the garden of allah-第54节
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〃It impressed you as it impresses me。 Well； for both of us the desert
has gifts。 Let us accept them fearlessly。 It is the will of Allah。〃
She remembered her vision of the pale procession。 Would she walk in it
at last？
〃You are as fatalistic as an Arab；〃 she said。
〃And you？〃
〃I！〃 she answered simply。 〃I believe that I am in the hands of God；
and I know that perfect love can never harm me。〃
After a moment he said； gently：
〃Miss Enfilden； I want to ask something of you。〃
〃Yes？〃
〃Will you make a sacrifice？ To…morrow I start at dawn。 Will you be
here to wish me God speed on my journey？〃
〃Of course I will。〃
〃It will be good of you。 I shall value it from you。 Andand whenif
you ever make your long journey on that roadthe route to the south
I will wish you Allah's blessing in the Garden of Allah。〃
He spoke with solemnity； almost with passion； and she felt the tears
very near her eyes。 Then they sat in silence； looking out over the
desert。
And she heard its voices calling。
CHAPTER XIII
On the following morning； before dawn； Domini awoke； stirred from
sleep by her anxiety； persistent even in what seemed unconsciousness；
to speed Count Anteoni upon his desert journey。 She did not know why
he was going； but she felt that some great issue in his life hung upon
the accomplishment of the purpose with which he set out； and without
affectation she ardently desired that accomplishment。 As soon as she
awoke she lit a candle and glanced at her watch。 She knew by the hour
that the dawn was near； and she got up at once and made her toilet。
She had told Batouch to be at the hotel door before sunrise to
accompany her to the garden； and she wondered if he were below。 A
stillness as of deep night prevailed in the house； making her
movements； while she dressed； seem unnaturally loud。 When she put on
her hat； and looked into the glass to see if it were just at the right
angle； she thought her face； always white； was haggard。 This departure
made her a little sad。 It suggested to her the instability of
circumstance； the perpetual change that occurs in life。 The going of
her kind host made her own going more possible than before； even more
likely。 Some words from the Bible kept on running through her brain
〃Here have we no continuing city。〃 In the silent darkness their
cadence held an ineffable melancholy。 Her mind heard them as the ear；
in a pathetic moment； hears sometimes a distant strain of music
wailing like a phantom through the invisible。 And the everlasting
journeying of all created things oppressed her heart。
When she had buttoned her jacket and drawn on her gloves she went to
the French window and pushed back the shutters。 A wan semi…darkness
looked in upon her。 Again she wondered whether Batouch had come。 It
seemed to her unlikely。 She could not imagine that anyone in all the
world was up and purposeful but herself。 This hour seemed created as a
curtain for unconsciousness。 Very softly she stepped out upon the
verandah and looked over the parapet。 She could see the white road；
mysteriously white； below。 It was deserted。 She leaned down。
〃Batouch！〃 she called softly。 〃Batouch！〃
He might be hidden under the arcade； sleeping in his burnous。
〃Batouch！ Batouch！〃
No answer came。 She stood by the parapet； waiting and looking down the
road。
All the stars had faded； yet there was no suggestion of the sun。 She
faced an unrelenting austerity。 For a moment she thought of this
atmosphere； this dense stillness； this gravity of vague and shadowy
trees； as the environment of those who had erred； of the lost spirits
of men who had died in mortal sin。
Almost she expected to see the desperate shade of her dead father pass
between the black stems of the palm trees； vanish into the grey mantle
that wrapped the hidden world。
〃Batouch！ Batouch！〃
He was not there。 That was certain。 She resolved to set out alone and
went back into her bedroom to get her revolver。 When she came out
again with it in her hand Androvsky was standing on the verandah just
outside her window。 He took off his hat and looked from her face to
the revolver。 She was startled by his appearance； for she had not
heard his step； and had been companioned by a sense of irreparable
solitude。 This was the first time she had seen him since he vanished
from the garden on the previous day。
〃You are going out； Madame？〃 he said。
〃Yes。〃
〃Not alone？〃
〃I believe so。 Unless I find Batouch below。〃
She slipped the revolver into the pocket of the loose coat she wore。
〃But it is dark。〃
〃It will be day very soon。 Look！〃
She pointed towards the east； where a light； delicate and mysterious
as the distant lights in the opal； was gently pushing in the sky。
〃You ought not to go alone。〃
〃Unless Batouch is there I must。 I have given a promise and I must
keep it。 There is no danger。〃
He hesitated； looking at her with an anxious； almost a suspicious；
expression。
〃Good…bye； Monsieur Androvsky。〃
She went towards the staircase。 He followed her quickly to the head of
it。
〃Don't trouble to come down with me。〃
〃Ifif Batouch is not theremight not I guard you； Madame？〃 She
remembered the Count's words and answered：
〃Let me tell you where I am going。 I am going to say good…bye to Count
Anteoni before he starts for his desert journey。〃
Androvsky stood there without a word。
〃Now； do you care to come if I don't find Batouch？ Mind； I'm not the
least afraid。〃
〃Perhaps he is thereif you told him。〃 He muttered the words。 His
whole manner had changed。 Now he looked more than suspiciouscloudy
and fierce。
〃Possibly。〃
She began to descend the stairs。 He did not follow her； but stood
looking after her。 When she reached the arcade it was deserted。
Batouch had forgotten or had overslept himself。 She could have walked
on under the roof that was the floor of the verandah； but instead she
stepped out into the road。 Androvsky was above her by the parapet。 She
glanced up and said：
〃He is not here； but it is of no consequence。 Dawn is breaking。 /Au
revoir/！〃
Slowly he took off his hat。 As she went away down the road he was
holding it in his hand； looking after her。
〃He does not like the Count；〃 she thought。
At the corner she turned into the street where the sand…diviner had
his bazaar； and as she neared his door she was aware of a certain
trepidation。 She did not want to see those piercing eyes looking at
her in the semi…darkness； and she hurried her steps。 But her anxiety
was needless。 All the doors were shut； all the inhabitants doubtless
wrapped in sleep。 Yet； when she had gained the end of the street； she
looked back； half expecting to see an apparition of a thin figure； a
tortured face； to hear a voice； like a goblin's voice； calling after
her。 Midway down the street there was a man coming slowly behind her。
For a moment she thought it was the Diviner in pursuit； but something
in the gait soon showed her her mistake。 There was a heaviness in the
movement of this man quite unlike the lithe and serpentine agility of
Aloui。 Although she could not see the face； or even distinguish the
costume in the morning twilight； she knew it for Androvsky。 From a
distance he was watching over her。 She did not hesitate； but walked on
quickly again。 She did not wish him to know that she had seen him。
When she came to the long road that skirted the desert she met the
breeze of dawn that blows out of the east across the flats； and drank
in its celestial purity。 Between the palms； far away towards Sidi…
Zerzour； above the long indigo line of the Sahara； there rose a curve
of deep red gold。 The sun was coming up to take possession of his
waiting world。 She longed to ride out to meet him； to give him a
passionate welcome in the sand； and the opening words of the Egyptian
〃Adoration of the Sun by the Perfect Souls〃 came to her lips：
〃Hommage a Toi。 Dieu Soleil。 Seigneur du Ciel； Roi sur la Terre！ Lion
du Soir！ Grande Ame divine； vivante a toujours。〃
Why had she not ordered her horse to ride a little way with Count
Anteoni？ She might have pretended that she was starting on her great
journey。
The red gold curve became a semi…circle of burnished glory resting
upon the deep blue； then a full circle that detached itself
majestically and mounted calmly up the cloudless sky。 A stream of
light poured into the oasis； and Domini； who had paused for a moment
in silent worship； went on swiftly through the negro village which was
all astir； and down the track to the white villa。
She did not glance round again to see whether Androvsky was still
following her； for； since the sun had come； she had the confident
sensation that he was no longer near。
He had surely given her into the guardianship of the sun。
The door of the garden stood wide open； and； as she entered； she saw
three magnificent horses prancing upon the sweep of sand in the midst
of a little group of Arabs。 Smain greeted her with graceful warmth and
begged her to follow him to the /fumoir/； where the Count was waiting
for her。
〃It is good of you！〃 the Count said； meeting her in the doorway。 〃I
relied on you； you see！〃
Breakfast for two was scattered upon the little smoki
