the garden of allah-第51章
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She forced herself to smile； but the silence behind them； where the
two men were following； oppressed her。 If only Androvsky would speak！
He had not said one word since they were all together。 Suddenly she
turned her head and said：
〃Did you ever see such palms； Monsieur Androvsky？ Aren't they
magnificent？〃
Her voice was challenging； imperative。 It commanded him to rouse
himself； to speak； as a touch of the lash commands a horse to quicken
his pace。 Androvsky raised his head； which had been sunk on his breast
as he walked。
〃Palms！〃 he said confusedly。
〃Yes； they are wonderful。〃
〃You care for trees？〃 asked the Count； following Domini's lead and
speaking with a definite intention to force a conversation。
〃Yes； Monsieur； certainly。〃
〃I have some wonderful fellows here。 After /dejeuner/ you must let me
show them to you。 I spent years in collecting my children and teaching
them to live rightly in the desert。〃
Very naturally； while he spoke； he had joined Androvsky； and now
walked on with him； pointing out the different varieties of trees。
Domini was conscious of a sense of relief and of a strong feeling of
gratitude to their host。 Following upon the gratitude came a less
pleasant consciousness of Androvsky's lack of good breeding。 He was
certainly not a man of the world； whatever he might be。 To…day；
perhaps absurdly； she felt responsible for him； and as if he owed it
to her to bear himself bravely and govern his dislikes if they clashed
with the feelings of his companions。 She longed hotly for him to make
a good impression； and； when her eyes met Father Roubier's； was almost
moved to ask his pardon for Androvsky's rudeness。 But the Father
seemed unconscious of it； and began to speak about the splendour of
the African vegetation。
〃Does not its luxuriance surprise you after England？〃 he said。
〃No；〃 she replied bluntly。 〃Ever since I have been in Africa I have
felt that I was in a land of passionate growth。〃
〃Butthe desert？〃 he replied with a gesture towards the long flats of
the Sahara； which were still visible between the trees。
〃I should find it there too；〃 she answered。 〃There； perhaps； most of
all。〃
He looked at her with a gentle wonder。 She did not explain that she
was no longer thinking of growth in Nature。
The /salle…a…manger/ stood at the end of a broad avenue of palms not
far from the villa。 Two Arab servants were waiting on each side of the
white step that led into an ante…room filled with divans and coffee…
tables。 Beyond was a lofty apartment with an arched roof； in the
centre of which was an oval table laid for breakfast； and decorated
with masses of trumpet…shaped scarlet flowers in silver vases。 Behind
each of the four high…backed chairs stood an Arab motionless as a
statue。 Evidently the Count's /fete/ was to be attended by a good deal
of ceremony。 Domini felt sorry； though not for herself。 She had been
accustomed to ceremony all her life； and noticed it； as a rule； almost
as little as the air she breathed。 But she feared that to Androvsky it
would be novel and unpleasant。 As they came into the shady room she
saw him glance swiftly at the walls covered with dark Persian
hangings； at the servants in their embroidered jackets； wide trousers；
and snow…white turbans； at the vivid flowers on the table； then at the
tall windows； over which flexible outside blinds； dull green in
colour； were drawn； and it seemed to her that he was feeling like a
trapped animal； full of a fury of uneasiness。 Father Roubier's
unconscious serenity in the midst of a luxury to which he was quite
unaccustomed emphasised Androvsky's secret agitation； which was no
secret to Domini； and which she knew must be obvious to Count Anteoni。
She began to wish ardently that she had let Androvsky follow his
impulse to go when he heard of Father Roubier's presence。
They sat down。 She was on the Count's right hand； with Androvsky
opposite to her and Father Roubier on her left。 As they took their
places she and the Father said a silent grace and made the sign of the
Cross； and when she glanced up after doing so she saw Androvsky's hand
lifted to his forehead。 For a moment she fancied that he had joined in
the tiny prayer； and was about to make the sacred sign； but as she
looked at him his hand fell heavily to the table。 The glasses by his
plate jingled。
〃I only remembered this morning that this is a /jour maigre/；〃 said
Count Anteoni as they unfolded their napkins。 〃I am afraid； Father
Roubier； you will not be able to do full justice to my chef； Hamdane；
although he has thought of you and done his best for you。 But I hope
Miss Enfilden and〃
〃I keep Friday；〃 Domini interrupted quietly。
〃Yes？ Poor Hamdane！〃
He looked in grave despair； but she knew that he was really pleased
that she kept the fast day。
〃Anyhow；〃 he continued； 〃I hope that you； Monsieur Androvsky； will be
able to join me in testing Hamdane's powers to the full。 Or are you
too〃
He did not continue； for Androvsky at once said； in a loud and firm
voice：
〃I keep no fast days。〃
The words sounded like a defiance flung at the two Catholics； and for
a moment Domini thought that Father Roubier was going to treat them as
a challenge； for he lifted his head and there was a flash of sudden
fire in his eyes。 But he only said； turning to the Count：
〃I think Mademoiselle and I shall find our little Ramadan a very easy
business。 I once breakfasted with you on a Fridaytwo years ago it
was； I thinkand I have not forgotten the banquet you gave me。〃
Domini felt as if the priest had snubbed Androvsky； as a saint might
snub； without knowing that he did so。 She was angry with Androvsky；
and yet she was full of pity for him。 Why could he not meet courtesy
with graciousness？ There was something almost inhuman in his
demeanour。 To…day he had returned to his worst self； to the man who
had twice treated her with brutal rudeness。
〃Do the Arabs really keep Ramadan strictly？〃 she asked； looking away
from Androvsky。
〃Very；〃 said Father Roubier。 〃Although； of course； I am not in
sympathy with their religion； I have often been moved by their
adherence to its rules。 There is something very grand in the human
heart deliberately taking upon itself the yoke of discipline。〃
〃Islamthe very word means the surrender of the human will to the
will of God；〃 said Count Anteoni。 〃That word and its meaning lie like
the shadow of a commanding hand on the soul of every Arab； even of the
absinthe…drinking renegades one sees here and there who have caught
the vices of their conquerors。 In the greatest scoundrel that the
Prophet's robe covers there is an abiding and acute sense of necessary
surrender。 The Arabs； at any rate； do not buzz against their Creator；
like midges raging at the sun in whose beams they are dancing。〃
〃No；〃 assented the priest。 〃At least in that respect they are superior
to many who call themselves Christians。 Their pride is immense； but it
never makes itself ridiculous。〃
〃You mean by trying to defy the Divine Will？〃 said Domini。
〃Exactly； Mademoiselle。〃
She thought of her dead father。
The servants stole round the table； handing various dishes
noiselessly。 One of them； at this moment； poured red wine into
Androvsky's glass。 He uttered a low exclamation that sounded like the
beginning of a protest hastily checked。
〃You prefer white wine？〃 said Count Anteoni。
〃No； thank you； Monsieur。〃
He lifted the glass to his lips and drained it。
〃Are you a judge of wine？〃 added the Count。 〃That is made from my own
grapes。 I have vineyards near Tunis。〃
〃It is excellent；〃 said Androvsky。
Domini noticed that he spoke in a louder voice than usual； as if he
were making a determined effort to throw off the uneasiness that
evidently oppressed him。 He ate heartily； choosing almost
ostentatiously dishes in which there was meat。 But everything that he
did； even this eating of meat； gave her the impression that he was
subtly； how she did not knowdefying not only the priest； but
himself。 Now and then she glanced across at him； and when she did so
he was always looking away from her。 After praising the wine he had
relapsed into silence； and Count Anteon
