the garden of allah-第48节
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fragrant cloud of smoke。
〃He seems a remarkable man；〃 the priest said mildly。
〃Do you think so？〃
She began to speak to Count Anteoni about some absurdity of Batouch；
forcing her mind into a light and frivolous mood； and he echoed her
tone with a clever obedience for which secretly she blessed him。 In a
moment they were laughing together with apparent merriment； and Father
Roubier smiled innocently at their light…heartedness； believing in it
sincerely。 But Androvsky suddenly turned around with a dark and morose
countenance。
〃Come in out of the sunshine；〃 said the Count。 〃It is too strong。 Try
this chair。 Coffee will beah； here it is！〃
Two servants appeared； carrying it。
〃Thank you； Monsieur；〃 Androvsky said with reluctant courtesy。
He came towards them with determination and sat down； drawing forward
his chair till he was facing Domini。 Directly he was quiet Bous…Bous
sprang upon his knee and lay down hastily； blinking his eyes； which
were almost concealed by hair； and heaving a sigh which made the
priest look kindly at him； even while he said deprecatingly：
〃Bous…Bous！ Bous…Bous！ Little rascal； little pigdown； down！〃
〃Oh； leave him； Monsieur！〃 muttered Androvsky。 〃It's all the same to
me。〃
〃He really has no shame where his heart is concerned。〃
〃Arab！〃 said the Count。 〃He has learnt it in Beni…Mora。〃
〃Perhaps he has taken lessons from Larbi；〃 said Domini。 〃Hark！ He is
playing to…day。 For whom？〃
〃I never ask now；〃 said the Count。 〃The name changes so often。〃
〃Constancy is not an Arab fault？〃 Domini asked。
〃You say 'fault；' Madame；〃 interposed the priest。
〃Yes； Father；〃 she returned with a light touch of conscious cynicism。
〃Surely in this world that which is apt to bring inevitable misery
with it must be accounted a fault。〃
〃But can constancy do that？〃
〃Don't you think so； into a world of ceaseless change？〃
〃Then how shall we reckon truth in a world of lies？〃 asked the Count。
〃Is that a fault； too？〃
〃Ask Monsieur Androvsky；〃 said Domini； quickly。
〃I obey；〃 said the Count； looking over at his guest。
〃Ah； but I am sure I know；〃 Domini added。 〃I am sure you think truth a
thing we should all avoid in such a world as this。 Don't you；
Monsieur？〃
〃If you are sure； Madame； why ask me？〃 Androvsky replied。
There was in his voice a sound that was startling。 Suddenly the priest
reached out his hand and lifted Bous…Bous on to his knee； and Count
Anteoni very lightly and indifferently interposed。
〃Truth…telling among Arabs becomes a dire necessity to Europeans。 One
cannot out…lie them； and it doesn't pay to run second to Orientals。 So
one learns； with tears； to be sincere。 Father Roubier is shocked by my
apologia for my own blatant truthfulness。〃
The priest laughed。
〃I live so little in what is called 'the world' that I'm afraid I'm
very ready to take drollery for a serious expression of opinion。〃
He stroked Bous…Bous's white back； and added； with a simple geniality
that seemed to spring rather from a desire to be kind than from any
temperamental source：
〃But I hope I shall always be able to enjoy innocent fun。〃
As he spoke his eyes rested on Androvsky's face； and suddenly he
looked grave and put Bous…Bous gently down on the floor。
〃I'm afraid I must be going；〃 he said。
〃Already？〃 said his host。
〃I dare not allow myself too much idleness。 If once I began to be idle
in this climate I should become like an Arab and do nothing all day
but sit in the sun。〃
〃As I do。 Father； we meet very seldom； but whenever we do I feel
myself a cumberer of the earth。〃
Domini had never before heard him speak with such humbleness。 The
priest flushed like a boy。
〃We each serve in our own way；〃 he said quickly。 〃The Arab who sits
all day in the sun may be heard as a song of praise where He is。〃
And then he took his leave。 This time he did not extend his hand to
Androvsky； but only bowed to him； lifting his white helmet。 As he went
away in the sun with Bous…Bous the three he had left followed him with
their eyes。 For Androvsky had turned his chair sideways； as if
involuntarily。
〃I shall learn to love Father Roubier；〃 Domini said。
Androvsky moved his seat round again till his back was to the garden；
and placed his broad hands palm downward on his knees。
〃Yes？〃 said the Count。
〃He is so transparently good； and he bears his great disappointment so
beautifully。〃
〃What great disappointment？〃
〃He longed to become a monk。〃
Androvsky got up from his seat and walked back to the garden doorway。
His restless demeanour and lowering expression destroyed all sense of
calm and leisure。 Count Anteoni looked after him； and then at Domini；
with a sort of playful surprise。 He was going to speak； but before the
words came Smain appeared； carrying reverently a large envelope
covered with Arab writing。
〃Will you excuse me for a moment？〃 the Count said。
〃Of course。〃
He took the letter； and at once a vivid expression of excitement shone
in his eyes。 When he had read it there was a glow upon his face as if
the flames of a fire played over it。
〃Miss Enfilden；〃 he said； 〃will you think me very discourteous if I
leave you for a moment？ The messenger who brought this has come from
far and starts to…day on his return journey。 He has come out of the
south； three hundred kilometres away； from Beni…Hassan； a sacred
villagea sacred village。〃
He repeated the last words； lowering his voice。
〃Of course go and see him。〃
〃And you？〃
He glanced towards Androvsky； who was standing with his back to them。
〃Won't you show Monsieur Androvsky the garden？〃
Hearing his name Androvsky turned； and the Count at once made his
excuses to him and followed Smain towards the garden gate； carrying
the letter that had come from Beni…Hassan in his hand。
When he had gone Domini remained on the divan； and Androvsky by the
door； with his eyes on the ground。 She took another cigarette from the
box on the table beside her； struck a match and lit it carefully。 Then
she said：
〃Do you care to see the garden？〃
She spoke indifferently； coldly。 The desire to show her Paradise to
him had died away； but the parting words of the Count prompted the
question； and so she put it as to a stranger。
〃Thank you； Madameyes；〃 he replied； as if with an effort。
She got up； and they went out together on to the broad walk。
〃Which way do you want to go？〃 she asked。
She saw him glance at her quickly； with anxiety in his eyes。
〃You know best where we should go； Madame。〃
〃I daresay you won't care about it。 Probably you are not interested in
gardens。 It does not matter really which path we take。 They are all
very much alike。〃
〃I am sure they are all very beautiful。〃
Suddenly he had become humble； anxious to please her。 But now the
violent contrasts in him； unlike the violent contrasts of nature in
this land； exasperated her。 She longed to be left alone。 She felt
ashamed of Androvsky； and also of herself； she condemned herself
bitterly for the interest she had taken in him； for her desire to put
some pleasure into a life she had deemed sad； for her curiosity about
him； for her wish to share joy with him。 She laughed at herself
secretly for what she now called her folly in having connected him
imaginatively with the desert； whereas in reality he made the desert；
as everything he approached； lose in beauty and wonder。 His was a
destructive personality。 She knew it now。 Why had she not realised it
before？ He was a man to put gall in the cup of pleasure； to create
uneasiness； self…consciousness； constraint round about him； to call up
spectres at the banquet of life。 Well； in the future she could avoid
him。 After to…day she need never have any more intercourse with him。
With that thought； that interior sense of her perfect freedom in
regard to this man； an abrupt； but always cold； content came to her；
putting him a long way off where surely all that he thought and did
was entirely indifferent to her。
〃Come along then；〃 she said。 〃We'll go this way。〃
And she turned down an alley which led towards the home of the purple
dog。 She did not know at the moment that anything had influenced her
to choose that particular path； but very soon the sound of Larbi's
flute grew louder； and she guessed that in reality the music had
attracted her。 Androvsky walked beside her without a word。 She felt
that he was not looking about him； not noticing anything； and all at
once she stopped decisively。
〃Why should we take all this trouble？〃 she said bluntly。 〃I hate
pretence and I thought I had travelled far away from it。 But we are
both pretending。〃
〃Pretending； Madame？〃 he said in a startled voice。
〃Yes。 I that I want to show you this garden； you that you want to see
it。 I no longer wish to show it to you； and you have never wished to
see it。 Let us cease to pretend。 It is all my fault。 I bothered you to
come here when you didn't want to come。 You have taught me a lesson。 I
was inclined to condemn you for it； to be angry with you。 But why
should I be？ You were quite right。 Freedom is my fetish。 I set you
free； Monsieur Androvsky。 Good…bye。〃
As she spoke she felt that the air was clearing； the clouds w
