the garden of allah-第84部分

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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　make　it　seven。　But；　as　I　was　saying；　the　sun
teaches　one　a　lesson　of　charity。　When　I　first　came　to　live　in　Africa
in　the　midst　of　the　sand…rascalseh；　Madame！I　suppose　as　a　priest　I
ought　to　have　been　shocked　by　their　goings…on。　And　indeed　I　tried　to
be；　I　conscientiously　did　my　best。　But　it　was　no　good。　I　couldn't　be
shocked。　The　sunshine　drove　it　all　out　of　me。　I　could　only　say；　'It　is
not　for　me　to　question　/le　bon　Dieu/；　and　/le　bon　Dieu/　has　created
these　people　and　set　them　here　in　the　sand　to　behave　as　they　do。'　What
is　my　business？　I　can't　convert　them。　I　can't　change　their　morals。　I
must　just　be　a　friend　to　them；　cheer　them　up　in　their　sorrows；　give
them　a　bit　if　they're　starving；　doctor　them　a　little。　I'm　a　first…rate
hand　at　making　an　Arab　take　a　pill　or　a　powder！when　they　are　ill；
and　make　them　at　home　with　the　white　marabout。　That's　what　the　sun　has
taught　me；　and　every　sand…rascal　and　sand…rascal's　child　in　Amara　is　a
friend　of　mine。〃

He　stretched　out　his　legs　as　if　he　wished　to　elongate　his
satisfaction；　and　stared　Domini　full　in　the　face　with　eyes　that
confidently；　naively；　asked　for　her　approval　of　his　doctrine　of　the
sun。　She　could　not　help　liking　him；　though　she　felt　more　as　if　she
were　sitting　with　a　jolly；　big；　and　rather　rowdy　boy　than　with　a
priest。

〃You　are　fond　of　the　Arabs　then？〃　she　said。

〃Of　course　I　am；　Madame。　I　can　speak　their　language；　and　I'm　as　much
at　home　in　their　tents；　and　more；　than　I　should　ever　be　at　the　Vatican
with　all　respect　to　the　Holy　Father。〃

He　got　up；　went　out　into　the　sand；　expectorated　noisily；　then　returned
to　the　tent；　wiping　his　bearded　mouth　with　a　large　red　cotton　pocket…
handkerchief。

〃Are　you　staying　here　long；　Madame？〃

He　sat　down　again　in　his　chair；　making　it　creak　with　his　substantial
weight。

〃I　don't　know。　If　my　husband　is　happy　here。　But　he　prefers　the
solitudes；　I　think。〃

〃Does　he？　And　yet　he's　gone　into　the　city。　Plenty　of　bustle　there　at
night；　I　can　tell　you。　Well；　now；　I　don't　agree　with　your　husband。　I
know　it's　been　said　that　solitude　is　good　for　the　sad；　but　I　think
just　the　contrary。　Ah！〃

The　last　sonorously　joyous　exclamation　jumped　out　of　Father　Beret　at
the　sight　of　Ouardi；　who　at　this　moment　entered　with　a　large　tray；
covered　with　a　coffee…pot；　cups；　biscuits；　bon…bons；　cigars；　and　a
bulging　flask　of　some　liqueur　flanked　by　little　glasses。

〃You　fare　generously　in　the　desert　I　see；　Madame；〃　he　exclaimed。　〃And
so　much　the　better。　What's　your　servant's　name？〃

Domini　told　him。

〃Ouardi！　that　means　born　in　the　time　of　the　roses。〃　He　addressed
Ouardi　in　Arabic　and　sent　him　off　into　the　darkness　chuckling　gaily。
〃These　Arab　names　all　have　their　meaningsOnlagareb；　mother　of
scorpions；　Omteoni；　mother　of　eagles；　and　so　on。　So　much　the　better！
Comforts　are　rare　here；　but　you　carry　them　with　you。　Sugar；　if　you
please。〃

Domini　put　two　lumps　into　his　cup。

〃If　you　allow　me！〃

He　added　two　more。

〃I　never　refuse　a　good　cigar。　These　harmless　joys　are　excellent　for
man。　They　help　his　Christianity。　They　keep　him　from　bitterness；　harsh
judgments。　But　harshness　is　for　northern　climesrainy　England；　eh？
Forgive　me；　Madame。　I　speak　in　joke。　You　come　from　England　perhaps。　It
didn't　occur　to　me　that〃

They　both　laughed。　His　garrulity　was　irresistible　and　made　Domini　feel
as　if　she　were　sitting　with　a　child。　Perhaps　he　caught　her　feeling；
for　he　added：

〃The　desert　has　made　me　an　/enfant　terrible/；　I　fear。　What　have　you
there？〃

His　eyes　had　been　attracted　by　the　flask　of　liqueur；　to　which　Domini
was　stretching　out　her　hand　with　the　intention　of　giving　him　some。

〃I　don't　know。〃

She　leaned　forward　to　read　the　name　on　the　flask。

〃L　o　u　a　r　i　n　e；〃　she　said。

〃Pst！〃　exclaimed　the　priest；　with　a　start。

〃Will　you　have　some？　I　don't　know　whether　it's　good。　I've　never　tasted
it；　or　seen　it　before。　Will　you　have　some？〃

She　felt　so　absolutely　certain　that　he　would　say　〃Yes〃　that　she　lifted
the　flask　to　pour　the　liqueur　into　one　of　the　little　glas