the garden of allah-第53章
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lids covered his eyes。 An expression of pain still lingered on his
face； but it was less cruel； no longer tortured； but melancholy。 And
Domini； as she listened； recalled the strange cry that had risen
within her as the Arab disappeared in the sunshine； the cry of the
soul in life surrounded by mysteries； by the hands； the footfalls； the
voices of hidden things〃What is going to happen to me here？〃 But
that cry had risen in her； found words in her； only when confronted by
the desert。 Before it had been perhaps hidden in the womb。 Only then
was it born。 And now the days had passed and the nights； and the song
brought with it the cry once more； the cry and suddenly something
else； another voice that； very far away； seemed to be making answer to
it。 That answer she could not hear。 The words of it were hidden in the
womb as； once； the words of her intense question。 Only she felt that
an answer had been made。 The future knew； and had begun to try to tell
her。 She was on the very edge of knowledge while she listened； but she
could not step into the marvellous land。
Presently Count Anteoni spoke to the priest。
〃You have heard this song； no doubt； Father？〃
Father Roubier shook his head。
〃I don't think so； but I can never remember the Arab music〃
〃Perhaps you dislike it？〃
〃No； no。 It is ugly in a way； but there seems a great deal of meaning
in it。 In this song especially there isone might almost call it
beauty。〃
〃Wonderful beauty；〃 Domini said in a low voice； still listening to the
song。
〃The words are beautiful；〃 said the Count； this time addressing
himself to Androvsky。 〃I don't know them all； but they begin like
this：
〃'The gazelle dies in the water；
The fish dies in the air；
And I die in the dunes of the desert sand
For my love that is deep and sad。'
And when the chorus sounds； as now〃and he made a gesture toward the
inner room； in which the low murmur of 〃 Wurra…Wurra〃 rose again； 〃the
singer reiterates always the same refrain：
〃'No one but God and I
Knows what is in my heart。'〃
Almost as he spoke the contralto voice began to sing the refrain。
Androvsky turned pale。 There were drops of sweat on his forehead。 He
lifted his glass of wine to his lips and his hand trembled so that
some of the wine was spilt upon the tablecloth。 And； as once before；
Domini felt that what moved her deeply moved him even more deeply；
whether in the same way or differently she could not tell。 The image
of the taper and the torch recurred to her mind。 She saw Androvsky
with fire round about him。 The violence of this man surely resembled
the violence of Africa。 There was something terrible about it； yet
also something noble； for it suggested a male power； which might make
for either good or evil； but which had nothing to do with littleness。
For a moment Count Anteoni and the priest were dwarfed； as if they had
come into the presence of a giant。
The Arabs handed round fruit。 And now the song died softly away。 Only
the instruments went on playing。 The distant tomtom was surely the
beating of that heart into whose mysteries no other human heart could
look。 Its reiterated and dim throbbing affected Domini almost
terribly。 She was relieved； yet regretful； when at length it ceased。
〃Shall we go into the ante…room？〃 the Count said。 〃Coffee will be
brought there。〃
〃Oh； butdon't let us see them！〃 Domini exclaimed。
〃The musicians？〃
She nodded。
〃You would rather not hear any more music？〃
〃If you don't mind！〃
He gave an order in Arabic。 One of the servants slipped away and
returned almost immediately。
〃Now we can go；〃 the Count said。 〃They have vanished。〃
The priest sighed。 It was evident that the music had moved him too。 As
they got up he said：
〃Yes； there was beauty in that song and something more。 Some of these
desert poets can teach us to think。〃
〃A dangerous lesson； perhaps；〃 said the Count。 〃What do you say；
Monsieur Androvsky？〃
Androvsky was on his feet。 His eyes were turned toward the door
through which the sound of the music had come。
〃I！〃 he answered。 〃IMonsieur； I am afraid that to me this music
means very little。 I cannot judge of it。〃
〃But the words？〃 asked the Count with a certain pressure。
〃They do not seem to me to suggest much more than the music。〃
The Count said no more。 As she went into the outer room Domini felt
angry； as she had felt angry in the garden at Sidi…Zerzour when
Androvsky said：
〃These native women do not interest me。 I see nothing attractive in
them。〃
For now； as then； she knew that he had lied。
CHAPTER XI
Domini came into the ante…room alone。 The three men had paused for a
moment behind her； and the sound of a match struck reached her ears as
she went listlessly forward to the door which was open to the broad
garden path； and stood looking out into the sunshine。 Butterflies were
flitting here and there through the riot of gold； and she heard faint
bird…notes from the shadows of the trees； echoed by the more distant
twitter of Larbi's flute。 On the left； between the palms； she caught
glimpses of the desert and of the hard and brilliant mountains； and；
as she stood there； she remembered her sensations on first entering
the garden and how soon she had learned to love it。 It had always
seemed to her a sunny paradise of peace until this moment。 But now she
felt as if she were compassed about by clouds。
The vagrant movement of the butterflies irritated her eyes； the
distant sound of the flute distressed her ears； and all the peace had
gone。 Once again this man destroyed the spell Nature had cast upon
her。 Because she knew that he had lied； her joy in the garden； her
deeper joy in the desert that embraced it； were stricken。 Yet why
should he not lie？ Which of us does not lie about his feelings？ Has
reserve no right to armour？
She heard her companions entering the room and turned round。 At that
moment her heart was swept by an emotion almost of hatred to
Androvsky。 Because of it she smiled。 A forced gaiety dawned in her。
She sat down on one of the low divans； and； as she asked Count Anteoni
for a cigarette and lit it； she thought； 〃How shall I punish him？〃
That lie； not even told to her and about so slight a matter； seemed to
her an attack which she resented and must return。 Not for a moment did
she ask herself if she were reasonable。 A voice within her said； 〃I
will not be lied to； I will not even bear a lie told to another in my
presence by this man。〃 And the voice was imperious。
Count Anteoni remained beside her； smoking a cigar。 Father Roubier
took a seat by the little table in front of her。 But Androvsky went
over to the door she had just left； and stood； as she had； looking out
into the sunshine。 Bous…Bous followed him； and snuffed affectionately
round his feet； trying to gain his attention。
〃My little dog seems very fond of your friend；〃 the priest said to
Domini。
〃My friend！〃
〃Monsieur Androvsky。〃
She lowered her voice。
〃He is only a travelling acquaintance。 I know nothing of him。〃
The priest looked gently surprised and Count Anteoni blew forth a
fragrant cloud of smoke。
〃He seems a remarkable man；〃 the priest said mildly。
〃Do you think so？〃
She began to speak to Count Anteoni about some absurdity of Batouch；
forcing her mind into a light and frivolous mood； and he echoed her
tone with a clever obedience for which secretly she blessed him。 In a
moment they were laughing together with apparent merriment； and Father
Roubier smiled innocently at their light…heartedness； believing in it
sincerely。 But Androvsky suddenly turned around with a dark and morose
countenance。
〃Come in out of the sunshine；〃 said the Count。 〃It is too strong。 Try
this chair。 Coffee will beah； here it is！〃
Two servants appeared； carrying it。
〃Thank you； Monsieur；〃 Androvsky said with reluctant courtesy。
He came towards them with determination and sat down； drawing forward
his chair till he was facing Domini。 Directly he was quiet Bous…Bous
sprang upon his knee and lay down hastily； blinking his eyes； which
were almost concealed by hair； and heaving a sigh which made the
priest look kindly at him； even while he said deprecating
