the garden of allah-第79章

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Androvsky　had　taken　his　arms　from　her　she　had　seemed　to　feel　herself
released　by　a　great　despair；　and　this　certaintyfor　as　he　vanished
into　the　darkness　she　was　no　more　in　doubt　that　his　love　for　her　left
room　within　his　heart　for　such　an　agonyhad　for　a　moment　brought　her
soul　to　the　dust。　She　had　been　overwhelmed　by　a　sensation　that　instead
of　being　close　together　they　were　far　apart；　almost　strangers；　and　a
great　bitterness　had　entered　into　her。　It　was　accompanied　by　a　desire
for　action。　She　longed　to　follow　Androvsky；　to　lay　her　hand　on　his
arm；　to　stop　him　in　the　sand　and　force　him　to　confide　in　her。　For　the
first　time　the　idea　that　he　was　keeping　something　from　her；　a　sorrow；
almost　maddened　her；　even　made　her　feel　jealous。　The　fact　that　she
divined　what　that　sorrow　was；　or　believed　she　divined　it；　did　not　help
her　just　then。　She　waited　a　long　while；　but　Androvsky　did　not　return；
and　at　last　she　prayed　and　went　to　bed。　But　her　prayers　were　feeble；
disjointed；　and　sleep　did　not　come　to　her；　for　her　mind　was　travelling
with　this　man　who　loved　her　and　who　yet　was　out　there　alone　in　the
night；　who　was　deliberately　separating　himself　from　her。　Towards　dawn；
when　he　stole　into　the　tent；　she　was　still　awake；　but　she　did　not
speak　or　give　any　sign　of　consciousness；　although　she　was　hot　with　the
fierce　desire　to　spring　up；　to　throw　her　arms　round　him；　to　draw　his
head　down　upon　her　heart；　and　say；　〃I　have　given　myself；　body；　heart
and　soul；　to　you。　Give　yourself　to　me；　give　me　the　thing　you　are
keeping　backyour　sorrow。　Till　I　have　that　I　have　not　all　of　you。　And
till　I　have　all　of　you　I　am　in　hell。〃

It　was　a　mad　impulse。　She　resisted　it　and　lay　quite　still。　And　when　he
lay　down　and　was　quiet　she　slept　at　length。

Now；　as　she　heard　him　speak　in　the　sunshine　and　knew　that　he　had
offered　hospitality　to　the　comfortable　priest　her　heart　suddenly　felt
lighter；　she　scarcely　knew　why。　It　seemed　to　her　that　she　had　been　a
little　morbid；　and　that　the　cloud　which　had　settled　about　her　was
lifted；　revealing　the　blue。

At　/dejeuner/　she　was　even　more　reassured。　Her　husband　seemed　to　get
on　with　the　priest　better　than　she　had　ever　seen　him　get　on　with
anybody。　He　began　by　making　an　effort　to　be　agreeable　that　was　obvious
to　her；　but　presently　he　was　agreeable　without　effort。　The　simple
geniality　and　lack　of　self…consciousness　in　Father　Beret　evidently　set
him　at　his　ease。　Once　or　twice　she　saw　him　look　at　his　guest　with　an
earnest　scrutiny　that　puzzled　her；　but　he　talked　far　more　than　usual
and　with　greater　animation；　discussing　the　Arabs　and　listening　to　the
priest's　account　of　the　curiosities　of　life　in　Amara。　When　at　length
Father　Beret　rose　to　go　Androvsky　said　he　would　accompany　him　a　little
way；　and　they　went　off　together；　evidently　on　the　best　of　terms。

She　was　delighted　and　surprised。　She　had　been　right；　then。　It　was　time
that　Androvsky　was　subjected　to　another　influence　than　that　of　the
unpeopled　wastes。　It　was　time　that　he　came　into　contact　with　men　whose
minds　were　more　akin　to　his　than　the　minds　of　the　Arabs　who　had　been
their　only　companions。　She　began　to　imagine　him　with　her　in　civilised
places；　to　be　able　to　imagine　him。　And　she　was　glad　they　had　come　to
Amara　and　confirmed　in　her　resolve　to　stay　on　there。　She　even　began　to
wish　that　the　French　officers　quartered　therefew　in　number；　some
five　or　sixwould　find　them　in　the　sand；　and　that　Androvsky　would
offer　them　hospitality。　It　occurred　to　her　that　it　was　not　quite
wholesome　for　a　man　to　live　in　isolation　from　his　fellow…men；　even
with　the　woman　he　loved；　and　she　determined　that　she　would　not　be
selfish　in　her　love；　that　she　would　think　for　Androvsky；　act　for　him；
even　against　her　own　inclination。　Perhaps　his　idea　of　life　in　an　oasis
apart　from　Europeans　was　one　she　ought　to　combat；　though　it　fascinated
her。　Perhaps　it　would　be　stronger；　more　sane；　to　face　a　more　ordinary；
less　dreamy；　life；　in　which　they　would　meet　with　people；　in　which　they
would　inevitably　find　themselves　confronted　with　duties。　She　felt
powerful　enough　in　that　moment　to　do　anything　that　would　make　for
Androvsky's　welfare　of　soul。　His　body　was　strong　and　at　ease。　She
thought　of　him　going　away　with　the　priest　in　friendly　conversation。
How　splendid　it　would　be　if　she　could　feel　some　day　that　the　health　of
his　soul　accorded　completely　with　that　of　his　body！

〃Batouch！〃　she　called　almost　gaily。

Batouch　appeared；　languidly　smoking　a　cigarette；　and　with　a　large
flower　tied　to　a　twig　protending　from　behind　his　ear。

〃Saddle　the　horses。　Monsieur　has　gone　with　the　Pere　Beret。　I　shall
take　a　ride；　just　a　short　ride　round　the　camp　over　therein　at　the
city　gate；　through　the　market…place；　and　home。　You　will　come　with　me。〃

Batouch　threw　away　his　cigarette　with　energy。　Poet　though　he　was；　all
the　Arab　blood　in　him　responded　to　the　thought　of　a　gallop　over　the
sands。　Within　a　few　minutes　they　were　off。　When　she　was　in　the　saddle
it　was　at　all　times　difficult　for　Domini　to　be　sad　or　even　pensive。
She　had　a　native　passion　for　a　good　horse；　and　riding　was　one　of　the
joys；　and　almost　the　keenest；　of　her　life。　She　felt　powerful　when　she
had　a　spirited；　fiery　animal　under　her；　and　the　wide　spaces　of　the
desert　summoned　speed　as　they　summoned　dreams。　She　and　Batouch　went
away　at　a　rapid　pace；　circled　round　the　Arab　cemetery；　made　a　detour
towards　the　south；　and　then　cantered　into　the　midst　of　the　camps　of
the　Ouled　Nails。　It　was　the　hour　of　the　siesta。　Only　a　few　people　were
stirring；　coming　and　going　over　the　dunes　to　and　from　the　city　on
languid　errands　for　the　women　of　the　tents；　who　reclined　in　the　shade
of　their　brushwood　arbours　upon　filthy　cushions　and　heaps　of　multi…
coloured　rags；　smoking　cigarettes；　playing　cards　with　Arab　and　negro
admirers；　or　staring　into　vacancy　beneath　their　heavy　eyebrows　as　they
listened　to　the　sound　of　music　played　upon　long　pipes　of　reed。　No　dogs
barked　in　their　camp。　The　only　guardians　were　old　women；　whose　sandy
faces　were　scored　with　innumerable　wrinkles；　and　whose　withered　hands
drooped　under　their　loads　of　barbaric　rings　and　bracelets。　Batouch
would　evidently　have　liked　to　dismount　here。　Like　all　Arabs　he　was
fascinated　by　the　sight　of　these　idols　of　the　waste；　whose　painted
faces　called　to　the　surface　the　fluid　poetry　within　him；　but　Domini
rode　on；　descending　towards　the　city　gate　by　which　she　had　first
entered　Amara。　The　priest's　house　was　there　and　Androvsky　was　with　the
priest。　She　hoped　he　had　perhaps　gone　in　to　return　the　visit　paid　to
them。　As　she　rode　into　the　city　she　glanced　at　the　house。　The　door　was
open　and　she　saw　the　gay　rugs　in　the　little　hall。　She　had　a　strong
inclination　to　stop　and　ask　if　her　husband　were　there。　He　might　mount
Batouch's　horse　and　accompany　her　home。

〃Batouch；〃　she　said；　〃will　you　ask　if　Monsieur　Androvsky　is　with　Pere
Beret。　I　think〃

She　stopped　speaking。　She　had　just　seen　her　husband's　face　pass　across
the　window…space　of　the　room　on　the　right…hand　side　of　the　hall　door。
She　could　not　see　it　very　well。　The　arcade　built　out　beyond　the　house
cast　a　deep　shade　within；　and　in　this　shade　the　face　had　flitted　like
a　shadow。　Batouch　had　sprung　from　his　horse。　But　the　sight　of　the
shadowy　face　had　changed　her　mind。　She　resolved　not　to　interrupt　the
two　men。　Long　ago　at　Beni…Mora　she　had　asked　Androvsky　to　call　upon　a
priest。　She　remembered　the　sequel　to　that　visit。　This　time　Androvsky
had　gone　of　his　own　will。　If　he　liked　this　priest；　if　they　became
friends；　perhapsshe　remembered　her　vision　in　the　dancing…house；　her
feeling　that　when　she　drew　near　Amara　she　was　drawing　near　to　the
heart　of　the　desert。　If　she　should　see　Androvsky　praying　here！　Yet
Father　Beret　hardly　seemed　a　man　likely　to　influence　her　husband；　or
anyone　with　a　strong　and　serious　personality。　He　was　surely　too　fond
of　the　things　of　this　world；　too　obviously　a　lover　and　cherisher　of
the　body。　Nevertheless；　there　was　something　attractive　in　him；　a
kindness；　a　geniality。　In　trouble　he　would　be　sympathetic。　Certainly
her　husband　must　have　taken　a　liking　to　him；　and　the　chances　of　life
and　the　influences　of　destiny　were　strange　and　not　to　be　foreseen。

〃No；　Batouch；〃　she　said。　〃We　won't　stop。〃

〃But；　Madame；〃　he　cried；　〃Monsieur　is　in　there。　I　saw　his　face　at　the
window。〃

〃Never　mind。　We　won't　disturb　them。　I　daresay　they　have　something　to
talk　about。〃

They　cantered　on　towards　the　market…place。　It　was　not　market…day；　and
the　town；　like　the　camp　of　the　Ouled　Nails；　was　almost　deserted。　As
she　rode　up　the　hill　towards　the　place　of　the　fountain；　however；　she
saw　two　handsomely…dressed　Arabs；　followed　by　a　servant；　slowly
strolling　towards　her　from　the　doorway　of　the　Bureau　Arabe。　One；　who
was　very　tall；　was　dressed　in　green；　and　carried　a　long　staff；　from
which　hung　green　ribbons。　The　other　wore　a　more　ordinary　costume　of
white；　with　a　white　burnous　and　a　turban　spangled　with　gold。

〃Madame！〃　said　Batouch。

〃Yes。〃

〃Do　you　see　the　Arab　dressed　in　green？〃

He　spoke　in　an　almost　awestruck　voice。

〃Yes。　Who　is　he？〃

〃The　great　marabout　who　lives　at　Beni…Hassan。〃

The　name　struck　upon　Domini's　ear　with　a　strange　familiarity。

〃But　that's　where　Count　Anteoni　went　when　he　rode　away　from　Beni…Mora
that　morning。〃

〃Yes；　Madame。〃

〃Is　it　far　from　Amara？〃

〃Two　hours'　ride　across　the　desert。〃

〃But　then　Count　Anteoni　may　be　near　us。　After　he　left　he　wrote　to　me
and　gave　me　his　address　at　the　marabout's　house。〃

〃If　he　is　still　with　the　marabout；　Madame。〃

They　were　close　to　the　fountain　now；　and　the　marabout　and　his
companion　were　coming　straight　towards　them。

〃If　Madame　will　allow　me　I　will　salute　the　marabout；〃　said　Batouch。

〃Certainly。〃

He　sprang　off　his　horse　immediately；　tied　it　up　to　the　railing　of　the
fountain；　and　went　respectfully　towards　the　approaching　potentate　to
kiss　his　hand。　Domini　saw　the　marabout　stop　and　Batouch　bend　down；
then　lift　himself　up　and　suddenly　move　back　as　if　in　surprise。　The
Arab　who　was　with　the　marabout　seemed　also　surprised。　He　held　out　his
hand　to　Batouch；　who　took　it；　kissed　it；　then　kissed　his　own　hand；　and
turning；　pointed　towards　Domini。　The　Arab　spoke　a　word　to　the
marabout；　then　left　him；　and　came　rapidly　forward　to　the　fountain。　As
he　drew　close　to　her　she　saw　a　face　browned　by　the　sun；　a　very　small；
pointed　beard；　a　pair　of　intensely　bright　eyes　surrounded　by　wrinkles。
These　eyes　held　her。　It　seemed　to　her　that　she　knew　them；　that　she　had
often　looked　into　them　and　seen　their　changing　expressions。　Suddenly
she　exclaimed：

〃Count　Anteoni！〃

〃Yes；　it　is　I！〃

He　held　out　his　hand　and　clasped　hers。

〃So　you　have　started　upon　your　desert　journey；〃　he　added；　looking
closely　at　her；　as　he　had　often　looked　in　the　garden。

〃Yes。〃

〃And　as　I　ventured　to　advisethat　last　time；　do　you　remember？〃

She　recollected　his　words。

〃No；〃　she　replied；　and　there　was　a　warmth　of　joy；　almost　of　pride；　in
her　voice。　〃I　am　not　alone。〃

Count　Anteoni　was　standing　with　one　hand　on　her　horse's　neck。　As　she
spoke；　his　hand　dropped　down。

〃I　have　been　away　from　Beni…Hassan；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃The　marabout　and
I　have　been　travelling　in　the　south　and　only　returned　yesterday。　I
have　heard　no　news