the garden of allah-第74部分

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better　of　his　instinctive　good　breeding；　and　sitting　straight　up　in
the　saddle　he　took　off　his　sun　helmet　and　asked　Domini's　pardon　for
disturbing　her。

〃But　this　is　my　home　for　the　night；　Madame；〃　he　added；　at　the　same
time　drawing　a　key　from　the　pocket　of　his　loose　trousers。　〃And　I'm
thankful　to　reach　it。　/Ma　foi/！　there　have　been　several　moments　in　the
last　days　when　I　never　thought　to　see　Mogar。〃

Slowly　he　swung　himself　off　his　mule　and　stood　up；　catching　on　to　the
saddle　with　one　hand。

〃F…f…f…f！〃　he　said；　pursing　his　lips。　〃I　can　hardly　stand。　Excuse　me；
Madame。〃

Domini　had　got　up。

〃You　are　tired　out；〃　she　said；　looking　at　him　and　his　men；　who　had　now
come　up；　with　interest。

〃Pretty　well　indeed。　We　have　been　three　days　lost　in　the　great　dunes
in　a　sand…storm；　and　hit　the　track　here　just　as　we　were　preparing　for
awell；　a　great　event。〃

〃A　great　event？〃　said　Domini。

〃The　last　in　a　man's　life；　Madame。〃

He　spoke　simply；　even　with　a　light　touch　of　humour　that　was　almost
cynical；　but　she　felt　beneath　his　words　and　manner　a　solemnity　and　a
thankfulness　that　attracted　and　moved　her。

〃Those　terrible　dunes！〃　she　said。

And；　turning；　she　looked　out　over　them。

There　was　no　sunset；　but　the　deepening　of　the　grey　into　a　dimness　that
seemed　to　have　blackness　behind　it；　the　more　ghastly　hue　of　the　white
plains　of　saltpetre；　and　the　fading　of　the　mirage　sea；　whose　islands
now　looked　no　longer　red；　but　dull　brown　specks　in　a　pale　mist；　hinted
at　the　rapid　falling　of　night。

〃My　husband　is　out　in　them；〃　she　added。

〃Your　husband；　Madame！〃

He　looked　at　her　rather　narrowly；　shifted　from　one　leg　to　the　other　as
if　trying　his　strength；　then　added：

〃Not　far；　though；　I　suppose。　For　I　see　you　have　a　camp　here。〃

〃He　has　only　gone　after　gazelle。〃

As　she　said　the　last　word　she　saw　one　of　the　soldiers；　a　mere　boy；
lick　his　lips　and　give　a　sort　of　tragic　wink　at　his　companions。　A
sudden　thought　struck　her。

〃Don't　think　me　impertinent；　Monsieur；　butwhat　about　provisions　in
your　tower？〃

〃Oh；　as　to　that；　Madame；　we　shall　do　well　enough。　Here；　open　the　door；
Marelle！〃

And　he　gave　the　key　to　a　soldier；　who　wearily　dismounted　and　thrust　it
into　the　door　of　the　tower。

〃But　after　three　days　in　the　dunes！　Your　provisions　must　be　exhausted
unless　you've　been　able　to　replenish　them。〃

〃You　are　too　good；　Madame。　We　shall　manage　a　cous…cous。〃

〃And　wine？　Have　you　any　wine？〃

She　glanced　again　at　the　exhausted　soldiers　covered　with　sand　and　saw
that　their　eyes　were　fixed　upon　her　and　were　shining　eagerly。　All　the
〃good　fellow〃　in　her　nature　rose　up。

〃You　must　let　me　send　you　some；〃　she　said。　〃We　have　plenty。〃

She　thought　of　some　bottles　of　champagne　they　had　brought　with　them
and　never　opened。

〃In　the　desert　we　are　all　comrades；〃　she　added；　as　if　speaking　to　the
soldiers。

They　looked　at　her　with　an　open　adoration　which　lit　up　their　tired
faces。

〃Madame；〃　said　the　officer；　〃you　are　much　too　good；　but　I　accept　your
offer　as　frankly　as　you　have　made　it。　A　little　wine　will　be　a　godsend
to　us　to…night。　Thank　you；　Madame。〃

The　soldiers　looked　as　if　they　were　going　to　cheer。

〃I'll　go　to　the　camp〃

〃Cannot　one　of　the　men　go　for　you；　Madame？　You　were　sitting　here。
Pray；　do　not　let　us　disturb　you。〃

〃But　night　is　falling　and　I　shall　have　to　go　back　in　a　moment。〃

While　they　had　been　speaking　the　darkness　had　rapidly　increased。　She
looked　towards　the　distant　dunes　and　no　longer　saw　them。　At　once　her
mind　went　to　Androvsky。　Why　had　he　not　returned？　She　thought　of　the
signal。　From　the　camp；　behind　their　sleeping…tent；　rose　the　flames　of
a　newly…made　fire。

〃If　one　of　your　men　can　go　and　tell　BatouchBatouchto　come　to　me
here　I　shall　be　grateful；〃　she　answered。　〃And　I　want　him　to　bring　me　a
big　brand　from　the　fire　over　there。〃

She　saw　wonder　dawning　in　the　eyes　fixed　upon　her；　and　smiled。

〃I　want　to　signal　to　my　husband；〃　she　said；　〃and　this　is　the　highest
point。　He　will　see　it　best　if　I　stand　here。〃

〃Go；　Marelle；　ask　for　Batouch；　and　be　sure　you　bring　the　brand　from
the　fire。〃

The　man　saluted　and　rode　off　with　alacrity。　The　thought　of　wine　had
infused　a　gaiety　into　him　and　his　companions。

〃Now；　Monsieur；　don't　stand　on　ceremony；〃　Domini　said　to　the　officer。
〃Go　in　and　make　your　toilet。　You　are　longing　to；　I　know。〃

〃I　am　longing　to　look　a　little　more　decentnow；　Madame；〃　he　said
gallantly；　and　gazing　at　her　with　a　sparkle　of　admiration　in　his
inflamed　eyes。　〃You　will　let　me　return　in　a　moment　to　escort　you　to
the　camp。〃

〃Thank　you。〃

〃Will　you　permit　memy　name　is　De　Trevignac。〃

〃And　mine　is　Madame　Androvsky。〃

〃Russian！〃　the　officer　said。　〃The　alliance　in　the　desert！　Vive　la
Russie！〃

She　laughed。

〃That　is　for　my　husband；　for　I　am　English。〃

〃Vive　l'Angleterre！〃　he　said。

The　two　soldier　echoed　his　words　impulsively；　lifting　up　in　the
gathering　darkness　hoarse　voices。

〃Vive　l'Angleterre！〃

〃Thank　you；　thank　you；〃　she　said。　〃Now；　Monsieur；　please　don't　let　me
keep　you。〃

〃I　shall　be　back　directly；〃　the　officer　replied。

And　he　turned　and　went　into　the　tower；　while　the　soldiers　rode　round
to　the　court；　tugging　at　the　cords　of　the　led　mules。

Domini　waited　for　the　return　of　Marelle。　Her　mood　had　changed。　A　glow
of　cordial　humanity　chased　away　her　melancholy。　The　hostess　that　lurks
in　every　womanthat　housewife…hostess　sense　which　goes　hand…in…hand
with　the　mother　sensewas　alive　in　her。　She　was　keenly　anxious　to
play　the　good　fairy　simply；　unostentatiously；　to　these　exhausted　men
who　had　come　to　Mogar　out　of　the　jaws　of　Death；　to　see　their　weary
faces　shine　under　the　influence　of　repose　and　good　cheer。　But　the
tower　looked　desolate。　The　camp　was　gayer；　cosier。　Suddenly　she
resolved　to　invite　them　all　to　dine　in　the　camp　that　night。

Marelle　returned　with　Batouch。　She　saw　them　from　a　distance　coming
through　the　darkness　with　blazing　torches　in　their　hands。　When　they
came　to　her　she　said：

〃Batouch；　I　want　you　to　order　dinner　in　camp　for　the　soldiers。〃

A　broad　and　radiant　smile　irradiated　the　blunt　Breton　features　of
Marelle。

〃And　Monsieur　the　officer　will　dine　with　me　and　Monsieur。　Give　us　all
you　can。　Perhaps　there　will　be　some　gazelle。〃

She　saw　him　opening　his　lips　to　say　that　the　dinner　would　be　poor　and
stopped　him。

〃You　are　to　open　some　of　the　champagnethe　Pommery。　We　will　drink　to
all　safe　returns。　Now；　give　me　the　brand　and　go　and　tell　the　cook。〃

As　he　took　his　torch　and　disappeared　into　the　darkness　De　Trevignac
came　out　from　the　tower。　He　still　looked　exhausted　and　walked　with
some　difficulty；　but　he　had　washed　the　sand　from　his　face　with　water
from　the　artesian　well　behind　the　tower；　changed　his　uniform；　brushed
the　sand　from　his　yellow　hair；　and　put　on　a　smart　gold…laced　cap
instead　of　his　sun…helmet。　The　spectacles　were　gone　from　his　eyes；　and
between　his　lips　was　a　large　Havanahis　last；　kept　by　him　among　the
dunes　as　a　possible　solace　in　the　dreadful　hour　of　death。

〃Monsieur　de　Trevignac；　I　want　you　to　dine　with　us　in　camp　to…night
only　to　dine。　We　won't　keep　you　from　your　bed　one　moment　after　the
coffee　and　the　cognac。　You　must　seal　the　triple　allianceFrance；
Russia；　Englandin　some　champagne。〃

She　had　spoken　gaily；　cordially。　She　added　more　gravely：

〃One　doesn't　escape　from　death　among　the　dunes　every　day。　Will　you
come？〃

She　held　out　her　hand　frankly；　as　a　man　might　to　another　man。　He
pressed　it　as　a　man　presses　a　woman's　hand　when　he　is　feeling　very
soft　and　tender。

〃Madame；　what　can　I　say；　but　that　you　are　too　good　to　us　poor　fellows
and　that　you　will　find　it　very　difficult　to　get　rid　of　us；　for　we
shall　be　so　happy　in　your　camp　that　we　shall　forget　all　about　our
tower。〃

〃That's　settled　then。〃

With　the　brand　in　her　hand　she　walked　to　the　edge　of　the　hill。　De
Trevignac　followed　her。　He　had　taken　the　other　brand　from　Marelle。
They　stood　side　by　side；　overlooking　the　immense　desolation　that　was
now　almost　hidden　in　the　night。

〃You　are　going　to　signal　to　your　husband；　Madame？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Let　me　do　it　for　you。　See；　I　have　the　other　brand！〃

〃Thank　youbut　I　will　do　it。〃

In　the　light　of　the　flame　that　leaped　up　as　if　striving　to　touch　her
face　he　saw　a　light　in　her　eyes　that　he　understood；　and　he　drooped　his
torch　towards　the　earth　while　she　lifted　hers　on　high　and　waved　it　in
the　blackness。

He　watched　her。　The　tall；　strong；　but　exquisitely　supple　figure；　the
uplifted　arm　with　the　torch　sending　forth　a　long　tongue　of　golden
flame；　the　ardent　and　unconscious　pose；　that　set　before　him　a　warm
passionate　heart　calling　to　another　heart　without　shame；　made　him
think　of　her　as　some　Goddess　of　the　Sahara。　He　had　let　his　torch　droop
towards　the　earth；　but；　as　she　waved　hers；　he　had　an　irresistible
impulse　to　join　her　in　the　action　she　made　heroic　and　superb。　And
presently　he　lifted　his　torch；　too；　and　waved　it　beside　hers　in　the
night。

She　smiled　at　him　in　the　flames。

〃He　must　see　them　surely；〃　she　said。

From　below；　in　the　distance　of　the　desert；　there　rose　a　loud　cry　in　a
strong　man's　voice。

〃Aha！〃　she　exclaimed。

She　called　out　in　return　in　a　warm；　powerful　voice。　The　man's　voice
answered；　nearer。　She　dropped　her　brand　to　the　earth。

〃Monsieur；　you　will　come　thenin　half　an　hour？〃

〃Madame；　with　the　most　heartfelt　pleasure。　But　let　me　accompany〃

〃No；　I　am　quite　safe。　And　bring　your　men　with　you。　We'll　make　the　best
feast　we　can　for　them。　And　there's　enough　champagne　for　all。〃

Then　she　went　away　quickly；　eagerly；　into　the　darkness。

〃To　be　her　husband！〃　murmured　De　Trevignac。　〃Luckylucky　fellow！〃　And
he　dropped　his　brand　beside　hers　on　the　ground；　and　stood　watching　the
two　flames　mingle。

〃Luckylucky　fellow！〃　he　said　again　aloud。　〃I　wonder　what　he's　like。〃



CHAPTER　XX

When　Domini　reached　the　camp　she　found　it　in　a　bustle。　Batouch；
resigned　to　the　inevitable；　had　put　the　cook　upon　his　mettle。　Ouardi
was　already　to　be　seen　with　a　bottle　of　Pommery　in　each　hand；　and　was
only　prevented　from　instantly　uncorking　them　by　the　representations　of
his　mistress　and　an　elaborate　exposition　of　the　peculiar　and
evanescent　virtues　of　champagne。　Ali　was　humming　a　mysterious　song
about　a