the garden of allah-第134章
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night。 They had expected that the city would be almost deserted by its
European inhabitants now the summer had set in； but when they drove up
to the door of the hotel the proprietor came out to inform them that；
owing to the arrival of a ship full of American tourists who；
personally conducted； were 〃viewing〃 Tunis after an excursion to the
East and to the Holy Land； he had been unable to keep for them a
private sitting…room。 With many apologies he explained that all the
sitting…rooms in the house had been turned into bedrooms； but only for
one night。 On the morrow the personally…conducted ones would depart
and Madame and Monsieur could have a charming salon。 They listened
silently to his explanations and apologies； standing in the narrow
entrance hall； which was blocked up with piles of luggage。 〃Tomorrow；〃
he kept on repeating； 〃to…morrow〃 all would be different。
Domini glanced at Androvsky； who stood with his head bent down；
looking on the ground。
〃Shall we try another hotel？〃 she asked。
〃If you wish；〃 he answered in a low voice。
〃It would be useless； Madame；〃 said the proprietor。 〃All the hotels
are full。 In the others you will not find even a bedroom。〃
〃Perhaps we had better stay here；〃 she said to Androvsky。
Her voice； too； was low and tired。 In her heart something seemed to
say； 〃Do not strive any more。 In the garden it was finished。 Already
you are face to face with the end。〃
When she was alone in her small bedroom； which was full of the noises
of the street； and had washed and put on another dress； she began to
realise how much she had secretly been counting on one more evening
alone with Androvsky。 She had imagined herself dining with him in
their sitting…room unwatched； sitting together afterwards； for an hour
or two； in silence perhaps； but at least alone。 She had imagined a
last solitude with him with the darkness of the African night around
them。 She had counted upon that。 She realised it now。 Her whole heart
and soul had been asking for that； believing that at least that would
be granted to her。 But it was not to be。 She must go down with him
into a crowd of American tourists； musther heart sickened。 It seemed
to her for a moment that if only she could have this one more evening
quietly with the man she loved she could brace herself to bear
anything afterwards； but that if she could not have it she must break
down。 She felt desperate。
A gong sounded below。 She did not move； though she heard it； knew what
it meant。 After a few minutes there was a tap at the door。
〃What is it？〃 she said。
〃Dinner is ready； Madame；〃 said a voice in English with a strong
foreign accent。
Domini went to the door and opened it。
〃Does Monsieur know？〃
〃Monsieur is already in the hall waiting for Madame。〃
She went down and found Androvsky。
They dined at a small table in a room fiercely lit up with electric
light and restless with revolving fans。 Close to them； at an immense
table decorated with flowers； dined the American tourists。 The women
wore hats with large hanging veils。 The men were in travelling suits。
They looked sunburnt and gay； and talked and laughed with an intense
vivacity。 Afterwards they were going in a body to see the dances of
the Almees。 Androvsky shot one glance at them as he came in； then
looked away quickly。 The lines near his mouth deepened。 For a moment
he shut his eyes。 Domini did not speak to him； did not attempt to
talk。 Enveloped by the nasal uproar of the gay tourists they ate in
silence。 When the short meal was over they got up and went out into
the hall。 The public drawing…room opened out of it on the left。 They
looked into it and saw red plush settees； a large centre table covered
with a rummage of newspapers； a Jew with a bald head writing a letter；
and two old German ladies with caps drinking coffee and knitting
stockings。
〃The desert！〃 Androvsky whispered。
Suddenly he drew away from the door and walked out into the street。
Lines of carriages stood there waiting to be hired。 He beckoned to
one； a victoria with a pair of small Arab horses。 When it was in front
of the hotel he said to Domini：
〃Will you get in； Domini？〃
She obeyed。 Androvsky said to the mettse driver：
〃Drive to the Belvedere。 Drive round the park till I tell you to
return。〃
The man whipped his horses； and they rattled down the broad street；
past the brilliantly…lighted cafes； the Cercle Militaire； the palace
of the Resident； where Zouaves were standing； turned to the left and
were soon out on a road where a tram line stretched between villas；
waste ground and flat fields。 In front of them rose a hill with a
darkness of trees scattered over it。 They reached it； and began to
mount it slowly。 The lights of the city shone below them。 Domini saw
great sloping lawns dotted with streets and by trees。 Scents of hidden
flowers came to her in the night； and she heard a whirr of insects。
Still they mounted； and presently reached the top of the hill。
〃Stop！〃 said Androvsky to the driver。
He drew up his horses。
〃Wait for us here。〃
Androvsky got out。
〃Shall we walk a little way？〃 he said to Domini。
〃Yesyes。〃
She got out too； and they walked slowly along the deserted road。 Below
them she saw the lights of ships gliding upon the lakes； the bright
eyes of a lighthouse； the distant lamps of scattered villages along
the shores； and； very far off； a yellow gleam that dominated the sea
beyond the lakes and seemed to watch patiently all those who came and
went； the pilgrims to and from Africa。 That gleam shone in Carthage。
From the sea over the flats came to them a breeze that had a savour of
freshness； of cool and delicate life。
They walked for some time without speaking； then Domini said：
〃From the cemetery of El…Largani you looked out over this； didn't you；
Boris？〃
〃Yes； Domini；〃 he answered。 〃It was then that the voice spoke to me。〃
〃It will never speak again。 God will not let it speak again。〃
〃How can you know that？〃
〃We are tried in the fire； Boris； but we are not burnt to death。〃
She said it for herself； to reassure herself； to give a little comfort
to her own soul。
〃To…night I feel as if it were not so；〃 he answered。 〃When we came to
the hotel it seemedI thought that I could not go on。〃
〃And now？〃
〃Now I do not know anything except that this is my last night with
you。 And； Domini； that seems to me to be absolutely incredible
although I know it。 I cannot imagine any future away from you； any
life in which I do not see you。 I feel as if in parting from you I am
parting from myself； as if the thing left would be no more a man； but
only a broken husk。 Can I pray without you； love God without you？〃
〃Best without me。〃
〃But can I live without you； Domini？ Can I wake day after day to the
sunshine； and know that I shall never see you again； and go on living？
Can I do that？ I don't feel as if it could be。 Perhaps； when I have
done my penance； God will have mercy。〃
〃How； Boris？〃
〃Perhaps He will let me die。〃
〃Let us fix all the thoughts of our hearts on the life in which He may
let us be together once more。 Look； Boris； there are lights in the
darkness； there will always be lights。〃
〃I can't see them；〃 he said。
She looked at him and saw that tears were running down his cheeks。
Again； on this last night of companionship； God summoned her to be
strong for him。 On the edge of the hill； close to them； she saw a
Moorish temple built of marble； with narrow arches and columns； and
marble seats。
〃Let us sit here for a moment； Boris；〃 she said。
He followed her up the marble steps。 Two or three times he stumbled；
but she did not give him her hand。 They sat down between the slender
columns and looked out over the city； whose blanched domes and
minarets were faintly visible in the night。 Androvsky was shaken with
sobs。
〃How can I part from you？〃 he said brokenly。 〃How am I to do it？ How
can Ihow can I？ Why was I given this love for you； this terrible
thing； this crying out； this reaching out of the flesh and heart and
soul to you？ DominiDominiwhat does it all meanthis mystery of
torturethis scourging of the bodythis tearing in pieces of my soul
and you
