the garden of allah-第31部分

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lessons　Monsieur　will〃

〃I　don't　ride；　I　tell　you。〃

Androvsky　was　looking　angry。　He　stepped　out　into　the　road。　Bous…Bous；
who　was　now　observing　Nature　at　the　priest's　garden　gate；　emerged　with
some　sprightliness　and　trotted　towards　him；　evidently　with　the
intention　of　making　his　acquaintance。　Coming　up　to　him　the　little　dog
raised　his　head　and　uttered　a　short　bark；　at　the　same　time　wagging　his
tail　in　a　kindly；　though　not　effusive　manner。　Androvsky　looked　down；
bent　quickly　and　patted　him；　as　only　a　man　really　fond　of　animals　and
accustomed　to　them　knows　how　to　pat。　Bous…Bous　was　openly　gratified。
He　began　to　wriggle　affectionately。　The　priest　in　his　garden　smiled。
Androvsky　had　not　seen　him　and　went　on　playing　with　the　dog；　who　now
made　preparations　to　lie　down　on　his　curly　back　in　the　road　in　the
hope　of　being　tickled；　a　process　he　was　an　amateur　of。　Still　smiling；
and　with　a　friendly　look　on　his　face；　the　priest　came　out　of　his
garden　and　approached　the　playmates。

〃Good　morning；　M'sieur；〃　he　said　politely；　raising　his　hat。　〃I　see　you
like　dogs。〃

Androvsky　lifted　himself　up；　leaving　Bous…Bous　in　a　prayerful
attitude；　his　paws　raised　devoutly　towards　the　heavens。　When　he　saw
that　it　was　the　priest　who　had　addressed　him　his　face　changed；
hardened　to　grimness；　and　his　lips　trembled　slightly。

〃That's　my　little　dog；〃　the　priest　continued　in　a　gentle　voice。　〃He
has　evidently　taken　a　great　fancy　to　you。〃

Batouch　was　watching　Androvsky　under　the　arcade；　and　noted　the　sudden
change　in　his　expression　and　his　whole　bearing。

〃II　did　not　know　he　was　your　dog；　Monsieur；　or　I　should　not　have
interfered　with　him；〃　said　Androvsky。

Bous…Bous　jumped　up　against　his　leg。　He　pushed　the　little　dog　rather
roughly　away　and　stepped　back　to　the　arcade。　The　priest　looked　puzzled
and　slightly　hurt。　At　this　moment　the　soft　thud　of　horse's　hoofs　was
audible　on　the　road　and　Domini　came　cantering　back　to　the　hotel。　Her
eyes　were　sparkling；　her　face　was　radiant。　She　bowed　to　the　priest　and
reined　up　before　the　hotel　door；　where　Androvsky　was　standing。

〃I'll　buy　him；〃　she　said　to　Batouch；　who　swelled　with　satisfaction　at
the　thought　of　his　commission。　〃And　I'll　go　for　a　long　ride　nowout
into　the　desert。〃

〃You　will　not　go　alone；　Madame？〃

It　was　the　priest's　voice。　She　smiled　down　at　him　gaily。

〃Should　I　be　carried　off　by　nomads；　Monsieur？〃

〃It　would　not　be　safe　for　a　lady；　believe　me。〃

Batouch　swept　forward　to　reassure　the　priest。　〃I　am　Madame's　guide。　I
have　a　horse　ready　saddled　to　accompany　Madame。　I　have　sent　for　it
already；　M'sieur。〃

One　of　the　little　Arab　boys　was　indeed　visible　running　with　all　his
might　towards　the　Rue　Berthe。　Domini's　face　suddenly　clouded。　The
presence　of　the　guide　would　take　all　the　edge　off　her　pleasure；　and　in
the　short　gallop　she　had　just　had　she　had　savoured　its　keenness。　She
was　alive　with　desire　to　be　happy。

〃I　don't　need　you；　Batouch；〃　she　said。

But　the　poet　was　inexorable；　backed　up　by　the　priest。

〃It　is　my　duty　to　accompany　Madame。　I　am　responsible　for　her　safety。〃

〃Indeed；　you　cannot　go　into　the　desert　alone；〃　said　the　priest。

Domini　glanced　at　Androvsky；　who　was　standing　silently　under　the
arcade；　a　little　withdrawn；　looking　uncomfortable　and　self…conscious。
She　remembered　her　thought　on　the　tower　of　the　dice…thrower；　and　of
how　the　presence　of　the　stranger　had　seemed　to　double　her　pleasure
then。　Up　the　road　from　the　Rue　Berthe　came　the　noise　of　a　galloping
horse。　The　shoeblack　was　returning　furiously；　his　bare　legs　sticking
out　on　either　side　of　a　fiery　light　chestnut　with　a　streaming　mane　and
tail。

〃Monsieur　Androvsky；〃　she　said。

He　started。

〃Madame？〃

〃Will　you　come　with　me　for　a　ride　into　the　desert？〃

His　face　was　flooded　with　scarlet；　and　he　came　a　step　forward；　looking
up　at　her。

〃I！〃　he　said　with　an　accent　of　infinite　surprise。

〃Yes。　Will　you？〃

The　chestnut　thundered　up　and　was　pulled　sharply　back　on　its　haunches。
Androvsky　shot　a　sideways　glance　at　it　and　hesitated。　Domini　thought
he　was　going　to　refuse　and　wished　she　had　not　asked　him；　wished　it
passionately。

〃Never　mind；〃　she　said；　almost　brutally　in　her　vexation　at　what　she
had　done。

〃Batouch！〃

The　poet　was　about　to　spring　upon　the　horse　when　Androvsky　caught　him
by　the　arm。

〃I　will　go；〃　he　said。

Batouch　looked　vicious。　〃But　Monsieur　told　me　he　did　not〃

He　stopped。　The　hand　on　his　arm　had　given　him　a　wrench　that　made　him
feel　as　if　his　flesh　were　caught　between　steel　pincers。　Androvsky　came
up　to　the　chestnut。

〃Oh；　it's　an　Arab　saddle；〃　said　Domini。

〃It　does　not　matter；　Madame。〃

His　face　was　stern。

〃Are　you　accustomed　to　them？〃

〃It　makes　no　difference。〃

He　took　hold　of　the　rein　and　put　his　foot　in　the　high　stirrup；　but　so
awkwardly　that　he　kicked　the　horse　in　the　side。　It　plunged。

〃Take　care！〃　said　Domini。

Androvsky　hung　on；　and　climbed　somehow　into　the　saddle；　coming　down　in
it　heavily；　with　a　thud。　The　horse；　now　thoroughly　startled；　plunged
furiously　and　lashed　out　with　its　hind　legs。　Androvsky　was　thrown
forward　against　the　high　red　peak　of　the　saddle　with　his　hands　on　the
animal's　neck。　There　was　a　struggle。　He　tugged　at　the　rein　violently。
The　horse　jumped　back；　reared；　plunged　sideways　as　if　about　to　bolt。
Androvsky　was　shot　off　and　fell　on　his　right　shoulder　heavily。　Batouch
caught　the　horse　while　Androvsky　got　up。　He　was　white　with　dust。　There
was　even　dust　on　his　face　and　in　his　short　hair。　He　looked　passionate。

〃You　see；〃　Batouch　began；　speaking　to　Domini；　〃that　Monsieur　cannot〃

〃Give　me　the　rein！〃　said　Androvsky。

There　was　a　sound　in　his　deep　voice　that　was　terrible。　He　was　looking
not　at　Domini；　but　at　the　priest；　who　stood　a　little　aside　with　an
expression　of　concern　on　his　face。　Bous…Bous　barked　with　excitement　at
the　conflict。　Androvsky　took　the　rein；　and；　with　a　sort　of　furious
determination；　sprang　into　the　saddle　and　pressed　his　legs　against　the
horse's　flanks。　It　reared　up。　The　priest　moved　back　under　the　palm
trees；　the　Arab　boys　scattered。　Batouch　sought　the　shelter　of　the
arcade；　and　the　horse；　with　a　short；　whining　neigh　that　was　like　a　cry
of　temper；　bolted　between　the　trunks　of　the　trees；　heading　for　the
desert；　and　disappeared　in　a　flash。

〃He　will　be　killed；〃　said　the　priest。

Bous…Bous　barked　frantically。

〃It　is　his　own　fault；〃　said　the　poet。　〃He　told　me　himself　just　now
that　he　did　not　know　how　to　ride。〃

〃Why　didn't　you　tell　me　so？〃　Domini　exclaimed。

〃Madame〃

But　she　was　gone；　following　Androvsky　at　a　slow　canter　lest　she　should
frighten　his　horse　by　coming　up　behind　it。　She　came　out　from　the　shade
of　the　palms　into　the　sun。　The　desert　lay　before　her。　She　searched　it
eagerly　with　her　eyes　and　saw　Androvsky's　horse　far　off　in　the　river
bed；　still　going　at　a　gallop　towards　the　south；　towards　that　region　in
which　she　had　told　him　on　the　tower　she　thought　that　peace　must　dwell。
It　was　as　if　he　had　believed　her　words　blindly　and　was　frantically　in
chase　of　peace。　And　she　pursued　him　through　the　blazing　sunlight。　She
was　out　in　the　desert　at　length；　beyond　the　last　belt　of　verdure；
beyond　the　last　line　of　palms。　The　desert　wind　was　on　her　cheek　and　in
her　hair。　The　desert　spaces　stretched　around　her。　Under　her　horse's
hoofs　lay　the　sparkling　crystals　on　the　wrinkled；　sun…dried　earth。　The
red　rocks；　seamed　with　many　shades　of　colour　that　all　suggested
primeval　fires　and　the　relentless　action　of　heat；　were　heaped　about
her。　But　her　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　far…off　moving　speck　that　was　the
horse　carrying　Androvsky　madly　towards　the　south。　The　light　and　fire；
the　great　airs；　the　sense　of　the　chase　intoxicated　her。　She　struck　her
horse　with　the　whip。　It　leaped；　as　if　clearing　an　immense　obstacle；
came　down　lightly　and　strained　forward　into　the　shining　mysteries　at　a
furious　gallop。　The　black　speck　grew　larger。　She　was　gaining。　The
crumbling；　cliff…like　bank　on　her　left　showed　a　rent　in　which　a　faint
track　rose　sharply　to　the　flatness　beyond。　She　put　her　horse　at　it　and
came　out　among　the　tiny　humps　on　which　grew　the　halfa　grass　and　the
tamarisk　bushes。　A　pale　sand　flew　up　here　about　the　horse's　feet。
Androvsky　was　still　below　her　in　the　difficult　ground　where　the　water
came　in　the　floods。　She　gained　and　gained　till　she　was　parallel　with
him　and　could　see　his　bent　figure；　his　arms　clinging　to　the　peak　of
his　red　saddle；　his　legs　set　forward　almost　on　to　his　horse's　withers
by　the　short　stirrups　with　their　metal　toecaps。　The　animal's　temper
was　nearly　spent。　She　could　see　that。　The　terror　had　gone　out　of　his
pace。　As　she　looked　she　saw　Androvsky　raise　his　arms　from　the　saddle
peak；　catch　at　the　flying　rein；　draw　it　up；　lean　against　the　saddle
back　and　pull　with　all　his　force。　The　horse　stopped　dead。

〃His　strength　must　be　enormous；〃　Domini　thought　with　a　startled
admiration。

She　pulled　up　too　on　the　bank　above　him　and　gave　a　halloo。　He　turned
his　head；　saw　her；　and　put　his　horse　at　the　bank；　which　was　steep　here
and　without　any　gap。　〃You　can't　do　it；〃　she　called。

In　reply　he　dug　the　heels　of　his　heavy　boots　into　the　horse's　flanks
and　came　on　recklessly。　She　thought　the　horse　would　either　refuse　or
try　to　get　up　and　roll　back　on　its　rider。　It　sprang　at　the　bank　and
mounted　like　a　wild　cat。　There　was　a　noise　of　falling　stones；　a　shower
of　scattered　earth…clods　dropping　downward；　and　he　was　beside　her；
white　with　dust；　streaming　with　sweat；　panting　as　if　the　labouring
breath　would　rip　his　chest　open；　with　the　horse's　foam　on　his
forehead；　and　a　savage　and　yet　exultant　gleam　in　his　eyes。

They　looked　at　each　other　in　silence；　while　their　horses；　standing
quietly；　lowered　their　narrow；　graceful　heads　and　touched　noses　with
delicate　inquiry。　Then　she　said：

〃I　almost　thought〃

She　stopped。

〃Yes？〃　he　said；　on　a　great　gasping　breath　that　was　like　a　sob。

〃that　you　were　off　to　the　centre　of　the　earth；　orI　don't　know　what
I　thought。　You　aren't　hurt？〃

〃No。〃

He　could　only　speak　in　monosyllables　as　yet。　She　looked　his　horse
over。

〃He　won't　give　much　more　trouble　just　now。　Shall　we　ride　back？〃

As　she　spoke　she　threw　a　longing　glance　at　the　far　desert；　at　the
verge　of　which　was　a　dull　g