the garden of allah-第14章

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men　careless　here。　They　opened　their　windows　to　it；　and　one　could　see
into　the　warm　and　glowing　rooms。　Domini　looked　at　the　gentle　Arab
youth　beside　her；　already　twice　married　and　twice　divorced。　She
listened　to　Larbi's　unending　song　of　love。　And　she　said　to　herself；
〃These　people；　uncivilised　or　not；　at　least　live；　and　I　have　been　dead
all　my　life；　dead　in　life。〃　That　was　horribly　possible。　She　knew　it　as
she　felt　the　enormously　powerful　spell　of　Africa　descending　upon　her；
enveloping　her　quietly　but　irresistibly。　The　dream　of　this　garden　was
quick　with　a　vague　and　yet　fierce　stirring　of　realities。　There　was　a
murmuring　of　many　small　and　distant　voices；　like　the　voices　of
innumerable　tiny　things　following　restless　activities　in　a　deep
forest。　As　she　stood　there　the　last　grain　of　European　dust　was　lifted
from　Domini's　soul。　How　deeply　it　had　been　buried；　and　for　how　many
years。

〃The　greatest　act　of　man　is　the　act　of　renunciation。〃　She　had　just
heard　those　words。　The　eyes　of　the　priest　had　flamed　as　he　spoke　them；
and　she　had　caught　the　spark　of　his　enthusiasm。　But　now　another　fire
seemed　lit　within　her；　and　she　found　herself　marvelling　at　such
austerity。　Was　it　not　a　fanatical　defiance　flung　into　the　face　of　the
sun？　She　shrank　from　her　own　thought；　like　one　startled；　and　walked　on
softly　in　the　green　darkness。

Larbi's　flute　became　more　distant。　Again　and　again　it　repeated　the
same　queer　little　melody；　changing　the　ornamentation　at　the　fantasy　of
the　player。　She　looked　for　him　among　the　trees　but　saw　no　one。　He　must
be　in　some　very　secret　place。　Smain　touched　her。

〃Look！〃　he　said；　and　his　voice　was　very　low。

He　parted　the　branches　of　some　palms　with　his　delicate　hands；　and
Domini；　peering　between　them；　saw　in　a　place　of　deep　shadows　an
isolated　square　room；　whose　white　walls　were　almost　entirely　concealed
by　masses　of　purple　bougainvillea。　It　had　a　flat　roof。　In　three　of　its
sides　were　large　arched　window…spaces　without　windows。　In　the　fourth
was　a　narrow　doorway　without　a　door。　Immense　fig　trees　and　palms　and
thickets　of　bamboo　towered　around　it　and　leaned　above　it。　And　it　was
circled　by　a　narrow　riband　of　finely…raked　sand。

〃That　is　the　smoking…room　of　Monsieur　the　Count；〃　said　Smain。　〃He
spends　many　hours　there。　Come　and　I　will　show　the　inside　to　Madame。〃

They　turned　to　the　left　and　went　towards　the　room。　The　flute　was　close
to　them　now。　〃Larbi　must　be　in　there；〃　Domini　whispered　to　Smain；　as　a
person　whispers　in　a　church。

〃No；　he　is　among　the　trees　beyond。〃

〃But　someone　is　there。〃

She　pointed　to　the　arched　window…space　nearest　to　them。　A　thin　spiral
of　blue…grey　smoke　curled　through　it　and　evaporated　into　the　shadows
of　the　trees。　After　a　moment　it　was　followed　gently　and　deliberately
by　another。

〃It　is　not　Larbi。　He　would　not　go　in　there。　It　must　be〃

He　paused。　A　tall；　middle…aged　man　had　come　to　the　doorway　of　the
little　room　and　looked　out　into　the　garden　with　bright　eyes。



CHAPTER　VI

Domini　drew　back　and　glanced　at　Smain。　She　was　not　accustomed　to
feeling　intrusive；　and　the　sudden　sensation　rendered　her　uneasy。

〃It　is　Monsieur　the　Count；〃　Smain　said　calmly　and　quite　aloud。

The　man　in　the　doorway　took　off　his　soft　hat；　as　if　the　words　effected
an　introduction　between　Domini　and　him。

〃You　were　coming　to　see　my　little　room；　Madame？〃　he　said　in　French。
〃If　I　may　show　it　to　you　I　shall　feel　honoured。〃

The　timbre　of　his　voice　was　harsh　and　grating；　yet　it　was　a　very
interesting；　even　a　seductive；　voice；　and；　Domini　thought；　peculiarly
full　of　vivid　life；　though　not　of　energy。　His　manner　at　once　banished
her　momentary　discomfort。　There　is　a　freemasonry　between　people　born
in　the　same　social　world。　By　the　way　in　which　Count　Anteoni　took　off
his　hat　and　spoke　she　knew　at　once　that　all　was　right。

〃Thank　you；　Monsieur；〃　she　answered。　〃I　was　told　at　the　gate　you　gave
permission　to　travellers　to　visit　your　garden。〃

〃Certainly。〃

He　spoke　a　few　words　in　fluent　Arabic　to　Smain；　who　turned　away　and
disappeared　among　the　trees。

〃I　hope　you　will　allow　me　to　accompany　you　through　the　rest　of　the
garden；〃　he　said；　turning　again　to　Domini。　〃It　will　give　me　great
pleasure。〃

〃It　is　very　kind　of　you。〃

The　way　in　which　the　change　of　companion　had　been　effected　made　it
seem　a　pleasant；　inevitable　courtesy；　which　neither　implied　nor
demanded　anything。

〃This　is　my　little　retreat；〃　Count　Anteoni　continued；　standing　aside
from　the　doorway　that　Domini　might　enter。

She　drew　a　long　breath　when　she　was　within。

The　floor　was　of　fine　sand；　beaten　flat　and　hard；　and　strewn　with
Eastern　rugs　of　faint　and　delicate　hues；　dim　greens　and　faded　rose
colours；　grey…blues　and　misty　topaz　yellows。　Round　the　white　walls　ran
broad　divans；　also　white；　covered　with　prayer　rugs　from　Bagdad；　and
large　cushions；　elaborately　worked　in　dull　gold　and　silver　thread；
with　patterns　of　ibises　and　flamingoes　in　flight。　In　the　four　angles
of　the　room　stood　four　tiny　smoking…tables　of　rough　palm　wood；　holding
hammered　ash…trays　of　bronze；　green　bronze　torches　for　the　lighting　of
cigarettes；　and　vases　of　Chinese　dragon　china　filled　with　velvety　red
roses；　gardenias　and　sprigs　of　orange　blossom。　Leather　footstools；
covered　with　Tunisian　thread…work；　lay　beside　them。　From　the　arches　of
the　window…spaces　hung　old　Moorish　lamps　of　copper；　fitted　with　small
panes　of　dull　jewelled　glass；　such　as　may　be　seen　in　venerable　church
windows。　In　a　round　copper　brazier；　set　on　one　of　the　window…seats；
incense　twigs　were　drowsily　burning　and　giving　out　thin；　dwarf　columns
of　scented　smoke。　Through　the　archways　and　the　narrow　doorway　the
dense　walls　of　leafage　were　visible　standing　on　guard　about　this　airy
hermitage；　and　the　hot　purple　blossoms　of　the　bougainvillea　shed　a
cloud　of　colour　through　the　bosky　dimness。

And　still　the　flute　of　Larbi　showered　soft；　clear；　whimsical　music
from　some　hidden　place　close　by。

Domini　looked　at　her　host；　who　was　standing　by　the　doorway；　leaning
one　arm　against　the　ivory…white　wall。

〃This　is　my　first　day　in　Africa；〃　she　said　simply。　〃You　may　imagine
what　I　think　of　your　garden；　what　I　feel　in　it。　I　needn't　tell　you。
Indeed；　I　am　sure　the　travellers　you　so　kindly　let　in　must　often　have
worried　you　with　their　raptures。〃

〃No；〃　he　answered；　with　a　still　gravity　which　yet　suggested　kindness；
〃for　I　leave　nearly　always　before　the　travellers　come。　That　sounds　a
little　rude？　But　you　would　not　be　in　Beni…Mora　at　this　season；　Madame；
if　it　could　include　you。〃

〃I　have　come　here　for　peace；〃　Domini　replied　simply。

She　said　it　because　she　felt　as　if　it　was　already　understood　by　her
companion。

Count　Anteoni　took　down　his　arm　from　the　white　wall　and　pulled　a
branch　of　the　purple　flowers　slowly　towards　him　through　the　doorway。

〃There　is　peacewhat　is　generally　called　so；　at　leastin　Beni…Mora；〃
he　answered　rather　slowly　and　meditatively。　〃That　is　to　say；　there　is
similarity　of　day　with　day；　night　with　night。　The　sun　shines
untiringly　over　the　desert；　and　the　desert　always　hints　at　peace。〃

He　let　the　flowers　go；　and　they　sprang　softly　back；　and　hung　quivering
in　the　space　beyond　his　thin　figure。　Then　he　added：

〃Perhaps　one　should　not　say　more　than　that。〃

〃No。〃

Domini　sat　down　for　a　moment。　She　looked　up　at　him　with　her　direct
eyes　and　at　the　shaking　flowers。　The　sound　of　Larbi's　flute　was　always
in　her　ears。

〃But　may　not　one　think；　feel　a　little　more？〃　she　asked。

〃Oh；　why　not？　If　one　can；　if　one　must？　But　how？　Africa　is　as　fierce
and　full　of　meaning　as　a　furnace；　you　know。〃

〃Yes；　I　knowalready；〃　she　replied。

His　words　expressed　what　she　had　already　felt　here　in　Beni…Mora；
surreptitiously　and　yet　powerfully。　He　said　it；　and　last　night　the
African　hautboy　had　said　it。　Peace　and　a　flame。　Could　they　exist
together；　blended；　married？

〃Africa　seems　to　me　to　agree　through　contradiction；〃　she　added；
smiling　a　little；　and　touching　the　snowy　wall　with　her　right　hand。
〃But　then；　this　is　my　first　day。〃

〃Mine　was　when　I　was　a　boy　of　sixteen。〃

〃This　garden　wasn't　here　then？〃

〃No。　I　had　it　made。　I　came　here　with　my　mother。　She　spoilt　me。　She　let
me　have　my　whim。〃

〃This　garden　is　your　boy's　whim？〃

〃It　was。　Now　it　is　a　man's〃

He　seemed　to　hesitate。

〃Paradise；〃　suggested　Domini。

〃I　think　I　was　going　to　say　hiding…place。〃

There　was　no　bitterness　in　his　odd；　ugly　voice；　yet　surely　the　words
implied　bitterness。　The　wounded；　the　fearful；　the　disappointed；　the
condemned　hide。　Perhaps　he　remembered　this；　for　he　added　rather
quickly：

〃I　come　here　to　be　foolish；　Madame；　for　I　come　here　to　think。　This　is
my　special　thinking　place。〃

〃How　strange！〃　Domini　exclaimed　impulsively；　and　leaning　forward　on
the　divan。

〃Is　it？〃

〃I　only　mean　that　already　Beni…Mora　has　seemed　to　me　the　ideal　place
for　that。〃

〃For　thought？〃

〃For　finding　out　interior　truth。〃

Count　Anteoni　looked　at　her　rather　swiftly　and　searchingly。　His　eyes
were　not　large；　but　they　were　bright；　and　held　none　of　the　languor　so
often　seen　in　the　eyes　of　his　countrymen。　His　face　was　expressive
through　its　mobility　rather　than　through　its　contours。　The　features
were　small　and　refined；　not　noble；　but　unmistakably　aristocratic。　The
nose　was　sensitive；　with　wide　nostrils。　A　long　and　straight　moustache；
turning　slightly　grey；　did　not　hide　the　mouth；　which　had　unusually
pale　lips。　The　ears　were　set　very　flat　against　the　head；　and　were
finely　shaped。　The　chin　was　pointed。　The　general　look　of　the　whole
face　was　tense；　critical；　conscious；　but　in　the　defiant　rather　than　in
the　timid　sense。　Such　an　expression　belongs　to　men　who　would　always　be
aware　of　the　thoughts　and　feelings　of　others　concerning　them；　but　who
would　throw　those　thoughts　and　feelings　off　as　decisively　and
energetically　as　a　dog　shakes　the　waterdrops　from　its　coat　on　emerging
from　a　swim。

〃And　sending　it　forth；　like　Ishmael；　to　shift　for　itself　in　the
desert；〃　he　said。

The　odd　remark　sounded　like　neither　statement　nor　question；　merely
like　the　sudden　exclamation　of　a　mind　at　work。

〃Will　you　allow　me　to　take　you　through　the　rest　of　the　garden；
Madame？〃　he　added　in　a　more　formal　voice。

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Domini；　who　had　already　got　up；　moved　by　the
examining　look　cast　at　her。

There　was　nothing　in　it　to　resent；　and　she　had　not　resented　it；　but　it
had　recalled　her　to　the　consciousness　that　they　were　utter　strangers
to　each　other。

As　they　came　out　on　the　pale　riband　of　sand　which　circled　the　little
room　Domini　said：

〃How　wild　and　extraordinary　that　tune　is！〃

〃Larbi's。　I　suppose　it　is；　but　no　African　music　seems　strange　to　me。　I
was　born　on　my　father's　estate；　near　Tunis。　He　was　a　Sicilian；　but
came　to　North　Africa　each　winter。　I　have　always　heard　the　tomtoms　and
the　pipes；　and　I　know　nearly　all　the　desert　songs　of　the　nomads。〃

〃This　is　a　love…song；　isn't　it？〃

〃Yes。　Larbi　is　always　in　love；　they　tell　me。　Each　new　dancer　catches
him　in　her　net。　Happy　Larbi！〃

〃Because　he　can　love　so　easily？〃

〃Or　unlove　so　easily。　Look　at　him；　Madame。〃

At　a　little　distance；　under　a　big　banana　tree；　and　half　hidden　by
clumps　of　scarlet　geraniums；　Domini　saw　a　huge　and　very　ugly　Arab；
with　an　almost　black　skin；　sq