the garden of allah-第14节

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curiosity。　Boys；　with　the　whitest　teeth　she　had　ever　beheld；　and
flowers　above　their　well…shaped；　delicate　ears；　smiled　up　at　her　with
engaging　impudence。　Her　nostrils　were　filled　with　a　strange　crowd　of
odours；　which　came　from　humanity　dressed　in　woollen　garments；　from
fruits　exposed　for　sale　in　rush　panniers；　from　round　close　bouquets　of
roses　ringed　with　tight　borders　of　green　leaves；　from　burning　incense
twigs；　from　raw　meat；　from　amber　ornaments　and　strong　perfumes　in
glass　phials　figured　with　gold　attar　of　rose；　orange　blossom；　geranium
and　white　lilac。　In　the　shining　heat　of　the　sun　sounds；　scents　and
movements　mingled；　and　were　almost　painfully　vivid　and　full　of　meaning
and　animation。　Never　had　a　London　mob　on　some　great　/fete/　day　seemed
so　significant　and　personal　to　Domini　as　this　little　mob　of　desert
people；　come　together　for　the　bartering　of　beasts；　the　buying　of
burnouses；　weapons；　skins　and　jewels；　grain　for　their　camels；　charms
for　their　women；　ripe　glistening　dates　for　the　little　children　at　home
in　the　brown　earth　houses。

As　she　made　her　way　slowly　through　the　press；　pioneered　by　Batouch；
who　forced　a　path　with　great　play　of　his　huge　shoulders　and　mighty
arms；　she　was　surprised　to　find　how　much　at　home　she　felt　in　the　midst
of　these　fierce　and　uncivilised…looking　people。　She　had　no　sense　of
shrinking　from　their　contact；　no　feeling　of　personal　disgust　at　their
touch。　When　her　eyes　chanced　to　meet　any　of　the　bold；　inquiring　eyes
around　her　she　was　inclined　to　smile　as　if　in　recognition　of　these
children　of　the　sun；　who　did　not　seem　to　her　like　strangers；　despite
the　unknown　language　that　struggled　fiercely　in　their　throats。
Nevertheless；　she　did　not　wish　to　stay　very　long　among　them　now。　She
was　resolved　to　get　a　full　and　delicately　complete　first　impression　of
Beni…Mora；　and　to　do　that　she　knew　that　she　must　detach　herself　from
close　human　contact。　She　desired　the　mind's　bird's…eye　viewa　height；
a　watchtower　and　a　little　solitude。　So；　when　the　eager　Mozabite
merchants　called　to　her　she　did　not　heed　them；　and　even　the　busy
patter　of　the　informing　Batouch　fell　upon　rather　listless　ears。

〃I　sha'n't　stay　here；〃　she　said　to　him。　〃But　I'll　buy　some　perfumes。
Where　can　I　get　them？〃

A　thin　youth；　brooding　above　a　wooden　tray　close　by；　held　up　in　his
delicate　fingers　a　long　bottle；　sealed　and　furnished　with　a　tiny
label；　but　Batouch　shook　his　head。

〃For　perfumes　you　must　go　to　Ahmeda；　under　the　arcade。〃

They　crossed　a　sunlit　space　and　stood　before　a　dark　room；　sunk　lightly
below　the　level　of　the　pathway　in　a　deserted　corner。　Shadows
congregated　here；　and　in　the　gloom　Domini　saw　a　bent　white　figure
hunched　against　the　blackened　wall；　and　heard　an　old　voice　murmuring
like　a　drowsy　bee。　The　perfume…seller　was　immersed　in　the　Koran；　his
back　to　the　buying　world。　Batouch　was　about　to　call　upon　him；　when
Domini　checked　the　exclamation　with　a　quick　gesture。　For　the　first
time　the　mystery　that　coils　like　a　great　black　serpent　in　the　shining
heart　of　the　East　startled　and　fascinated　her；　a　mystery　in　which
indifference　and　devotion　mingle。　The　white　figure　swayed　slowly　to
and　fro；　carrying　the　dull；　humming　voice　with　it；　and　now　she　seemed
to　hear　a　far…away　fanaticism；　the　bourdon　of　a　fatalism　which　she
longed　to　understand。

〃Ahmeda！〃

Batouch　shouted。　His　voice　came　like　a　stone　from　a　catapult。　The
merchant　turned　calmly　and　without　haste；　showing　an　aquiline　face
covered　with　wrinkles；　tufted　with　white　hairs；　lit　by　eyes　that　shone
with　the　cruel　expressiveness　of　a　falcon's。　After　a　short　colloquy　in
Arabic　he　raised　himself　from　his　haunches；　and　came　to　the　front　of
the　room；　where　there　was　a　small　wooden　counter。　He　was　smiling　now
with　a　grace　that　was　almost　feminine。

〃What　perfume　does　Madame　desire？〃　he　said　in　French。

Domini　gazed　at　him　as　at　a　deep　mystery；　but　with　the　searching
directness　characteristic　of　her；　a　fearlessness　so　absolute　that　it
embarrassed　many　people。

〃Please　give　me　something　that　is　of　the　Eastnot　violets；　not
lilac。〃

〃Amber；〃　said　Batouch。

The　merchant；　still　smiling；　reached　up　to　a　shelf；　showing　an　arm
like　a　brown　twig；　and　took　down　a　glass　bottle　covered　with　red　and
green　lines。　He　removed　the　stopper；　made　Domini　take　off　her　glove；
touched　her　bare　hand　with　the　stopper；　then　with　his　forefinger
gently　rubbed　the　drop　of　perfume　which　had　settled　on　her　skin　till
it　was　slightly　red。

〃Now；　smell　it；〃　he　commanded。

Domini　obeyed。　The　perfume　was　faintly　medicinal；　but　it　filled　her
brain　with　exotic　visions。　She　shut　her　eyes。　Yes；　that　was　a　voice　of
Africa　too。　Oh！　how　far　away　she　was　from　her　old　life　and　hollow
days。　The　magic　carpet　had　been　spread　indeed；　and　she　had　been　wafted
into　a　strange　land　where　she　had　all　to　learn。

〃Please　give　me　some　of　that；〃　she　said。

The　merchant　poured　the　amber　into　a　phial；　where　it　lay　like　a　thread
in　the　glass；　weighed　it　in　a　scales　and　demanded　a　price。　Batouch
began　at　once　to　argue　with　vehemence；　but　Domini　stopped　him。

〃Pay　him；〃　she　said；　giving　Batouch　her　purse。

The　perfume…seller　took　the　money　with　dignity；　turned　away；　squatted
upon　his　haunches　against　the　blackened　wall；　and　picked　up　the　broad…
leaved　volume　which　lay　upon　the　floor。　He　swayed　gently　and
rhythmically　to　and　fro。　Then　once　more　the　voice　of　the　drowsy　bee
hummed　in　the　shadows。　The　worshipper　and　the　Prophet　stood　before　the
feet　of　Allah。

And　the　womanshe　was　set　afar　off；　as　woman　is　by　white…robed　men　in
Africa。

〃Now；　Batouch；　you　can　carry　the　perfume　to　the　hotel　and　I　will　go　to
that　garden。〃

〃Alone？　Madame　will　never　find　it。〃

〃I　can　ask　the　way。〃

〃Impossible！　I　will　escort　Madame　to　the　gate。　There　I　will　wait　for
her。　Monsieur　the　Count　does　not　permit　the　Arabs　to　enter　with
strangers。〃

〃Very　well；〃　Domini　said。

The　seller　of　perfumes　had　led　her　towards　a　dream。　She　was　not
combative；　and　she　would　be　alone　in　the　garden。　As　they　walked
towards　it　in　the　sun；　through　narrow　ways　where　idle　Arabs　lounged
with　happy　aimlessness；　Batouch　talked　of　Count　Anteoni；　the　owner　of
the　garden。

Evidently　the　Count　was　the　great　personage　of　Beni…Mora。　Batouch
spoke　of　him　with　a　convinced　respect；　describing　him　as　fabulously
rich；　fabulously　generous　to　the　Arabs。

〃He　never　gives　to　the　French；　Madame；　but　when　he　is　here　each
Friday；　upon　our　Sabbath；　he　comes　to　the　gate　with　a　bag　of　money　in
his　hand；　and　he　gives　five　franc　pieces　to　every　Arab　who　is　there。〃

〃And　what　is　he？　French？〃

〃He　is　Italian；　but　he　is　always　travelling；　and　he　has　made　gardens
everywhere。　He　has　three　in　Africa　alone；　and　in　one　he　keeps　many
lions。　When　he　travels　he　takes　six　Arabs　with　him。　He　loves　only　the
Arabs。〃

Domini　began　to　feel　interested　in　this　wandering　maker　of　gardens；
who　was　a　pilgrim　over　the　world　like　Monte　Cristo。

〃Is　he　young？〃　she　asked。

〃No。〃

〃Married？〃

〃Oh；　no！　He　is　always　alone。　Sometimes　he　comes　here　and　stays　for
three　months；　and　is　never　once　seen　outside　the　garden。　And　sometimes
for　a　year　he　never　comes　to　Beni…Mora。　But　he　is　here　now。　Twenty
Arabs　are　always　working　in　the　garden；　and　at　night　ten　Arabs　with
guns　are　always　awake；　some　in　a　tent　inside　the　door　and　some　among
the　trees。

〃Then　there　is　danger　at　night？〃

〃The　garden　touches　the　desert；　and　those　who　are　in　the　desert
without　arms　are　as　birds　in　the　air　without　wings。〃

They　had　come　out　from　among　the　houses　now　into　a　broad；　straight
road；　bordered　on　the　left　by　land　that　was　under　cultivation；　by
fruit　trees；　and　farther　away　by　giant　palms；　between　whose　trunks
could　be　seen　the　stony　reaches　of　the　desert　and　spurs　of　grey…blue
and　faint　rose…coloured　mountains。　On　the　right　was　a　shady　garden
with　fountains　and　stone　benches；　and　beyond　stood　a　huge　white　palace
built　in　the　Moorish　style；　and　terraced　roofs　and　a　high　tower
ornamented　with　green　and　peacock…blue　tiles。　In　the　distance；　among
more　palms；　appeared　a　number　of　low；　flat　huts　of　brown　earth。　The
road；　as　far　as　the　eyes　could　see；　stretched　straight　forward　through
enormous　groves　of　palms；　whose　feathery　tops　swayed　gently　in　the
light　wind　that　blew　from　the　desert。　Upon　all　things　rained　a　flood
of　blue　and　gold。　A　blinding　radiance　made　all　things　glad。

〃How　glorious　light　is！〃　Domini　exclaimed；　as　she　looked　down　the　road
to　the　point　where　its　whiteness　was　lost　in　the　moving　ocean　of　the
trees。

Batouch　assented　without　enthusiasm；　having　always　lived　in　the　light。

〃As　we　return　from　the　garden　we　will　visit　the　tower；〃　he　said；
pointing　to　the　Moorish　palace。　〃It　is　a　hotel；　and　is　not　yet　open；
but　I　know　the　guardian。　From　the　tower　Madame　will　see　the　whole　of
Beni…Mora。　Here　is　the　negro　village。〃

They　traversed　its　dusty　alleys　slowly。　On　the　side　where　the　low
brown　dwellings　threw　shadows　some　of　the　inhabitants　were　dreaming　or
chattering；　wrapped　in　garments　of　gaudy　cotton。　Little　girls　in　the
fiercest　orange　colour；　with　tattooed　foreheads　and　leathern　amulets；
darted　to　and　fro；　chasing　each　other　and　shrieking　with　laughter。
Naked　babies；　whose　shaven　heads