the garden of allah-第31章
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her body if she was incapable of knowing them？ Suzanne and the two
Arabs were distant shadows to her when that first moon…ray touched
their feet。 The passion of the night began to burn her； and she
thought she would like to take her soul and hold it out to the white
flame。
As they passed the sand…diviner's house Domini saw his spectral figure
standing under the yellow light of the hanging lantern in the middle
of his carpet shop； which was lined from floor to ceiling with dull
red embroideries and dim with the fumes of an incense brazier。 He was
talking to a little boy； but keeping a wary eye on the street； and he
came out quickly； beckoning with his long hands； and calling softly；
in a half…chuckling and yet authoritative voice：
〃Venez； Madame； venez！ Come！ come！〃
Suzanne seized Domini's arm。
〃Not to…night！〃 Domini called out。
〃Yes； Madame； to…night。 The vie of Madame is there in the sand to…
night。 Je la vois； je la vois。 C'est la dans le sable to…night。〃
The moonlight showed the wound on his face。 Suzanne uttered a cry and
hid her eyes with her hands。 They went on towards the trees。 Hadj
walked with hesitation。
〃How loud the music is getting；〃 Domini said to him。
〃It will deafen Madame's ears if she gets nearer；〃 said Hadj； eagerly。
〃And the dancers are not for Madame。 For the Arabs； yes； but for a
great lady of the most respectable England！ Madame will be red with
disgust； with anger。 Madame will have /mal…au…coeur/。〃
Batouch began to look like an idol on whose large face the artificer
had carved an expression of savage ferocity。
〃Madame is my client；〃 he said fiercely。 〃Madame trusts in me。〃
Hadj laughed with a snarl：
〃He who smokes the keef is like a Mehari with a swollen tongue；〃 he
rejoined。
The poet looked as if he were going to spring upon his cousin； but he
restrained himself and a slow； malignant smile curled about his thick
lips like a snake。
〃I shall show to Madame a dancer who is modest； who is beautiful；
Hadj…ben…Ibrahim；〃 he said softly。
〃Fatma is sick；〃 said Hadj； quickly。
〃It will not be Fatma。〃
Hadj began suddenly to gesticulate with his thin； delicate hands and
to look fiercely excited。
〃Halima is at the Fontaine Chaude；〃 he cried。
〃Keltoum will be there。〃
〃She will not。 Her foot is sick。 She cannot dance。 For a week she will
not dance。 I know it。〃
〃AndIrena？ Is she sick？ Is she at the Hammam Salahine？〃
Hadj's countenance fell。 He looked at his cousin sideways； always
showing his teeth。
〃Do you not know； Hadj…ben…Ibrahim？〃
〃/Ana ma 'audi ma nek oul lek！/〃＇*＇ growled Hadj in his throat。
＇*＇ 〃I have nothing to say to you。〃
They had reached the end of the little street。 The whiteness of the
great road which stretched straight through the oasis into the desert
lay before them； with the statue of Cardinal Lavigerie staring down it
in the night。 At right angles was the street of the dancers； narrow；
bounded with the low white houses of the ouleds； twinkling with starry
lights； humming with voices； throbbing with the clashing music that
poured from the rival /cafes maures/； thronged with the white figures
of the desert men； strolling slowly； softly as panthers up and down。
The moonlight was growing brighter； as if invisible hands began to fan
the white flame of passion which lit up Beni…Mora。 A patrol of
Tirailleurs Indigenes passed by going up the street； in yellow and
blue uniforms； turbans and white gaiters； their rifles over their
broad shoulders。 The faint tramp of their marching feet was just
audible on the sandy road。
〃Hadj can go home if he is afraid of anything in the dancing street；〃
said Domini； rather maliciously。 〃Let us follow the soldiers。〃
Hadj started as if he had been stung； and looked at Domini as if he
would like to strangle her。
〃I am afraid of nothing；〃 he exclaimed proudly。 〃Madame does not know
Hadj…ben…Ibrahim。〃
Batouch laughed soundlessly； shaking his great shoulders。 It was
evident that he had divined his cousin's wish to supplant him and was
busily taking his revenge。 Domini was amused； and as they went slowly
up the street in the wake of the soldiers she said：
〃Do you often come here at night； Hadj…ben…Ibrahim？〃
〃Oh； yes； Madame； when I am alone。 But with ladies〃
〃You were here last night； weren't you； with the traveller from the
hotel？〃
〃No； Madame。 The Monsieur of the hotel preferred to visit the cafe of
the story…teller； which is far more interesting。 If Madame will permit
me to take her〃
But this last assault was too much for the poet's philosophy。 He
suddenly threw off all pretence of graceful calm； and poured out upon
Hadj a torrent of vehement Arabic； accompanying it with passionate
gestures which filled Suzanne with horror and Domini with secret
delight。 She liked this abrupt unveiling of the raw。 There had always
lurked in her an audacity； a quick spirit of adventure more boyish
than feminine。 She had reached the age of thirty…two without ever
gratifying it； or even fully realising how much she longed to gratify
it。 But now she began to understand it and to feel that it was
imperious。
〃I have a barbarian in me；〃 she thought。
〃Batouch！〃 she said sharply。
The poet turned a distorted face to her。
〃Madame！〃
〃That will do。 Take us to the dancing…house。〃
Batouch shot a last ferocious glance at Hadj and they went on into the
crowd of strolling men。
The little street； bright with the lamps of the small houses； from
which projected wooden balconies painted in gay colours； and with the
glowing radiance of the moon； was mysterious despite its gaiety； its
obvious dedication to the cult of pleasure。 Alive with the shrieking
sounds of music； the movement and the murmur of desert humanity made
it almost solemn。 This crowd of boys and men； robed in white from head
to heel； preserved a serious grace in its vivacity； suggested besides
a dignified barbarity a mingling of angel； monk and nocturnal spirit。
In the distance of the moonbeams； gliding slowly over the dusty road
with slippered feet； there was something soft and radiant in their
moving whiteness。 Nearer； their pointed hoods made them monastical as
a procession stealing from a range of cells to chant a midnight mass。
In the shadowy dusk of the tiny side alleys they were like wandering
ghosts intent on unholy errands or returning to the graveyard。
On some of the balconies painted girls were leaning and smoking
cigarettes。 Before each of the lighted doorways from which the shrill
noise of music came； small； intent crowds were gathered； watching the
performance that was going on inside。 The robes of the Arabs brushed
against the skirts of Domini and Suzanne； and eyes stared at them from
every side with a scrutiny that was less impudent than seriously bold。
〃Madame！〃
Hadj's thin hand was pulling Domini's sleeve。
〃Well； what is it？〃
〃This is the best dancing…house。 The children dance here。〃
Domini's height enabled her to peer over the shoulders of those
gathered before the door； and in the lighted distance of a white…
walled room； painted with figures of soldiers and Arab chiefs； she saw
a small wriggling figure between two rows of squatting men； two baby
hands waving coloured handkerchiefs； two little feet tapping
vigorously upon an earthen floor； for background a divan crowded with
women and musicians； with inflated cheeks and squinting eyes。 She
stood for a moment to look； then she turned away。 There was an
expression of disgust in her eyes。
〃No； I don't want to see children；〃 she said。 〃That's too〃
She glanced at her escort and did not finish。
〃I know；〃 said Batouch。 〃Madame wishes for the real ouleds。〃
He led them across the street。 Hadj followed reluctantly。 Before going
into this second dancing…house Domini stopped again to see from
outside what it was like； but only for an instant。 Then a brightness
came into her eyes； an eager look。
〃Yes； take me in here；〃 she said。
Batouch laughed softly； and Hadj uttered a word below his breath。
〃Madame will see Irena here；〃 said Batouch； pushing the watching Arabs
unceremoniously away。
Domini did not answer。 Her eyes were fixed on a man who was sitting in
