the garden of allah-第30章
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there； till the clay began to show another woman； but with； as it
were； the shadow of the former one lurking behind the new personality。
The stranger was not at dinner。 His table was laid and Domini sat
expecting each moment to hear the shuffling tread of his heavy boots
on the wooden floor。 When he did not come she thought she was glad。
After dinner she spoke for a moment to the priest and then went
upstairs to the verandah to take coffee。 She found Batouch there。 He
had renounced his determined air； and his /cafe…au…lait/ countenance
and huge body expressed enduring pathos； as of an injured； patient
creature laid out for the trampling of Domini's cruel feet。
〃Well？〃 she said； sitting down by the basket table。
〃Well； Madame？〃
He sighed and looked on the ground； lifted one white…socked foot；
removed its yellow slipper； shook out a tiny stone from the slipper
and put it on again； slowly； gracefully and very sadly。 Then he pulled
the white sock up with both hands and glanced at Domini out of the
corners of his eyes。
〃What's the matter？〃
〃Madame does not care to see the dances of Beni…Mora； to hear the
music； to listen to the story…teller； to enter the cafe of El Hadj
where Achmed sings to the keef smokers； or to witness the beautiful
religious ecstasies of the dervishes from Oumach。 Therefore I come to
bid Madame respectfully goodnight and to take my departure。〃
He threw his burnous over his left shoulder with a sudden gesture of
despair that was full of exaggeration。 Domini smiled。
〃You've been very good to…day；〃 she said。
〃I am always good； Madame。 I am of a serious disposition。 Not one
keeps Ramadan as I do。〃
〃I am sure of it。 Go downstairs and wait for me under the arcade。〃
Batouch's large face became suddenly a rendezvous of all the gaieties。
〃Madame is coming out to…night？〃
〃Presently。 Be in the arcade。〃
He swept away with the ample magnificence of joyous bearing and
movement that was like a loud Te Deum。
〃Suzanne！ Suzanne！〃
Domini had finished her coffee。
〃Mam'zelle！〃 answered Suzanne； appearing。
〃Would you like to come out with me to…night？〃
〃Mam'zelle is going out？〃
〃Yes； to see the village by night。〃
Suzanne looked irresolute。 Craven fear and curiosity fought a battle
within her； as was evident by the expressions that came and went in
her face before she answered。
〃Shall we not be murdered； Mam'zelle； and are there interesting things
to see？〃
〃There are interesting things to seedancers； singers； keef smokers。
But if you are afraid don't come。〃
〃Dancers； Mam'zelle！ But the Arabs carry knives。 And is there singing？
II should not like Mam'zelle to go without me。 But〃
〃Come and protect me from the knives then。 Bring my jacketany one。 I
don't suppose I shall put it on。〃
As she spoke the distant tomtoms began。 Suzanne started nervously and
looked at Domini with sincere apprehension。
〃We had better not go； Mam'zelle。 It is not safe out here。 Men who
make a noise like that would not respect us。〃
〃I like it。〃
〃That sound？ But it is always the same and there is no music in it。〃
〃Perhaps there is more in it than music。 The jacket？〃
Suzanne went gingerly to fetch it。 The faint cry of the African
hautboy rose up above the tomtoms。 The evening /fete/ was beginning。
To…night Domini felt that she must go to the distant music and learn
to understand its meaning； not only for herself； but for those who
made it and danced to it night after night。 It stirred her
imagination； and made her in love with mystery； and anxious at least
to steal to the very threshold of the barbarous world。 Did it stir
those who had had it in their ears ever since they were naked；
sunburned babies rolling in the hot sun of the Sahara？ Could it seem
as ordinary to them as the cold uproar of the piano…organ to the
urchins of Whitechapel； or the whine of the fiddle to the peasants of
Touraine where Suzanne was born？ She wanted to know。 Suzanne returned
with the jacket。 She still looked apprehensive； but she had put on her
hat and fastened a sprig of red geranium in the front of her black
gown。 The curiosity was in the ascendant。
〃We are not going quite alone； Mam'zelle？〃
〃No； no。 Batouch will protect us。〃
Suzanne breathed a furtive sigh。
The poet was in the white arcade with Hadj； who looked both wicked and
deplorable； and had a shabby air； in marked contrast to Batouch's
ostentatious triumph。 Domini felt quite sorry for him。
〃You come with us too；〃 she said。
Hadj squared his shoulders and instantly looked vivacious and almost
smart。 But an undecided expression came into his face。
〃Where is Madame going？〃
〃To see the village。〃
Batouch shot a glance at Hadj and smiled unpleasantly。
〃I will come with Madame。〃
Batouch still smiled。
〃We are going to the Ouled Nails；〃 he said significantly to Hadj。
〃II will come。〃
They set out。 Suzanne looked gently at the poet's legs and seemed
comforted。
〃Take great care of Mademoiselle Suzanne；〃 Domini said to the poet。
〃She is a little nervous in the dark。〃
〃Mademoiselle Suzanne is like the first day after the fast of
Ramadan；〃 replied the poet； majestically。 〃No one would harm her were
she to wander alone to Tombouctou。〃
The prospect drew from Suzanne a startled gulp。 Batouch placed himself
tenderly at her side and they set out； Domini walking behind with
Hadj。
CHAPTER VIII
The village was full of the wan presage of the coming of the moon。 The
night was very still and very warm。 As they skirted the long gardens
Domini saw a light in the priest's house。 It made her wonder how he
passed his solitary evenings when he went home from the hotel； and she
fancied him sitting in some plainly…furnished little room with Bous…
Bous and a few books； smoking a pipe and thinking sadly of the White
Fathers of Africa and of his frustrated desire for complete
renunciation。 With this last thought blended the still remote sound of
the hautboy。 It suggested anything rather than renunciation；
mysterious melancholysuccessor to passionthe cry of longing； the
wail of the unknown that draws some men and women to splendid follies
and to ardent pilgrimages whose goal is the mirage。
Hadj was talking in a low voice； but Domini did not listen to him。 She
was vaguely aware that he was abusing Batouch； saying that he was a
liar； inclined to theft； a keef smoker； and in a general way steeped
to the lips in crime。 But the moon was rising； the distant music was
becoming more distinct。 She could not listen to Hadj。
As they turned into the street of the sand…diviner the first ray of
the moon fell on the white road。 Far away at the end of the street
Domini could see the black foliage of the trees in the Gazelles'
garden； and beyond； to the left； a dimness of shadowy palms at the
desert edge。 The desert itself was not visible。 Two Arabs passed；
shrouded in burnouses； with the hoods drawn up over their heads。 Only
their black beards could be seen。 They were talking violently and
waving their arms。 Suzanne shuddered and drew close to the poet。 Her
plump face worked and she glanced appealingly at her mistress。 But
Domini was not thinking of her； or of violence or danger。 The sound of
the tomtoms and hautboys seemed suddenly much louder now that the moon
began to shine； making a whiteness among the white houses of the
village； the white robes of the inhabitants； a greater whiteness on
the white road that lay before them。 And she was thinking that the
moon whiteness of Beni…Mora was more passionate than pure； more like
the blanched face of a lover than the cool； pale cheek of a virgin。
There was excitement in it； suggestion greater even than the
suggestion of the tremendous coloured scenes of the evening that
preceded such a night。 And she mused of white heat and of what it
meansthe white heat of the brain blazing with thoughts that govern；
the white heat of the heart blazing with emotions that make such
thoughts seem cold。 She had never known either。 Was she incapable of
knowing them？ Could she imagine them till there was physical heat in
her body if she was incapable of knowing them？ Suzanne and the two
Arabs were distant shadows to her
