　other；　but　in　love　of　God。　When
Androvsky　had　taken　his　arms　from　her　she　had　seemed　to　feel　herself
released