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第83节

the garden of allah-第83节

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〃Thank youbut I will do it。〃

In the light of the flame that leaped up as if striving to touch her
face he saw a light in her eyes that he understood; and he drooped his
torch towards the earth while she lifted hers on high and waved it in
the blackness。

He watched her。 The tall; strong; but exquisitely supple figure; the
uplifted arm with the torch sending forth a long tongue of golden
flame; the ardent and unconscious pose; that set before him a warm
passionate heart calling to another heart without shame; made him
think of her as some Goddess of the Sahara。 He had let his torch droop
towards the earth; but; as she waved hers; he had an irresistible
impulse to join her in the action she made heroic and superb。 And
presently he lifted his torch; too; and waved it beside hers in the
night。

She smiled at him in the flames。

〃He must see them surely;〃 she said。

From below; in the distance of the desert; there rose a loud cry in a
strong man's voice。

〃Aha!〃 she exclaimed。

She called out in return in a warm; powerful voice。 The man's voice
answered; nearer。 She dropped her brand to the earth。

〃Monsieur; you will come thenin half an hour?〃

〃Madame; with the most heartfelt pleasure。 But let me accompany〃

〃No; I am quite safe。 And bring your men with you。 We'll make the best
feast we can for them。 And there's enough champagne for all。〃

Then she went away quickly; eagerly; into the darkness。

〃To be her husband!〃 murmured De Trevignac。 〃Luckylucky fellow!〃 And
he dropped his brand beside hers on the ground; and stood watching the
two flames mingle。

〃Luckylucky fellow!〃 he said again aloud。 〃I wonder what he's like。〃



CHAPTER XX

When Domini reached the camp she found it in a bustle。 Batouch;
resigned to the inevitable; had put the cook upon his mettle。 Ouardi
was already to be seen with a bottle of Pommery in each hand; and was
only prevented from instantly uncorking them by the representations of
his mistress and an elaborate exposition of the peculiar and
evanescent virtues of champagne。 Ali was humming a mysterious song
about a lovesick camel…man; with which he intended to make glad the
hearts of the assembly when the halting time was over。 And the dining…
table was already set for three。

When Androvsky rode in with the Arabs Domini met him at the edge of
the hill。

〃You saw my signal; Boris?〃

〃Yes〃

He was going to say more; when she interrupted him eagerly。

〃Have you any gazelle? Ah〃〃

Across the mule of one of the Arabs she saw a body drooping; a
delicate head with thin; pointed horns; tiny legs with exquisite
little feet that moved as the mule moved。

〃We shall want it to…night。 Take it quickly to the cook's tent;
Ahmed。〃 Androvsky got off his mule。

〃There's a light in the tower!〃 he said; looking at her and then
dropping his eyes。

〃Yes。〃

〃And I saw two signals。 There were two brands being waved together。〃

〃To…night; we have comrades in the desert。〃

〃Comrades!〃 he said。

His voice sounded startled。

〃Men who have escaped from a horrible death in the dunes。〃

〃Arabs?〃

〃French。〃

Quickly she told him her story。 He listened in silence。 When she had
finished he said nothing。 But she saw him look at the dining…table
laid for three and his expression was dark and gloomy。

〃Boris; you don't mind!〃 she said in surprise。 〃Surely you would not
refuse hospitality to these poor fellows!〃

She put her hand through his arm and pressed it。

〃Have I done wrong? But I know I haven't!〃

〃Wrong! How could you do that?〃

He seemed to make an effort; to conquer something within him。

〃It's I who am wrong; Domini。 The truth is; I can't bear our happiness
to be intruded upon even for a night。 I want to be alone with you。
This life of ours in the desert has made me desperately selfish。 I
want to be alone; quite alone; with you。〃

〃It's that! How glad I am!〃

She laid her cheek against his arm。

〃Then;〃 he said; 〃that other signal?〃

〃Monsieur de Trevignac gave it。〃

Androvsky took his arm from hers abruptly。

〃Monsieur de Trevignac!〃 he said。 〃Monsieur de Trevignac?〃

He stood as if in deep and anxious thought。

〃Yes; the officer。 That's his name。 What is it; Boris?〃

〃Nothing。〃

There was a sound of voices approaching the camp in the darkness。 They
were speaking French。

〃I must;〃 said Androvsky; 〃I must〃

He made an uncertain movement; as if to go towards the dunes; checked
it; and went hurriedly into the dressing…tent。 As he disappeared De
Trevignac came into the camp with his men。 Batouch conducted the
latter with all ceremony towards the fire which burned before the
tents of the attendants; and; for the moment; Domini was left alone
with De Trevignac。

〃My husband is coming directly;〃 she said。 〃He was late in returning;
but he brought gazelle。 Now you must sit down at once。〃

She led the way to the dining…tent。 De Trevignac glanced at the table
laid for three with an eager anticipation which he was far too natural
to try to conceal。

〃Madame;〃 he said; 〃if I disgrace myself to…night; if I eat like an
ogre in a fairy tale; will you forgive me?〃

〃I will not forgive you if you don't。〃

She spoke gaily; made him sit down in a folding…chair; and insisted on
putting a soft cushion at his back。 Her manner was cheerful; almost
eagerly kind and full of a camaraderie rare in a woman; yet he noticed
a change in her since they stood together waving the brands by the
tower。 And he said to himself:

〃The husbandperhaps he's not so pleased at my appearance。 I wonder
how long they've been married?〃

And he felt his curiosity to see 〃Monsieur Androvsky〃 deepen。

While they waited for him Domini made De Trevignac tell her the story
of his terrible adventure in the dunes。 He did so simply; like a
soldier; without exaggeration。 When he had finished she said:

〃You thought death was certain then?〃

〃Quite certain; Madame。〃

She looked at him earnestly。

〃To have faced a death like that in utter desolation; utter
loneliness; must make life seem very different afterwards。〃

〃Yes; Madame。 But I did not feel utterly alone。〃

〃Your men!〃

〃No; Madame。〃

After a pause he added; simply:

〃My mother is a devout Catholic; Madame。 I am her only child; andshe
taught me long ago that in any peril one is never quite alone。〃

Domini's heart warmed to him。 She loved this trust in God so frankly
shown by a soldier; member of an African regiment; in this wild land。
She loved this brave reliance on the unseen in the midst of the terror
of the seen。 Before they spoke again Androvsky crossed the dark space
between the tents and came slowly into the circle of the lamplight。

De Trevignac got up from his chair; and Domini introduced the two men。
As they bowed each shot a swift glance at the other。 Then Androvsky
looked down; and two vertical lines appeared on his high forehead
above his eyebrows。 They gave to his face a sudden look of acute
distress。 De Trevignac thanked him for his proffered hospitality with
the ease of a man of the world; assuming that the kind invitation to
him and to his men came from the husband as well as from the wife。
When he had finished speaking; Androvsky; without looking up; said; in
a voice that sounded to Domini new; as if he had deliberately assumed
it:

〃I am glad; Monsieur。 We found gazelle; and so I hopeI hope you will
have a fairly good dinner。〃

The words could scarcely have been more ordinary; but the way in which
they were uttered was so strange; sounded indeed so forced; and so
unnatural; that both De Trevignac and Domini looked at the speaker in
surprise。 There was a pause。 Then Batouch and Ouardi came in with the
soup。

〃Come!〃 Domini said。 〃Let us begin。 Monsieur de Trevignac; will you
sit here on my right?〃

They sat down。 The two men were opposite to each other at the ends of
the small table; with a lamp between them。 Domini faced the tent door;
and could see in the distance the tents of the attendants lit up by
the blaze of the fire; and the forms of the French soldiers sitting at
their table close to it; with the Arabs clustering round them。 Sounds
of loud conversation and occasional roars of laughter; that was almost
childish in its frank lack of all restraint; told her that one feast
was a success。 She looked at her companions and made a sudden resolve
almost fiercethat the other; over which she was presiding; should
be a success; too。 But why was Androvsky so strange with other men?
Why did he seem to become almost a different human being directly he
was brought into any close contact with his kind? Was it shyness? Had
he a profound hatred of all society? She remembered Count Anteoni's
luncheon and the distress Androvsky had caused her by his cold
embarrassment; his unwillingness to join in conversation on that
occasion。 But then he was only her friend。 Now he was her husband。 She
longed for him to show himself at his best。 That he was not a man of
the world she knew。 Had he not told her of his simple upbringing in El
Kreir; a remote village of Tunisia; by a mother who had been left in
poverty after the death of his father; a Russian who had come to
Africa to make a fortune by vine…growing;

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