the garden of allah-第37章
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all the inhabitants were in bed and asleep。 But； in passing on； she
had seen a faint and blanched illumination； then another； the vague
vision of an aperture； a seated figure making a darkness against
whiteness； a second aperture and seated figure。 She stopped and stood
still。 The man stood still beside her。
The alley was an alley of women。 In every house on either side of the
way a similar picture of attentive patience was revealed： a narrow
Moorish archway with a wooden door set back against the wall to show a
steep and diminutive staircase winding up into mystery； upon the
highest stair a common candlestick with a lit candle guttering in it；
and； immediately below； a girl； thickly painted； covered with
barbarous jewels and magnificently dressed； her hands； tinted with
henna； folded in her lap； her eyes watching under eyebrows heavily
darkened； and prolonged until they met just above the bridge of the
nose； to which a number of black dots descended； her naked； brown
ankles decorated with large circlets of gold or silver。 The candle
shed upon each watcher a faint light that half revealed her and left
her half concealed upon her white staircase bounded by white walls。
And in her absolute silence； absolute stillness； each one was wholly
mysterious as she gazed ceaselessly out towards the empty； narrow
street。
The woman before whose dwelling Domini had stopped was an Ouled Nail；
with a square headdress of coloured handkerchiefs and feathers； a pink
and silver shawl； a blue skirt of some thin material powdered with
silver flowers； and a broad silver belt set with squares of red coral。
She was sitting upright； and would have looked exactly like an idol
set up for savage worship had not her long eyes gleamed and moved as
she solemnly returned the gaze of Domini and of the man who stood a
little behind looking over her shoulder。
When Domini stopped and exclaimed she did not realise to what this
street was dedicated； why these women sat in watchful silence； each
one alone on her stair waiting in the night。 But as she looked and saw
the gaudy finery she began to understand。 And had she remained in
doubt an incident now occurred which must have enlightened her。
A great gaunt Arab； one of the true desert men； almost black； with
high cheek bones； hollow cheeks； fierce falcon's eyes shining as if
with fever； long and lean limbs hard as iron； dressed in a rough；
sacklike brown garment； and wearing a turban bound with cords of
camel's hair； strode softly down the alley； slipped in front of
Domini； and went up to the woman； holding out something in his scaly
hand。 There was a brief colloquy。 The woman stretched her arm up the
staircase； took the candle； held it to the man's open hand； and bent
over counting the money that lay in the palm。 She counted it twice
deliberately。 Then she nodded。 She got up； turned； holding the candle
above her square headdress； and went slowly up the staircase followed
by the Arab； who grasped his coarse draperies and lifted them； showing
his bare legs。 The two disappeared without noise into the darkness；
leaving the stairway deserted； its white steps； its white walls
faintly lit by the moon。
The woman had not once looked at the man； but only at the money in his
scaly hand。
Domini felt hot and rather sick。 She wondered why she had stood there
watching。 Yet she had not been able to turn away。 Now； as she stepped
back into the middle of the alley and walked on with the man beside
her she wondered what he was thinking of her。 She could not talk to
him any more。 She was too conscious of the lighted stairways； one
after one； succeeding each other to right and left of them； of the
still figures； of the watching eyes in which the yellow rays of the
candles gleamed。 Her companion did not speak； but as they walked he
glanced furtively from one side to the other； then stared down
steadily on the white road。 When they turned to the right and came out
by the gardens； and Domini saw the great tufted heads of the palms
black against the moon； she felt relieved and was able to speak again。
〃I should like you to know that I am quite a stranger to all African
things and people；〃 she said。 〃That is why I am liable to fall into
mistakes in such a place as this。 Ah； there is the hotel； and my maid
on the verandah。 I want to thank you again for looking after me。〃
They were at a few steps from the hotel door in the road。 The man
stopped； and Domini stopped too。
〃Madame；〃 he said earnestly； with a sort of hardly controlled
excitement； 〃II am glad。 I was ashamedI was ashamed。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Of my conductof my awkwardness。 But you will forgive it。 I am not
accustomed to the society of ladieslike you。 Anything I have done I
have not done out of rudeness。 That is all I can say。 I have not done
it out of rudeness。〃
He seemed to be almost trembling with agitation。
〃I know； I know；〃 she said。 〃Besides； it was nothing。〃
〃Oh； no； it was abominable。 I understand that。 I am not so coarse…
fibred as not to understand that。〃
Domini suddenly felt that to take his view of the matter； exaggerated
though it was； would be the kindest course； even the most delicate。
〃You were rude to me；〃 she said； 〃but I shall forget it from this
moment。〃
She held out her hand。 He grasped it； and again she felt as if a
furnace were pouring its fiery heat upon her。
〃Good…night。〃
〃Good…night； Madame。 Thank you。〃
She was going away to the hotel door； but she stopped。
〃My name is Domini Enfilden；〃 she said in English。
The man stood in the road looking at her。 She waited。 She expected him
to tell her his name。 There was a silence。 At last he said
hesitatingly； in English with a very slight foreign accent：
〃My name is BorisBoris Androvsky。〃
〃Batouch told me you were English；〃 she said。
〃My mother was English； but my father was a Russian from Tiflis。 That
is my name。〃
There was a sound in his voice as if he were insisting like a man
making an assertion not readily to be believed。
〃Good…night；〃 Domini said again。
And she went away slowly； leaving him standing on the moonlit road。
He did not remain there long； nor did he follow her into the hotel。
After she had disappeared he stood for a little while gazing up at the
deserted verandah upon which the moon…rays fell。 Then he turned and
looked towards the village； hesitated； and finally walked slowly back
towards the tiny； shrouded alley in which on the narrow staircases the
painted girls sat watching in the night。
CHAPTER IX
On the following morning Batouch arrived with a handsome grey Arab
horse for Domini to try。 He had been very penitent the night before；
and Domini had forgiven easily enough his pre…occupation with Suzanne；
who had evidently made a strong impression upon his susceptible
nature。 Hadj had been but slightly injured by Irena； but did not
appear at the hotel for a very sufficient reason。 Both the dancer and
he were locked up for the moment； till the Guardians of Justice in
Beni…Mora had made up their minds who should be held responsible for
the uproar of the previous night。 That the real culprit was the
smiling poet was not likely to occur to them； and did not seem to
trouble him。 When Domini inquired after Hadj he showed majestic
indifference； and when she hinted at his crafty share in the causing
of the tragedy he calmly replied
〃Hadj…ben…Ibrahim will know from henceforth whether the Mehari with
the swollen tongue can bite。〃
Then； leaping upon the horse； whose bridle he was holding； he forced
it to rear； caracole and display its spirit and its paces before
Domini； sitting it superbly； and shooting many sly glances at Suzanne；
who leaned over the parapet of the verandah watching； with a rapt
expression on her face。
Domini admired the horse； but wished to mount it herself before coming
to any conclusion about it。 She had brought her own saddle with her
and ordered Batouch to put it on the animal。 Meanwhile she went
upstairs to change into her habit。 When she came out again on to the
verandah Boris Androvsky was there； standing bare…headed in the sun
and looking down at Batouch and the horse。 He turned quickly； greeted
Domini wi
