the garden of allah-第43部分

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〃I！〃　he　answered。　〃IMonsieur；　I　am　afraid　that　to　me　this　music
means　very　little。　I　cannot　judge　of　it。〃

〃But　the　words？〃　asked　the　Count　with　a　certain　pressure。

〃They　do　not　seem　to　me　to　suggest　much　more　than　the　music。〃

The　Count　said　no　more。　As　she　went　into　the　outer　room　Domini　felt
angry；　as　she　had　felt　angry　in　the　garden　at　Sidi…Zerzour　when
Androvsky　said：

〃These　native　women　do　not　interest　me。　I　see　nothing　attractive　in
them。〃

For　now；　as　then；　she　knew　that　he　had　lied。



CHAPTER　XI

Domini　came　into　the　ante…room　alone。　The　three　men　had　paused　for　a
moment　behind　her；　and　the　sound　of　a　match　struck　reached　her　ears　as
she　went　listlessly　forward　to　the　door　which　was　open　to　the　broad
garden　path；　and　stood　looking　out　into　the　sunshine。　Butterflies　were
flitting　here　and　there　through　the　riot　of　gold；　and　she　heard　faint
bird…notes　from　the　shadows　of　the　trees；　echoed　by　the　more　distant
twitter　of　Larbi's　flute。　On　the　left；　between　the　palms；　she　caught
glimpses　of　the　desert　and　of　the　hard　and　brilliant　mountains；　and；
as　she　stood　there；　she　remembered　her　sensations　on　first　entering
the　garden　and　how　soon　she　had　learned　to　love　it。　It　had　always
seemed　to　her　a　sunny　paradise　of　peace　until　this　moment。　But　now　she
felt　as　if　she　were　compassed　about　by　clouds。

The　vagrant　movement　of　the　butterflies　irritated　her　eyes；　the
distant　sound　of　the　flute　distressed　her　ears；　and　all　the　peace　had
gone。　Once　again　this　man　destroyed　the　spell　Nature　had　cast　upon
her。　Because　she　knew　that　he　had　lied；　her　joy　in　the　garden；　her
deeper　joy　in　the　desert　that　embraced　it；　were　stricken。　Yet　why
should　he　not　lie？　Which　of　us　does　not　lie　about　his　feelings？　Has
reserve　no　right　to　armour？

She　heard　her　companions　entering　the　room　and　turned　round。　At　that
moment　her　heart　was　swept　by　an　emotion　almost　of　hatred　to
Androvsky。　Because　of　it　she　smiled。　A　forced　gaiety　dawned　in　her。
She　sat　down　on　one　of　the　low　divans；　and；　as　she　asked　Count　Anteoni
for　a　cigarette　and　lit　it；　she　thought；　〃How　shall　I　punish　him？〃
That　lie；　not　even　told　to　her　and　about　so　slight　a　matter；　seemed　to
her　an　attack　which　she　resented　and　must　return。　Not　for　a　moment　did
she　ask　herself　if　she　were　reasonable。　A　voice　within　her　said；　〃I
will　not　be　lied　to；　I　will　not　even　bear　a　lie　told　to　another　in　my
presence　by　this　man。〃　And　the　voice　was　imperious。

Count　Anteoni　remained　beside　her；　smoking　a　cigar。　Father　Roubier
took　a　seat　by　the　little　table　in　front　of　her。　But　Androvsky　went
over　to　the　door　she　had　just　left；　and　stood；　as　she　had；　looking　out
into　the　sunshine。　Bous…Bous　followed　him；　and　snuffed　affectionately
round　his　feet；　trying　to　gain　his　attention。

〃My　little　dog　seems　very　fond　of　your　friend；〃　the　priest　said　to
Domini。

〃My　friend！〃

〃Monsieur　Androvsky。〃

She　lowered　her　voice。

〃He　is　only　a　travelling　acquaintance。　I　know　nothing　of　him。〃

The　priest　looked　gently　surprised　and　Count　Anteoni　blew　forth　a
fragrant　cloud　of　smoke。

〃He　seems　a　remarkable　man；〃　the　priest　said　mildly。

〃Do　you　think　so？〃

She　began　to　speak　to　Count　Anteoni　about　some　absurdity　of　Batouch；
forcing　her　mind　into　a　light　and　frivolous　mood；　and　he　echoed　her
tone　with　a　clever　obedience　for　which　secretly　she　blessed　him。　In　a
moment　they　were　laughing　together　with　apparent　merriment；　and　Father
Roubier　smiled　innocently　at　their　light…heartedness；　believing　in　it
sincerely。　But　Androvsky　suddenly　turned　around　with　a　dark　and　morose
countenance。

〃Come　in　out　of　the　sunshine；〃　said　the　Count。　〃It　is　too　strong。　Try
this　chair。　Coffee　will　beah；　here　it　is！〃

Two　servants　appeared；　carrying　it。

〃Thank　you；　Monsieur；〃　Androvsky　said　with　reluctant　courtesy。

He　came　towards　them　with　determination　and　sat　down；　drawing　forward
his　chair　till　he　was　facing　Domini。　Directly　he　was　quiet　Bous…Bous
sprang　upon　his　knee　and　lay　down　hastily；　blinking　his　eyes；　which
were　almost　concealed　by　hair；　and　heaving　a　sigh　which　made　the
priest　look　kindly　at　him；　even　while　he　said　deprecatingly：

〃Bous…Bous！　Bous…Bous！　Little　rascal；　little　pigdown；　down！〃

〃Oh；　leave　him；　Monsieur！〃　muttered　Androvsky。　〃It's　all　the　same　to
me。〃

〃He　really　has　no　shame　where　his　heart　is　concerned。〃

〃Arab！〃　said　the　Count。　〃He　has　learnt　it　in　Beni…Mora。〃

〃Perhaps　he　has　taken　lessons　from　Larbi；〃　said　Domini。　〃Hark！　He　is
playing　to…day。　For　whom？〃

〃I　never　ask　now；〃　said　the　Count。　〃The　name　changes　so　often。〃

〃Constancy　is　not　an　Arab　fault？〃　Domini　asked。

〃You　say　'fault；'　Madame；〃　interposed　the　priest。

〃Yes；　Father；〃　she　returned　with　a　light　touch　of　conscious　cynicism。
〃Surely　in　this　world　that　which　is　apt　to　bring　inevitable　misery
with　it　must　be　accounted　a　fault。〃

〃But　can　constancy　do　that？〃

〃Don't　you　think　so；　into　a　world　of　ceaseless　change？〃

〃Then　how　shall　we　reckon　truth　in　a　world　of　lies？〃　asked　the　Count。
〃Is　that　a　fault；　too？〃

〃Ask　Monsieur　Androvsky；〃　said　Domini；　quickly。

〃I　obey；〃　said　the　Count；　looking　over　at　his　guest。

〃Ah；　but　I　am　sure　I　know；〃　Domini　added。　〃I　am　sure　you　think　truth　a
thing　we　should　all　avoid　in　such　a　world　as　this。　Don't　you；
Monsieur？〃

〃If　you　are　sure；　Madame；　why　ask　me？〃　Androvsky　replied。

There　was　in　his　voice　a　sound　that　was　startling。　Suddenly　the　priest
reached　out　his　hand　and　lifted　Bous…Bous　on　to　his　knee；　and　Count
Anteoni　very　lightly　and　indifferently　interposed。

〃Truth…telling　among　Arabs　becomes　a　dire　necessity　to　Europeans。　One
cannot　out…lie　them；　and　it　doesn't　pay　to　run　second　to　Orientals。　So
one　learns；　with　tears；　to　be　sincere。　Father　Roubier　is　shocked　by　my
apologia　for　my　own　blatant　truthfulness。〃

The　priest　laughed。

〃I　live　so　little　in　what　is　called　'the　world'　that　I'm　afraid　I'm
very　ready　to　take　drollery　for　a　serious　expression　of　opinion。〃

He　stroked　Bous…Bous's　white　back；　and　added；　with　a　simple　geniality
that　seemed　to　spring　rather　from　a　desire　to　be　kind　than　from　any
temperamental　source：

〃But　I　hope　I　shall　always　be　able　to　enjoy　innocent　fun。〃

As　he　spoke　his　eyes　rested　on　Androvsky's　face；　and　suddenly　he
looked　grave　and　put　Bous…Bous　gently　down　on　the　floor。

〃I'm　afraid　I　must　be　going；〃　he　said。

〃Already？〃　said　his　host。

〃I　dare　not　allow　myself　too　much　idleness。　If　once　I　began　to　be　idle
in　this　climate　I　should　become　like　an　Arab　and　do　nothing　all　day
but　sit　in　the　sun。〃

〃As　I　do。　Father；　we　meet　very　seldom；　but　whenever　we　do　I　feel
myself　a　cumberer　of　the　earth。〃

Domini　had　never　before　heard　him　speak　with　such　humbleness。　The
priest　flushed　like　a　boy。

〃We　each　serve　in　our　own　way；〃　he　said　quickly。　〃The　Arab　who　sits
all　day　in　the　sun　may　be　heard　as　a　song　of　praise　where　He　is。〃

And　then　he　took　his　leave。　This　time　he　did　not　extend　his　hand　to
Androvsky；　but　only　bowed　to　him；　lifting　his　white　helmet。　As　he　went
away　in　the　sun　with　Bous…Bous　the　three　he　had　left　followed　him　with
their　eyes。　For　Androvsky　had　turned　his　chair　sideways；　as　if
involuntarily。

〃I　shall　learn　to　love　Father　Roubier；〃　Domini　said。

Androvsky　moved　his　seat　round　again　till　his　back　was　to　the　garden；
and　placed　his　broad　hands　palm　downward　on　his　knees。

〃Yes？〃　said　the　Count。

〃He　is　so　transparently　good；　and　he　bears　his　great　disappointment　so
beautifully。〃

〃What　great　disappointment？〃

〃He　longed　to　become　a　monk。〃

Androvsky　got　up　from　his　seat　and　walked　back　to　the　garden　doorway。
His　restless　demeanour　and　lowering　expression　destroyed　all　sense　of
calm　and　leisure。　Count　Anteoni　looked　after　him；　and　then　at　Domini；
with　a　sort　of　playful　surprise。　He　was　going　to　speak；　but　before　the
words　came　Smain　appeared；　carrying　reverently　a　large　envelope
covered　with　Arab　writing。

〃Will　you　excuse　me　for　a　moment？〃　the　Count　said。

〃Of　course。〃

He　took　the　letter；　and　at　once　a　vivid　expression　of　excitement　shone
in　his　eyes。　When　he　had　read　it　there　was　a　glow　upon　his　face　as　if
the　flames　of　a　fire　played　over　it。

〃Miss　Enfilden；〃　he　said；　〃will　you　think　me　very　discourteous　if　I
leave　you　for　a　moment？　The　messenger　who　brought　this　has　come　from
far　and　starts　to…day　on　his　return　journey。　He　has　come　out　of　the
south；　three　hundred　kilometres　away；　from　Beni…Hassan；　a　sacred
villagea　sacred　village。〃

He　repeated　the　last　words；　lowering　his　voice。

〃Of　course　go　and　see　him。〃

〃And　you？〃

He　glanced　towards　Androvsky；　who　was　standing　with　his　back　to　them。

〃Won't　you　show　Monsieur　Androvsky　the　garden？〃

Hearing　his　name　Androvsky　turned；　and　the　Count　at　once　made　his
excuses　to　him　and　followed　Smain　towards　the　garden　gate；　carrying
the　letter　that　had　come　from　Beni…Hassan　in　his　hand。

When　he　had　gone　Domini　remained　on　the　divan；　and　Androvsky　by　the
door；　with　his　eyes　on　the　ground。　She　took　another　cigarette　from　the
box　on　the　table　beside　her；　struck　a　match　and　lit　it　carefully。　Then
she　said：

〃Do　you　care　to　see　the　garden？〃

She　spoke　indifferently；　coldly。　The　desire　to　show　her　Paradise　to
him　had　died　away；　but　the　parting　words　of　the　Count　prompted　the
question；　and　so　she　put　it　as　to　a　stranger。

〃Thank　you；　Madameyes；〃　he　replied；　as　if　with　an　effort。

She　got　up；　and　they　went　out　together　on　to　the　broad　walk。

〃Which　way　do　you　want　to　go？〃　she　asked。

She　saw　him　glance　at　her　quickly；　with　anxiety　in　his　eyes。

〃You　know　best　where　we　should　go；　Madame。〃

〃I　daresay　you　won't　care　about　it。　Probably　you　are　not　interested　in
gardens。　It　does　not　matter　really　which　path　we　take。　They　are　all
very　much　alike。〃

〃I　am　sure　they　are　all　very　beautiful。〃

Suddenly　he　had　become　humble；　anxious　to　please　her。　But　now　the
violent　contrasts　in　him；　unlike　the　violent　contrasts　of　nature　in
this　land；　exasperated　her。　She　longed　to　be　left　alone。　She　felt
ashamed　of　Androvsky；　and　also　of　herself；　she　condemned　herself
bitterly　for　the　interest　she　had　taken　in　him；　for　her　desire　to　put
some　pleasure　into　a　life　she　had　deemed　sad；　for　her　curiosity　about
him；　for　her　wish　to　share　joy　w