the garden of allah-第92章

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for　an　interruption；　she　knew　still　less。　It　was　towards　evening；
however；　but　before　evening　had　fallen；　that　a　weary　and　travel…
stained　party　of　three　French　soldiers；　Zouaves；　and　an　officer　rode
slowly　up　the　sandy　track　from　the　dunes。　They　were　mounted　on　mules；
and　carried　their　small　baggage　with　them　on　two　led　mules。　When　they
reached　the　top　of　the　hill　they　turned　to　the　right　and　came　towards
the　tower。　The　officer　was　a　little　in　advance　of　his　men。　He　was　a
smart…looking；　fair　man　of　perhaps　thirty…two；　with　blonde　moustaches；
blue　eyes　with　blonde　lashes；　and　hair　very　much　the　colour　of　the
sand　dunes。　His　face　was　bright　red；　burnt；　as　a　fair　delicate　skin
burns；　by　the　sun。　His　eyes；　although　protected　by　large　sun
spectacles；　were　inflamed。　The　skin　was　peeling　from　his　nose。　His
hair　was　full　of　sand；　and　he　rode　leaning　forward　over　his　animal's
neck；　holding　the　reins　loosely　in　his　hands；　that　seemed　nerveless
from　fatigue。　Yet　he　looked　smart　and　well…bred　despite　his　evident
exhaustion；　as　if　on　parade　he　would　be　a　dashing　officer。　It　was
evident　that　both　he　and　his　men　were　riding　in　from　some　tremendous
journey。　The　latter　looked　dog…tired；　scarcely　human　in　their
collapse。　They　kept　on　their　mules　with　difficulty；　shaking　this　way
and　that　like　sacks；　with　their　unshaven　chins　wagging　loosely　up　and
down。　But　as　they　saw　the　tower　they　began　to　sing　in　chorus　half
under　their　breath；　and　leaning　their　broad　hands　on　the　necks　of　the
beasts　for　support　they　looked　with　a　sort　of　haggard　eagerness　in　its
direction。

Domini　was　roused　from　her　contemplation　of　the　mirage　and　the
daydreams　it　suggested　by　the　approach　of　this　small　cavalcade。　The
officer　was　almost　upon　her　ere　she　heard　the　clatter　of　his　mule
among　the　stones。　She　looked　up；　startled；　and　he　looked　down；　even
more　surprised；　apparently；　to　see　a　lady　ensconced　at　the　foot　of　the
tower。　His　astonishment　and　exhaustion　did　not；　however；　get　the
better　of　his　instinctive　good　breeding；　and　sitting　straight　up　in
the　saddle　he　took　off　his　sun　helmet　and　asked　Domini's　pardon　for
disturbing　her。

〃But　this　is　my　home　for　the　night；　Madame；〃　he　added；　at　the　same
time　drawing　a　key　from　the　pocket　of　his　loose　trousers。　〃And　I'm
thankful　to　reach　it。　/Ma　foi/！　there　have　been　several　moments　in　the
last　days　when　I　never　thought　to　see　Mogar。〃

Slowly　he　swung　himself　off　his　mule　and　stood　up；　catching　on　to　the
saddle　with　one　hand。

〃F…f…f…f！〃　he　said；　pursing　his　lips。　〃I　can　hardly　stand。　Excuse　me；
Madame。〃

Domini　had　got　up。

〃You　are　tired　out；〃　she　said；　looking　at　him　and　his　men；　who　had　now
come　up；　with　interest。

〃Pretty　well　indeed。　We　have　been　three　days　lost　in　the　great　dunes
in　a　sand…storm；　and　hit　the　track　here　just　as　we　were　preparing　for
awell；　a　great　event。〃

〃A　great　event？〃　said　Domini。

〃The　last　in　a　man's　life；　Madame。〃

He　spoke　simply；　even　with　a　light　touch　of　humour　that　was　almost
cynical；　but　she　felt　beneath　his　words　and　manner　a　solemnity　and　a
thankfulness　that　attracted　and　moved　her。

〃Those　terrible　dunes！〃　she　said。

And；　turning；　she　looked　out　over　them。

There　was　no　sunset；　but　the　deepening　of　the　grey　into　a　dimness　that
seemed　to　have　blackness　behind　it；　the　more　ghastly　hue　of　the　white
plains　of　saltpetre；　and　the　fading　of　the　mirage　sea；　whose　islands
now　looked　no　longer　red；　but　dull　brown　specks　in　a　pale　mist；　hinted
at　the　rapid　falling　of　night。

〃My　husband　is　out　in　them；〃　she　added。

〃Your　husband；　Madame！〃

He　looked　at　her　rather　narrowly；　shifted　from　one　leg　to　the　other　as
if　trying　his　strength；　then　added：

〃Not　far；　though；　I　suppose。　For　I　see　you　have　a　camp　here。〃

〃He　has　only　gone　after　gazelle。〃

As　she　said　the　last　word　she　saw　one　of　the　soldiers；　a　mere　boy；
lick　his　lips　and　give　a　sort　of　tragic　wink　at　his　companions。　A
sudden　thought　struck　her。

〃Don't　think　me　impertinent；　Monsieur；　butwhat　about　provisions　in
your　tower？〃

〃Oh；　as　to　that；　Madame；　we　shall　do　well　enough。　Here；　open　the　door；
Marelle！〃

And　he　gave　the　key　to　a　soldier；　who　wearily　dismounted　and　thrust　it
into　the　door　of　the　tower。

〃But　after　three　days　in　the　dunes！　Your　provisions　must　be　exhausted
unless　you've　been　able　to　replenish　them。〃

〃You　are　too　good；　Madame。　We　shall　manage　a　cous…cous。〃

〃And　wine？　Have　you　any　wine？〃

She　glanced　again　at　the　exhausted　soldiers　covered　with　sand　and　saw
that　their　eyes　were　fixed　upon　her　and　were　shining　eagerly。　All　the
〃good　fellow〃　in　her　nature　rose　up。

〃You　must　let　me　send　you　some；〃　she　said。　〃We　have　plenty。〃

She　thought　of　some　bottles　of　champagne　they　had　brought　with　them
and　never　opened。

〃In　the　desert　we　are　all　comrades；〃　she　added；　as　if　speaking　to　the
soldiers。

They　looked　at　her　with　an　open　adoration　which　lit　up　their　tired
faces。

〃Madame；〃　said　the　officer；　〃you　are　much　too　good；　but　I　accept　your
offer　as　frankly　as　you　have　made　it。　A　little　wine　will　be　a　godsend
to　us　to…night。　Thank　you；　Madame。〃

The　soldiers　looked　as　if　they　were　going　to　cheer。

〃I'll　go　to　the　camp〃

〃Cannot　one　of　the　men　go　for　you；　Madame？　You　were　sitting　here。
Pray；　do　not　let　us　disturb　you。〃

〃But　night　is　falling　and　I　shall　have　to　go　back　in　a　moment。〃

While　they　had　been　speaking　the　darkness　had　rapidly　increased。　She
looked　towards　the　distant　dunes　and　no　longer　saw　them。　At　once　her
mind　went　to　Androvsky。　Why　had　he　not　returned？　She　thought　of　the
signal。　From　the　camp；　behind　their　sleeping…tent；　rose　the　flames　of
a　newly…made　fire。

〃If　one　of　your　men　can　go　and　tell　BatouchBatouchto　come　to　me
here　I　shall　be　grateful；〃　she　answered。　〃And　I　want　him　to　bring　me　a
big　brand　from　the　fire　over　there。〃

She　saw　wonder　dawning　in　the　eyes　fixed　upon　her；　and　smiled。

〃I　want　to　signal　to　my　husband；〃　she　said；　〃and　this　is　the　highest
point。　He　will　see　it　best　if　I　stand　here。〃

〃Go；　Marelle；　ask　for　Batouch；　and　be　sure　you　bring　the　brand　from
the　fire。〃

The　man　saluted　and　rode　off　with　alacrity。　The　thought　of　wine　had
infused　a　gaiety　into　him　and　his　companions。

〃Now；　Monsieur；　don't　stand　on　ceremony；〃　Domini　said　to　the　officer。
〃Go　in　and　make　your　toilet。　You　are　longing　to；　I　know。〃

〃I　am　longing　to　look　a　little　more　decentnow；　Madame；〃　he　said
gallantly；　and　gazing　at　her　with　a　sparkle　of　admiration　in　his
inflamed　eyes。　〃You　will　let　me　return　in　a　moment　to　escort　you　to
the　camp。〃

〃Thank　you。〃

〃Will　you　permit　memy　name　is　De　Trevignac。〃

〃And　mine　is　Madame　Androvsky。〃

〃Russian！〃　the　officer　said。　〃The　alliance　in　the　desert！　Vive　la
Russie！〃

She　laughed。

〃That　is　for　my　husband；　for　I　am　English。〃

〃Vive　l'Angleterre！〃　he　said。

The　two　soldier　echoed　his　words　impulsively；　lifting　up　in　the
gathering　darkness　hoarse　voices。

〃Vive　l'Angleterre！〃

〃Thank　you；　thank　you；〃　she　said。　〃Now；　Monsieur；　please　don't　let　me
keep　you。〃

〃I　shall　be　back　directly；〃　the　officer　replied。

And　he　turned　and　went　into　the　tower；　while　the　soldiers　rode　round
to　the　court；　tugging　at　the　cords　of　the　led　mules。

Domini　waited　for　the　return　of　Marelle。　Her　mood　had　changed。　A　glow
of　cordial　humanity　chased　away　her　melancholy。　The　hostess　that　lurks
in　every　womanthat　housewife…hostess　sense　which　goes　hand…in…hand
with　the　mother　sensewas　alive　in　her。　She　was　keenly　anxious　to
play　the　good　fairy　simply；　unostentatiously；　to　these　exhausted　men
who　had　come　to　Mogar　out　of　the　jaws　of　Death；　to　see　their　weary
faces　shine　under　the　influence　of　repose　and　good　cheer。　But　the
tower　looked　desolate。　The　camp　was　gayer；　cosier。　Suddenly　she
resolved　to　invite　them　all　to　dine　in　the　camp　that　night。

Marelle　returned　with　Batouch。　She　saw　them　from　a　distance　coming
through　the　darkness　with　blazing　torches　in　their　hands。　When　they
came　to　her　she　said：

〃Batouch；　I　want　you　to　order　dinner　in　camp　for　the　soldiers。〃

A　broad　and　radiant　smile　irradiated　the　blunt　Breton　features　of
Marelle。

〃And　Monsieur　the　officer　will　dine　with　me　and　Monsieur。　Give　us　all
you　can。　Perhaps　there　will