the garden of allah-第86节

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〃Do　you　want　anyone　to　be　with　us；　to　break　in　upon　our　lives？　Aren't
we　happier　alone？〃

〃Boris！〃　she　said；　〃youdid　you　let　him　see　that　you　wanted　him　to
go？〃

It　occurred　to　her　suddenly　that　Androvsky；　in　his　lack　of　worldly
knowledge；　might　perhaps　have　shown　their　guest　that　he　secretly
resented　the　intrusion　of　a　stranger　upon　them　even　for　one　evening；
and　that　De　Trevignac；　being　a　sensitive　man；　had　been　hurt　and　had
abruptly　gone　away。　Her　social　sense　revolted　at　this　idea。

〃You　didn't　let　him　see　that；　Boris！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃After　his　escape
from　death！　It　would　have　been　inhuman。〃

〃Perhaps　my　love　for　you　might　even　make　me　that；　Domini。　And　if　it
didif　you　knew　why　I　was　inhumanwould　you　blame　me　for　it？　Would
you　hate　me　for　it？〃

There　was　a　strong　excitement　dawning　in　him。　It　recalled　to　her　the
first　night　in　the　desert　when　they　sat　together　on　the　ground　and
watched　the　waning　of　the　fire。

〃Could　youcould　you　hate　me　for　anything；　Domini？〃　he　said。　〃Tell　me
could　you？〃

His　face　was　close　to　hers。　She　looked　at　him　with　her　long；　steady
eyes；　that　had　truth　written　in　their　dark　fire。

〃No；〃　she　answered。　〃I　could　never　hate　younow。〃

〃Not　ifnot　if　I　had　done　you　harm？　Not　if　I　had　done　you　a　wrong？〃

〃Could　you　ever　do　me　a　wrong？〃　she　asked。

She　sat；　looking　at　him　as　if　in　deep　thought；　for　a　moment。

〃I　could　almost　as　easily　believe　that　God　could；〃　she　said　at　last
simply。

〃Then　youyou　have　perfect　trust　in　me？〃

〃Buthave　you　ever　thought　I　had　not？〃　she　asked。　There　was　wonder　in
her　voice。

〃But　I　have　given　my　life　to　you；〃　she　added　still　with　wonder。　〃I　am
here　in　the　desert　with　you。　What　more　can　I　give？　What　more　can　I
do？〃

He　put　his　arms　about　her　and　drew　her　head　down　on　his　shoulder。

〃Nothing；　nothing。　You　have　given；　you　have　done　everythingtoo　much；
too　much。　I　feel　myself　below　you；　I　know　myself　below　youfar；　far
down。〃

〃How　can　you　say　that？　I　couldn't　have　loved　you　if　it　were　so。〃　She
spoke　with　complete　conviction。

〃Perhaps；〃　he　said；　in　a　low　voice；　〃perhaps　women　never　realise　what
their　love　can　do。　It　mightit　might〃

〃What；　Boris？〃

〃It　might　do　what　Christ　didgo　down　into　hell　to　preach　to　theto
the　spirits　in　prison。〃

His　voice　had　dropped　almost　to　a　murmur。　With　one　hand　on　her　cheek
he　kept　her　face　pressed　down　upon　his　shoulder　so　that　she　could　not
see　his　face。

〃It　might　do　that；　Domini。〃

〃Boris；〃　she　said；　almost　whispering　too；　for　his　words　and　manner
filled　her　with　a　sort　of　awe；　〃I　want　you　to　tell　me　something。〃

〃What　is　it？〃

〃Are　you　quite　happy　with　me　here　in　the　desert？　If　you　are　I　want　you
to　tell　me　that　you　are。　RememberI　shall　believe　you。〃

〃No　other　human　being　could　ever　give　me　the　happiness　you　give　me。〃

〃But〃

He　interrupted　her。

〃No　other　human　being　ever　has。　Till　I　met　you　I　had　no　conception　of
the　happiness　there　is　in　the　world　for　man　and　woman　who　love　each
other。〃

〃Then　you　are　happy？〃

〃Don't　I　seem　so？〃

She　did　not　reply。　She　was　searching　her　heart　for　the　answer
searching　it　with　an　almost　terrible　sincerity。　He　waited　for　her
answer；　sitting　quite　still。　His　hand　was　always　against　her　face。
After　what　seemed　to　him　an　eternity　she　said：

〃Boris！〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Why　did　you　say　that　about　a　woman's　love　being　able　even　to　go　down
into　hell　to　preach　to　the　spirits　in　prison？〃

He　did　not　answer。　His　hand　seemed　to　her　to　lie　more　heavily　on　her
cheek。

〃II　am　not　sure　that　you　are　quite　happy　with　me；〃　she　said。

She　spoke　like　one　who　reverenced　truth；　even　though　it　slew　her。
There　was　a　note　of　agony　in　her　voice。

〃Hush！〃　he　said。　〃Hush；　Domini！〃

They　were　both　silent。　Beyond　the　canvas　of　the　tent　that　shut　out
from　them　the　camp　they　heard　a　sound　of　music。　Drums　were　being
beaten。　The　African　pipe　was　wailing。　Then　the　voice　of　Ali　rose　in
the　song　of　the　〃Freed　Negroes〃：

　〃No　one　but　God　and　I
　　Knows　what　is　in　my　heart。〃

At　that　moment　Domini　felt　that　the　words　were　truehorribly　true。

〃Boris；〃　she　said。　〃Do　you　hear？〃

〃Hush；　Domini。〃

〃I　think　there　is　something　in　your　heart　that　sometimes　makes　you　sad
even　with　me。　I　think　perhaps　I　partly　guess　what　it　is。〃

He　took　his　hand　away　from　her　face；　his　arm　from　her　shoulder；　but
she　caught　hold　of　him；　and　her　arm　was　strong　like　a　man's。

〃Boris；　you　are　with　me；　you　are　close　to　me；　but　do　you　sometimes
feel　far　away　from　God？〃

He　did　not　answer。

〃I　don't　know；　I　oughtn't　to　ask；　perhaps。　I　don't　askno；　I　don't。
But；　if　it's　that；　don't　be　too　sad。　It　may　all　come　righthere　in
the　desert。　For　the　desert　is　the　Garden　of　Allah。　And；　Borisput　out
the　light。〃

He　extinguished　the　candle　with　his　hand。

〃You　feel；　perhaps；　that　you　can't　pray　honestly　now；　but　some　day　you
may　be　able　to。　You　will　be　able　to。　I　know　it。　Before　I　knew　I　loved
you　I　saw　youpraying　in　the　desert。〃

〃I！〃　he　whispered。　〃You　saw　me　praying　in　the　desert！〃

It　seemed　to　her　that　he　was　afraid。　She　pressed　him　more　closely　with
her　arms。

〃It　was　that　night　in　the　dancing…house。　I　seemed　to　see　a　crowd　of
people　to　whom　the　desert　had　given　gifts；　and　to　you　it　had　given　the
gift　of　prayer。　I　saw　you　far　out　in　the　desert　praying。〃

She　heard　his　hard　breathing；　felt　it　against　her　cheek。

〃Ifif　it　is　that；　Boris；　don't　despair。　It　may　come。　Keep　the
crucifix。　I　am　sure　you　have　it。　And　I　always　pray　for　you。〃

They　sat　for　a　long　while　in　the　dark；　but　they　did　not　speak　again
that　night。

Domini　did　not　sleep；　and　very　early　in　the　morning；　just　as　dawn　was
beginning；　she　stole　out　of　the　tent；　shutting　down　the　canvas　flap
behind　her。

It　was　cold　outsidecold　almost　as　in　a　northern　winter。　The　wind　of
the　morning；　that　blew　to　her　across　the　wavelike　dunes　and　the　white
plains；　seemed　impregnated　with　ice。　The　sky　was　a　pallid　grey。　The
camp　was　sleeping。　What　had　been　a　fire；　all　red　and　gold　and　leaping
beauty；　was　now　a　circle　of　ashes；　grey　as　the　sky。　She　stood　on　the
edge　of　the　hill　and　looked　towards　the　tower。

As　she　did　so；　from　the　house　behind　it　came　a　string　of　mules；
picking　their　way　among　the　stones　over　the　hard　earth。　De　Trevignac
and　his　men　were　already　departing　from　Mogar。

They　came　towards　her　slowly。　They　had　to　pass　her　to　reach　the　track
by　which　they　were　going　on　to　the　north　and　civilisation。　She　stood
to　see　them　pass。

When　they　were　quite　near　De　Trevignac；　who　was　riding；　with　his　head
bent　down　on　his　chest；　muffled　in　a　heavy　cloak；　looked　up　and　saw
her。　She　nodded　to　him。　He　sat　up　and　saluted。　For　a　moment　she
thought　that　he　was　going　on　without　stopping　to　speak　to　her。　She　saw
that　he　hesitated　what　to　do。　Then　he　pulled　up　his　mule　and　prepared
to　get　off。

〃No；　don't；　Monsieur；〃　she　said。

She　held　out　her　hand。

〃Good…bye；〃　she　added。

He　took　her　hand；　then　signed　to　his　men　to　ride　on。　When　they　had
passed；　saluting　her；　he　let　her　hand　go。　He　had　not　spoken　a　word。
His　face；　burned　scarlet　by　the　sun；　had　a　look　of　exhaustion　on　it；
but　also　another　lookof　horror；　she　thought；　as　if　in　his　soul　he
was　recoiling　from　her。　His　inflamed　blue　eyes　watched　her；　as　if　in　a
search　that　was　intense。　She　stood　beside　the　mule　in　amazement。　She
could　hardly　believe　that　this　was　the　man　who　had　thanked　her；　with
tears　in　his　eyes；　for　her　hospitality　the　night　before。　〃Good…bye；〃
he　said；　speaking　at　last；　coldly。　She　saw　him　glance　at　the　tent　from
which　she　had　come。　The　horror　in　his　face　surely　deepened。　〃Goodbye；
Madame；〃　he　repeated。　〃Thank　you　for　your　hospitality。〃　He　pulled　up
the　rein　to　ride　on。　The　mule　moved　a　step　or　two。　Then　suddenly　he
checked　it　and　turned　in　the　saddle。　〃Madame！〃　he　said。　〃Madame！〃

She　came　up　to　him。　It　seemed　to　her　that　he　was　going　to　say
something　of　tremendous　importance　to　her。　His　lips；　blistered　by　the
sun；　opened　to　speak。　But　he　only　looked　again　towards　the　tent　in
which　Androvsky　was　still　sleeping；　then　at　her。

A　long　moment　passed。

Then　De　Trevignac；　as　if　moved　by　an　irresistable　impulse；　leaned　from
the　saddle　and　made　over　Domini　the　sign　of　the　cross。　His　hand
dropped　down　against　the　mule's　side；　and　without　another　word；　or
look；　he　rode　away　to　the　north；　following　his　men。



CHAPTER　XXI

That　same　day；　to　the　surprise　of　Batouch；　they　left　Mogar。　To　both
Domini　and　Androvsky　it　seemed　a　tragic　place；　a　place　where　the
desert　showed　them　a　countenance　that　was　menacing。

They　moved　on　towards　the　south；　wandering　aimlessly　through　the　warm
regions　of　the　sun。　Then；　as　the　spring　drew　into　summer；　and　the　heat
became　daily　more　intense；　they　turned　again　northwards；　and　on　an
evening　in　May　pitched　their　camp　on　the　outskirts　of　the　Sahara　city
of　Amara。

This　city；　although　situated　in　the　northern　part　of　the　desert；　was
called　by　the　Arabs　〃The　belly　of　the　Sahara；〃　and　also　〃The　City　of
Scorpions。〃　It　lay　in　the　midst　of　a　vast　region　of　soft　and　shifting
sand　that　suggested　a　white　sea；　in　which　the　oasis　of　date　palms；　at
the　edge　of　which　the　city　stood；　was　a　green　island。　From　the　south；
whence　the　wanderers　came；　the　desert　sloped