the garden of allah-第26章

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above　her　head；　had　sprung　from　the　little　platform　and　was　dancing　on
the　earthen　floor　in　the　midst　of　the　Arabs。

Her　thin　body　shook　convulsively　in　time　to　the　music。　She　marked　the
accents　with　her　shudders。　Excitement　had　grown　in　her　till　she　seemed
to　be　in　a　feverish　passion　that　was　half　exultant；　half　despairing。
In　her　expression；　in　her　movements；　in　the　way　she　held　herself；
leaning　backwards　with　her　face　looking　up；　her　breast　and　neck
exposed　as　if　she　offered　her　life；　her　love　and　all　the　mysteries　in
her；　to　an　imagined　being　who　dominated　her　savage　and　ecstatic　soul；
there　was　a　vivid　suggestion　of　the　two　elements　in　Passionrapture
and　melancholy。　In　her　dance　she　incarnated　passion　whole　by　conveying
the　two　halves　that　compose　it。　Her　eyes　were　nearly　closed；　as　a
woman　closes　them　when　she　has　seen　the　lips　of　her　lover　descending
upon　hers。　And　her　mouth　seemed　to　be　receiving　the　fiery　touch　of
another　mouth。　In　this　moment　she　was　a　beautiful　woman　because　she
looked　like　womanhood。　And　Domini　understood　why　the　Arabs　thought　her
more　beautiful　than　the　other　dancers。　She　had　what　they　had　not
genius。　And　genius；　under　whatever　form；　shows　to　the　world　at　moments
the　face　of　Aphrodite。

She　came　slowly　nearer；　and　those　by　the　platform　turned　round　to
follow　her　with　their　eyes。　Hadj's　hood　had　slipped　completely　down
over　his　face；　and　his　chin　was　sunk　on　his　chest。　Batouch　noticed　it
and　looked　angry；　but　Domini　had　forgotten　both　the　comedy　of　the　two
cousins　and　the　tragedy　of　Irena's　love　for　Hadj。　She　was　completely
under　the　fascination　of　this　dance　and　of　the　music　that　accompanied
it。　Now　that　Irena　was　near　she　was　able　to　see　that；　without　her
genius；　there　would　have　been　no　beauty　in　her　face。　It　was　painfully
thin；　painfully　long　and　haggard。　Her　life　had　written　a　fatal
inscription　across　it　as　their　life　writes　upon　the　faces　of　poor
street…bred　children　the　one　wordWant。　As　they　have　too　little　this
dancing　woman　had　had　too　much。　The　sparkle　of　her　robe　of　gold　tissue
covered　with　golden　coins　was　strong　in　the　lamplight。　Domini　looked
at　it　and　at　the　two　sharp　knives　above　her　head；　looked　at　her
violent；　shuddering　movements；　and　shuddered　too；　thinking　of
Batouch's　story　of　murdered　dancers。　It　was　dangerous　to　have　too　much
in　Beni…Mora。

Irena　was　quite　close　now。　She　seemed　so　wrapped　in　the　ecstasy　of　the
dance　that　it　did　not　occur　to　Domini　at　first　that　she　was　imitating
the　Ouled　Nail　who　had　laid　her　greasy　head　upon　the　stranger's　knees。
The　abandonment　of　her　performance　was　so　great　that　it　was　difficult
to　remember　its　money　value　to　her　and　to　Tahar；　the　fair　Kabyle。　Only
when　she　was　actually　opposite　to　them　and　stayed　there；　still
performing　her　shuddering　dance；　still　holding　the　daggers　above　her
head；　did　Domini　realise　that　those　half…closed；　passionate　eyes　had
marked　the　stranger　woman；　and　that　she　must　add　one　to　the　stream　of
golden　coins。　She　took　out　her　purse　but　did　not　give　the　money　at
once。　With　the　pitiless　scrutiny　of　her　sex　she　noticed　all　the
dancer's　disabilities。　She　was　certainly　young；　but　she　was　very　worn。
Her　mouth　drooped。　At　the　corners　of　her　eyes　there　were　tiny　lines
tending　downward。　Her　forehead　had　what　Domini　secretly　called　a
martyred　look。　Nevertheless；　she　was　savage　and　triumphant。　Her　thin
body　suggested　force；　the　way　she　held　herself　consuming　passion。　Even
so　near　at　hand；　even　while　she　was　pausing　for　money；　and　while　her
eyes　were；　doubtless；　furtively　reading　Domini；　she　shed　round　her　a
powerful　atmosphere；　which　stirred　the　blood；　and　made　the　heart　leap；
and　created　longing　for　unknown　and　violent　things。　As　Domini　watched
her　she　felt　that　Irena　must　have　lived　at　moments　magnificently；　that
despite　her　almost　shattered　condition　and　permanent　wearinessonly
cast　aside　for　the　moment　of　the　danceshe　must　have　known　intense
joys；　that　so　long　as　she　lived　she　would　possess　the　capacity　for
knowing　them　again。　There　was　something　burning　within　her　that　would
burn　on　so　long　as　she　was　alive；　a　spark　of　nature　that　was　eternally
red　hot。　It　was　that　spark　which　made　her　the　idol　of　the　Arabs　and
shed　a　light　of　beauty　through　her　haggard　frame。

The　spirit　blazed。

Domini　put　her　hand　at　last　into　her　purse　and　took　out　a　piece　of
gold。　She　was　just　going　to　give　it　to　Irena　when　the　white　bundle
that　was　Hadj　made　a　sudden；　though　slight；　movement；　as　if　the　thing
inside　it　had　shivered。　Irena　noticed　it　with　her　half…closed　eyes。
Domini　leaned　forward　and　held　out　the　money；　then　drew　back　startled。
Irena　had　changed　her　posture　abruptly。　Instead　of　keeping　her　head
thrown　back　and　exposing　her　long　throat；　she　lifted　it；　shot　it
forward。　Her　meagre　bosom　almost　disappeared　as　she　bent　over。　Her
arms　fell　to　her　sides。　Her　eyes　opened　wide　and　became　full　of　a
sharp；　peering　intensity。　Her　vision　and　dreams　dropped　out　of　her。
Now　she　was　only　fierce　and　questioning；　and　horribly　alert。　She　was
looking　at　the　white　bundle。　It　shifted　again。　She　sprang　upon　it；
showing　her　teeth；　caught　hold　of　it。　With　a　swift　turn　of　her　thin
hands　she　tore　back　the　hood；　and　out　of　the　bundle　came　Hadj's　head
and　face　livid　with　fear。　One　of　the　daggers　flashed　and　came　up　at
him。　He　leaped　from　the　seat　and　screamed。　Suzanne　echoed　his　cry。
Then　the　whole　room　was　a　turmoil　of　white　garments　and　moving　limbs。
In　an　instant　everybody　seemed　to　be　leaping；　calling　out；　grasping；
struggling。　Domini　tried　to　get　up；　but　she　was　hemmed　in；　and　could
not　make　a　movement　upward　or　free　her　arms；　which　were　pressed
against　her　sides　by　the　crowd　around　her。　For　a　moment　she　thought
she　was　going　to　be　severely　hurt　or　suffocated。　She　did　not　feel
afraid；　but　only　indignant；　like　a　boy　who　has　been　struck　in　the　face
and　longs　to　retaliate。　Someone　screamed　again。　It　was　Hadj。　Suzanne
was　on　her　feet；　but　separated　from　her　mistress。　Batouch's　arm　was
round　her。　Domini　put　her　hands　on　the　bench　and　tried　to　force
herself　up；　violently　setting　her　broad　shoulders　against　the　Arabs
who　were　towering　over　her　and　covering　her　head　and　face　with　their
floating　garments　as　they　strove　to　see　the　fight　between　Hadj　and　the
dancer。　The　heat　almost　stifled　her；　and　she　was　suddenly　aware　of　a
strong　musky　smell　of　perspiring　humanity。　She　was　beginning　to　pant
for　breath　when　she　felt　two　burning；　hot；　hard　hands　come　down　on
hers；　fingers　like　iron　catch　hold　of　hers；　go　under　them；　drag　up　her
hands。　She　could　not　see　who　had　seized　her；　but　the　life　in　the　hands
that　were　on　hers　mingled　with　the　life　in　her　hands　like　one　fluid
with　another；　and　seemed　to　pass　on　till　she　felt　it　in　her　body；　and
had　an　odd　sensation　as　if　her　face　had　been　caught　in　a　fierce　grip；
and　her　heart　too。

Another　moment　and　she　was　on　her　feet　and　out　in　the　moonlit　alley
between　the　little　white　houses。　She　saw　the　stars；　and　the　painted
balconies　crowded　with　painted　women　looking　down　towards　the　cafe　she
had　left　and　chattering　in　shrill　voices。　She　saw　the　patrol　of
Tirailleurs　Indigenes　marching　at　the　double　to　the　doorway　in　which
the　Arabs　were　still　struggling。　Then　she　saw　that　the　traveller　was
beside　her。　She　was　not　surprised。

〃Thank　you　for　getting　me　out；〃　she　said　rather　bluntly。　〃Where's　my
maid？〃

〃She　got　away　before　us　with　your　guide；　Madame。〃

He　held　up　his　hands　and　looked　at　them　hard；　eagerly；　questioningly。

〃You　weren't　hurt？〃

He　dropped　his　hands　quickly。　〃Oh；　no；　it　wasn't〃

He　broke　off　the　sentence　and　was　silent。　Domini　stood　still；　drew　a
long　breath　and　laughed。　She　still　felt　angry　and　laughed　to　control
herself。　Unless　she　could　be　amused　at　this　episode　she　knew　that　she
was　capable　of　going　back　to　the　door　of　the　cafe　and　hitting　out
right　and　left　at　the　men　who　had　nearly　suffocated　her。　Any　violence
done　to　her　body；　even　an　unintentional　push　against　her　in　the　street
if　there　was　real　force　in　itseemed　to　let　loose　a　devil　in　her；
such　a　devil　as　ought　surely　only　to　dwell　inside　a　man。

〃What　people！〃　she　said。　〃What　wild　creatures！〃

She　laughed　again。　The　patrol　pushed　its　way　roughly　in　at　the
doorway。

〃The　Arabs　are　always　like　that；　Madame。〃

She　looked　at　him；　then　she　said；　abruptly：

〃Do　you　speak　English？〃

Her　companion　hesitated。　It　was　perfectly　obvious　to　her　that　he　was
considering　whether　he　should　answer　〃Yes〃　or　〃No。〃　Such　hesitation
about　such　a　matter　was　very　strange。　At　last　he　said；　but　still　in
French：

〃Yes。〃

And　directly　he　had　said　it　she　saw　by　his　face　that　he　wished　he　had
said　〃No。〃

From　the　cafe　the　Arabs　began　to　pour　into　the　street。　The　patrol　was
clearing　the　place。　The　women　leaning　over　the　balconies　cried　out
shrilly　to　learn　the　exact　history　of　the　tumult；　and　the　men　standing
underneath；　and　lifting　up　their　bronzed　faces　in　the　moonlight；
replied　in　violent　voices；　gesticulating　vehemently　while　their
hanging　sleeves　fell　back　from　their　hairy　arms。

〃I　am　an　Englishwoman；〃　Domini　said。

But　she　too　felt　obliged　to　speak　still　in　French；　as　if　a　sudden
reserve　told　her　to　do　so。　He　said　nothing。　They　were　standing　in
quite　a　crowd　now。　It　swayed；　parted　suddenly；　and　the　soldiers
appeared　holding　Irena。　Hadj　followed　behind；　shouting　as　if　in　a
frenzy　of　passion。　There　was　some　blood　on　one　of　his　hands　and　a
streak　of　blood　on　the　front　of　the　loose　shirt　he　wore　under　his
burnous。　He　kept　on　shooting　out　his　arms　towards　Irena　as　he　walked；
and　frantically　appealing　to　the　Arabs　round　him。　When　he　saw　the
women　on　their　balconies　he　stopped　for　a　moment　and　called　out　to
them　like　a　man　beside　himself。　A　Tirailleur　pushed　him　on。　The　women；
who　had　been　quiet　to　hear　him；　burst　forth　again　into　a　paroxysm　of
chatter。　Irena　looked　utterly　indifferent　and　walked　feebly。　The
little　procession　disappeared　in　the　moonlight　accompanied　by　the
crowd。

〃She　has　stabbed　Hadj；〃　Domini　said。　〃Batouch　will　be　glad。〃

She　did　not　feel　as　if　she　were　sorry。　Indeed；　she　thought　she　was
glad　too。　That　the　dancer　should　try　to　do　a　thing　and　fail　would　have
seemed　contradictory。　And　the　streak　of　blood　she　had　just　seen　seemed
to　relieve　her　suddenly　and　to　take　from　her　all　anger。　Her　self…
control　returned。

〃Thank　you　once　more；〃　she　said　to　her　companion。　〃Goodnight。〃

She　remembered　the　episode　of　the　tower　that　afternoon；　and　resolved
to　take　a　definite　line　this　time；　and　not　to　run　the　chance　of　a
second　desertion。　She　started　off　down　the　street；　but　found　him
walking　beside　her　in　silence。　She　stopped。

〃I　am　very　much　obliged　to　you　for　getting　me　out；〃　she　said；　looking
straight　at　him。　〃And　now；　good…night。〃

Almost　for　the　first　time　he　endured　her　gaze　without　any　uncertainty；
and　she　saw　that　though　he　might　be　hesitating；　uneasy；　even
contemptibleas　when　he　hurried　down　the　road　in　the　wake　of　the
negro　processionhe　could　also　be　a　dogged　man。

〃I'll　go　with　you；　Madame；〃　he　said。

〃Why？〃

〃It's　night。〃

〃I'm　not　afraid。〃

〃I'll　go　with　you；　Madame。〃

He　said　it　again　harshly　and　kept　his　eyes　on　her；　frowning。

〃And　if　I　refuse？〃　she　said；　wondering　whether　she　wa