the garden of allah-第76章

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at　her　with　a　slight　smile　that　did　not　suggest　happiness；　then　added：

〃That　link　you　spoke　of　between　us　and　these　strangers〃he　made　a
gesture　towards　the　city〃I　ought　perhaps　to　feel　it　more　strongly
than　I　do。　II　will　try　to　feel　it。〃

Then　he　turned　away；　and　went　with　Batouch　across　the　sand…hills；
walking　heavily。

As　Domini　watched　him　going　she　felt　chilled；　because　there　was
something　in　his　manner；　in　his　smile；　that　seemed　for　the　moment　to
set　them　apart　from　each　other；　something　she　did　not　understand。

Soon　Androvsky　disappeared　in　a　fold　of　the　sands　as　he　had
disappeared　in　a　fold　of　the　sands　at　Mogar；　not　long　before　De
Trevignac　came。　She　thought　of　Mogar　once　more；　steadily；　reviewing
mentallywith　the　renewed　sharpness　of　intellect　that　had　returned　to
her；　brought　by　contact　with　the　cityall　that　had　passed　there；　as
she　never　reviewed　it　before。

It　had　been　a　strange　episode。

She　began　to　walk　slowly　up　and　down　on　the　sand　before　the　tent。
Ouardi　came　to　walk　with　her；　but　she　sent　him　away。　Before　doing　so；
however；　something　moved　her　to　ask　him：

〃That　African　liqueur；　Ouardiyou　remember　that　you　brought　to　the
tent　at　Mogarhave　we　any　more　of　it？〃

〃The　monk's　liqueur；　Madame？〃

〃What　do　you　meanmonk's　liqueur？〃

〃It　was　invented　by　a　monk；　Madame；　and　is　sold　by　the　monks　of　El…
Largani。〃

〃Oh！　Have　we　any　more　of　it？〃

〃There　is　another　bottle；　Madame；　but　I　should　not　dare　to　bring　it
if〃

He　paused。

〃If　what；　Ouardi？〃

〃If　Monsieur　were　there。〃

Domini　was　on　the　point　of　asking　him　why；　but　she　checked　herself　and
told　him　to　leave　her。　Then　she　walked　up　and　down　once　more　on　the
sand。　She　was　thinking　now　of　the　broken　glass　on　the　ground　at
Androvsky's　feet　when　she　found　him　alone　in　the　tent　after　De
Trevignac　had　gone。　Ouardi's　words　made　her　wonder　whether　this
liqueur；　brought　to　celebrate　De　Trevignac's　presence　in　the　camp；　had
turned　the　conversation　upon　the　subject　of　the　religious　orders；
whether　Androvsky　had　perhaps　said　something　against　them　which　had
offended　De　Trevignac；　a　staunch　Catholic；　whether　there　had　been　a
quarrel　between　the　two　men　on　the　subject　of　religion。　It　was
possible。　She　remembered　De　Trevignac's　strange；　almost　mystical；
gesture　in　the　dawn；　following　his　look　of　horror　towards　the　tent
where　her　husband　lay　sleeping。

To…night　her　mindher　whole　naturefelt　terribly　alive。

She　tried　to　think　no　more　of　Mogar；　but　her　thoughts　centred　round
it；　linked　it　with　this　great　city；　whose　lights　shone　in　the　distance
below　her；　whose　music　came　to　her　from　afar　over　the　silence　of　the
sands。

Mogar　and　Amara；　what　had　they　to　do　with　one　another？　Leagues　of
desert　divided　them。　One　was　a　desolation；　the　other　was　crowded　with
men。　What　linked　them　together　in　her　mind？

Androvsky's　fear　of　boththat　was　the　link。　She　kept　on　thinking　of
the　glance　he　had　cast　at　the　watch…tower；　to　which　Trevignac　had　been
even　then　approaching；　although　they　knew　it　not。　De　Trevignac！　She
walked　faster　on　the　sand；　to　and　fro　before　the　tent。　Why　had　he
looked　at　the　tent　in　which　Androvsky　slept　with　horror？　Was　it
because　Androvsky　had　denounced　the　religion　that　he　reverenced　and
loved？　Could　it　have　been　that？　But　thendid　Androvsky　actively　hate
religion？　Perhaps　he　hated　it；　and　concealed　his　hatred　from　her
because　he　knew　it　would　cause　her　pain。　Yet　she　had　sometimes　felt　as
if　he　were　seeking；　perhaps　with　fear；　perhaps　with　ignorance；　perhaps
with　uncertainty；　but　still　seeking　to　draw　near　to　God。　That　was　why
she　had　been　able　to　hope　for　him；　why　she　had　not　been　more　troubled
by　his　loss　of　the　faith　in　which　he　had　been　brought　up；　and　to　which
she　belonged　heart　and　soul。　Could　she　have　been　wrong　in　her
feelingdeceived？　There　were　men　in　the　world；　she　knew；　who　denied
the　existence　of　a　God；　and　bitterly　ridiculed　all　faith。　She
remembered　the　blasphemies　of　her　father。　Had　she　married　a　man　who；
like　him；　was　lost；　who；　as　he　had；　furiously　denied　God？

A　cold　thrill　of　fear　came　into　her　heart。　Suddenly　she　felt　as　if；
perhaps；　even　in　her　love；　Androvsky　had　been　a　stranger　to　her。

She　stood　upon　the　sand。　It　chanced　that　she　looked　towards　the　camp
of　the　Ouled　Nails；　whose　fires　blazed　upon　the　dunes。　While　she
looked　she　was　presently　aware　of　a　light　that　detached　itself　from
the　blaze　of　the　fires；　and　moved　from　them；　coming　towards　the　place
where　she　was　standing；　slowly。　The　young　moon　only　gave　a　faint　ray
to　the　night。　This　light　travelled　onward　through　the　dimness　like　an
earth…bound　star。　She　watched　it　with　intentness；　as　people　watch　any
moving　thing　when　their　minds　are　eagerly　at　work；　staring；　yet
scarcely　conscious　that　they　see。

The　little　light　moved　steadily　on　over　the　sands；　now　descending　the
side　of　a　dune；　now　mounting　to　a　crest；　and　always　coming　towards　the
place　where　Domini　was　standing；　And　presently　this　determined
movement　towards　her　caught　hold　of　her　mind；　drew　it　away　from　other
thoughts；　fixed　it　on　the　light。　She　became　interested　in　it；　intent
upon　it。

Who　was　bearing　it？　No　doubt　some　desert　man；　some　Arab。　She　imagined
him　tall；　brown；　lithe；　half…naked；　holding　the　lamp　in　his　muscular
fingers；　treading　on　bare　feet　silently；　over　the　deep　sand。　Why　had
he　left　the　camp？　What　was　his　purpose？

The　light　drew　near。　It　was　now　moving　over　the　flats　and　seemed；　she
thought；　to　travel　more　quickly。　And　always　it　came　straight　towards
where　she　was　standing。　A　conviction　dawned　in　her　that　it　was
travelling　with　an　intention　of　reaching　her；　that　it　was　carried　by
someone　who　was　thinking　of　her。　But　how　could　that　be？　She　thought　of
the　light　as　a　thing　with　a　mind　and　a　purpose；　borne　by　someone　who
backed　up　its　purpose；　helping　it　to　do　what　it　wanted。　And　it　wanted
to　come　to　her。

In　Mogar！　Androvsky　had　dreaded　something　in　Mogar。　De　Trevignac　had
come。　He　dreaded　something　in　Amara。　This　light　came。　For　an　instant
she　fancied　that　the　light　was　a　lamp　carried　by　De　Trevignac。　Then
she　saw　that　it　gleamed　upon　a　long　black　robe；　the　soutane　of　a
priest。

As　she　and　Androvsky　rode　into　Amara　she　had　asked　herself　whether　his
second　dread　would　be　followed；　as　his　first　dread　had　been；　by　an
unusual　incident。　When　she　saw　the　soutane　of　a　priest；　black　in　the
lamplight；　moving　towards　her　over　the　whiteness　of　the　sand；　she　said
to　herself　that　it　was　to　be　so　followed。　This　priest　stood　in　the
place　of　De　Trevignac。

Why　did　he　come　to　her？



CHAPTER　XXIII

When　the　priest　drew　close　to　the　tent　Domini　saw　that　it　was　not　he
who　carried　the　lantern；　but　a　native　soldier；　one　of　the　Tirailleurs；
formerly　called　Turcos；　who　walked　beside　him。　The　soldier　saluted
her；　and　the　priest　took　off　his　broad；　fluffy　black　hat。

〃Good…evening；　Madame；〃　he　said；　speaking　French　with　the　accent　of
Marseilles。　〃I　am　the　Aumonier　of　Amara；　and　have　just　heard　of　your
arrival　here；　and　as　I　was　visiting　my　friends　on　the　sand…hills
yonder；　I　thought　I　would　venture　to　call　and　ask　whether　I　could　be
of　any　service　to　you。　The　hour　is　informal；　I　know；　but　to　tell　the
truth；　Madame；　after　five　years　in　Amara　one　does　not　know　how　to　be
formal　any　longer。〃

His　eyes；　which　had　a　slightly　impudent　look；　rare　in　a　priest　but　not
unpleasing；　twinkled　cheerfully　in　the　lamplight　as　he　spoke；　and　his
whole　expression　betokened　a　highly　social　disposition　and　the　most
genuine　pleasure　at　meeting　with　a　stranger。　While　she　looked　at　him；
and　heard　him　speak；　Domini　laughed　at　herself　for　the　imaginations
she　had　just　been　cherishing。　He　had　a　broad　figure；　long　arms；　large
feet　encased　in　stout；　comfortable　boots。　His　face　was　burnt　brown　by
the　sun　and　partially　concealed　by　a　heavy　black　beard；　whiskers　and
moustache。　His　features　were　blunt　and　looked　boyish；　though　his　age
must　have　been　about　forty。　The　nose　was　snub；　and　accorded　with　the
expression　in　his　eyes；　which　were　black　like　his　hair　and　full　of
twinkling　lights。　As　he　smiled　genially　on　Domini　he　showed　two　rows
of　small；　square　white　teeth。　His　Marseilles　accent　exactly　suited　his
appearance；　which　was　rough　but　honest。　Domini　welcomed　him　gladly。
Indeed；　her　reception　of　him　was　more　than　cordial；　almost　eager。　For
she　had　been　vaguely　expecting　some　tragic　figure；　some　personality
suggestive　of　mystery　or　sorrow；　and　she　thought　of　the　incidents　at
Mogar；　and　associated　the　moving　light　with　the　approach　of　further
strange　events。　This　homely　figure　of　her　religion；　beaming
satisfaction　and　comfortable　anticipation　of　friendly　intercourse；
laid　to　rest　fears　which　only　now；　when　she　was　conscious　of　relief；
she　knew　she　had　been　entertaining。　She　begged　the　priest　to　come　into
the　dining…tent；　and；　taking　up　the　little　bell　which　was　on　the
table；　went　out　into　the　sand　and　rang　it　for　Ouardi。

He　came　at　once；　like　a　shadow　gliding　over　the　waste。

〃Bring　us　coffee　for　two；　Ouardi；　biscuits〃she　glanced　at　her
visitor〃bon…bons；　yes；　the　bon…bons　in　the　white　box；　and　the
cigars。　And　take　the　soldier　with　you　and　entertain　him　well。　Give　him
whatever　he　likes。〃

Ouardi　went　away　with　the　soldier；　talking　frantically；　and　Domini
returned　to　the　tent；　where　she　found　the　priest　gleaming　with　joyous
anticipation。　They　sat　down　in　the　comfortable　basket　chairs　before
the　tent　door；　through　which　they　could　see　the　shining　of　the　city's
lights　and　hear　the　distant　sound　of　its　throbbing　and　wailing　music。

〃My　husband　has　gone　to　see　the　city；〃　Domini　said　after　she　had　told
the　priest　her　name　and　been　informed　that　his　was　Max　Beret。

〃We　only　arrived　this　evening。〃

〃I　know；　Madame。〃

He　beamed　on　her；　and　stroked　his　thick　beard　with　his　broad；　sunburnt
hand。　〃Everyone　in　Amara　knows；　and　everyone　in　the　tents。　We　know；
too；　how　many　tents　you　have；　how　many　servants；　how　many　camels；
horses；　dogs。〃

He　broke　into　a　hearty　laugh。

〃We　know　what　you've　just　had　for　dinner！〃

Domini　laughed　too。

〃Not　really！〃

〃Well；　I　heard　in　the　camp　that　it　was　soup　and　stewed　mutton。　But
never　mind！　You　must　forgive　us。　We　are　barbarians！　We　are　sand…
rascals！　We　are　ruffians　of　the　sun！〃

His　laugh　was　infectious。　He　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　shook　with
the　mirth　his　own　remarks　had　roused。

〃We　are　ruffians　of　the　sun！〃　he　repeated　with　gusto。　〃And　we　must　be
forgiven　everything。〃

Although　clad　in　a　soutane　he　looked；　at　that　moment；　like　a　type　of
the　most　joyous　tolerance；　and　Domini　could　not　help　mentally
comparing　him　with　the　priest　of　Beni…Mora。　What　would　Father　Roubier
think　of　Father　Beret？

〃It　is　easy　to　forgive　in　the　sun；〃　Domini　said。

The　priest　laid　his　hands　on　his　knees；　setting　his　feet　well　apart。
She　noticed　that　his　hands　were　not　scrupulously　clean。

〃Madame；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　impossible　to　be　anything　but　lenient　in　the
sun。　That　is　my　experience。　Excuse　me　but　are　you　a　Catholic？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃So　much　the　better。　You　must　let　me　show　you　the　chapel。　It　is　in　the
building　with　the　cupolas。　The　congregation　consists　of　five　on　a　full
Sunday。〃　His　laugh　broke　out　again。　〃I　hope　the　day　after　to…morrow
you　and　your　husband　will　mak