the garden of allah-第93章

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Marelle。

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

She　saw　him　opening　his　lips　to　say　that　the　dinner　would　be　poor　and
stopped　him。

〃You　are　to　open　some　of　the　champagnethe　Pommery。　We　will　drink　to
all　safe　returns。　Now；　give　me　the　brand　and　go　and　tell　the　cook。〃

As　he　took　his　torch　and　disappeared　into　the　darkness　De　Trevignac
came　out　from　the　tower。　He　still　looked　exhausted　and　walked　with
some　difficulty；　but　he　had　washed　the　sand　from　his　face　with　water
from　the　artesian　well　behind　the　tower；　changed　his　uniform；　brushed
the　sand　from　his　yellow　hair；　and　put　on　a　smart　gold…laced　cap
instead　of　his　sun…helmet。　The　spectacles　were　gone　from　his　eyes；　and
between　his　lips　was　a　large　Havanahis　last；　kept　by　him　among　the
dunes　as　a　possible　solace　in　the　dreadful　hour　of　death。

〃Monsieur　de　Trevignac；　I　want　you　to　dine　with　us　in　camp　to…night
only　to　dine。　We　won't　keep　you　from　your　bed　one　moment　after　the
coffee　and　the　cognac。　You　must　seal　the　triple　allianceFrance；
Russia；　Englandin　some　champagne。〃

She　had　spoken　gaily；　cordially。　She　added　more　gravely：

〃One　doesn't　escape　from　death　among　the　dunes　every　day。　Will　you
come？〃

She　held　out　her　hand　frankly；　as　a　man　might　to　another　man。　He
pressed　it　as　a　man　presses　a　woman's　hand　when　he　is　feeling　very
soft　and　tender。

〃Madame；　what　can　I　say；　but　that　you　are　too　good　to　us　poor　fellows
and　that　you　will　find　it　very　difficult　to　get　rid　of　us；　for　we
shall　be　so　happy　in　your　camp　that　we　shall　forget　all　about　our
tower。〃

〃That's　settled　then。〃

With　the　brand　in　her　hand　she　walked　to　the　edge　of　the　hill。　De
Trevignac　followed　her。　He　had　taken　the　other　brand　from　Marelle。
They　stood　side　by　side；　overlooking　the　immense　desolation　that　was
now　almost　hidden　in　the　night。

〃You　are　going　to　signal　to　your　husband；　Madame？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Let　me　do　it　for　you。　See；　I　have　the　other　brand！〃

〃Thank　youbut　I　will　do　it。〃

In　the　light　of　the　flame　that　leaped　up　as　if　striving　to　touch　her
face　he　saw　a　light　in　her　eyes　that　he　understood；　and　he　drooped　his
torch　towards　the　earth　while　she　lifted　hers　on　high　and　waved　it　in
the　blackness。

He　watched　her。　The　tall；　strong；　but　exquisitely　supple　figure；　the
uplifted　arm　with　the　torch　sending　forth　a　long　tongue　of　golden
flame；　the　ardent　and　unconscious　pose；　that　set　before　him　a　warm
passionate　heart　calling　to　another　heart　without　shame；　made　him
think　of　her　as　some　Goddess　of　the　Sahara。　He　had　let　his　torch　droop
towards　the　earth；　but；　as　she　waved　hers；　he　had　an　irresistible
impulse　to　join　her　in　the　action　she　made　heroic　and　superb。　And
presently　he　lifted　his　torch；　too；　and　waved　it　beside　hers　in　the
night。

She　smiled　at　him　in　the　flames。

〃He　must　see　them　surely；〃　she　said。

From　below；　in　the　distance　of　the　desert；　there　rose　a　loud　cry　in　a
strong　man's　voice。

〃Aha！〃　she　exclaimed。

She　called　out　in　return　in　a　warm；　powerful　voice。　The　man's　voice
answered；　nearer。　She　dropped　her　brand　to　the　earth。

〃Monsieur；　you　will　come　thenin　half　an　hour？〃

〃Madame；　with　the　most　heartfelt　pleasure。　But　let　me　accompany〃

〃No；　I　am　quite　safe。　And　bring　your　men　with　you。　We'll　make　the　best
feast　we　can　for　them。　And　there's　enough　champagne　for　all。〃

Then　she　went　away　quickly；　eagerly；　into　the　darkness。

〃To　be　her　husband！〃　murmured　De　Trevignac。　〃Luckylucky　fellow！〃　And
he　dropped　his　brand　beside　hers　on　the　ground；　and　stood　watching　the
two　flames　mingle。

〃Luckylucky　fellow！〃　he　said　again　aloud。　〃I　wonder　what　he's　like。〃



CHAPTER　XX

When　Domini　reached　the　camp　she　found　it　in　a　bustle。　Batouch；
resigned　to　the　inevitable；　had　put　the　cook　upon　his　mettle。　Ouardi
was　already　to　be　seen　with　a　bottle　of　Pommery　in　each　hand；　and　was
only　prevented　from　instantly　uncorking　them　by　the　representations　of
his　mistress　and　an　elaborate　exposition　of　the　peculiar　and
evanescent　virtues　of　champagne。　Ali　was　humming　a　mysterious　song
about　a　lovesick　camel…man；　with　which　he　intended　to　make　glad　the
hearts　of　the　assembly　when　the　halting　time　was　over。　And　the　dining…
table　was　already　set　for　three。

When　Androvsky　rode　in　with　the　Arabs　Domini　met　him　at　the　edge　of
the　hill。

〃You　saw　my　signal；　Boris？〃

〃Yes〃

He　was　going　to　say　more；　when　she　interrupted　him　eagerly。

〃Have　you　any　gazelle？　Ah〃〃

Across　the　mule　of　one　of　the　Arabs　she　saw　a　body　drooping；　a
delicate　head　with　thin；　pointed　horns；　tiny　legs　with　exquisite
little　feet　that　moved　as　the　mule　moved。

〃We　shall　want　it　to…night。　Take　it　quickly　to　the　cook's　tent；
Ahmed。〃　Androvsky　got　off　his　mule。

〃There's　a　light　in　the　tower！〃　he　said；　looking　at　her　and　then
dropping　his　eyes。

〃Yes。〃

〃And　I　saw　two　signals。　There　were　two　brands　being　waved　together。〃

〃To…night；　we　have　comrades　in　the　desert。〃

〃Comrades！〃　he　said。

His　voice　sounded　startled。

〃Men　who　have　escaped　from　a　horrible　death　in　the　dunes。〃

〃Arabs？〃

〃French。〃

Quickly　she　told　him　her　story。　He　listened　in　silence。　When　she　had
finished　he　said　nothing。　But　she　saw　him　look　at　the　dining…table
laid　for　three　and　his　expression　was　dark　and　gloomy。

〃Boris；　you　don't　mind！〃　she　said　in　surprise。　〃Surely　you　would　not
refuse　hospitality　to　these　poor　fellows！〃

She　put　her　hand　through　his　arm　and　pressed　it。

〃Have　I　done　wrong？　But　I　know　I　haven't！〃

〃Wrong！　How　could　you　do　that？〃

He　seemed　to　make　an　effort；　to　conquer　something　within　him。

〃It's　I　who　am　wrong；　Domini。　The　truth　is；　I　can't　bear　our　happiness
to　be　intruded　upon　even　for　a　night。　I　want　to　be　alone　with　you。
This　life　of　ours　in　the　desert　has　made　me　desperately　selfish。　I
want　to　be　alone；　quite　alone；　with　you。〃

〃It's　that！　How　glad　I　am！〃

She　laid　her　cheek　against　his　arm。

〃Then；〃　he　said；　〃that　other　signal？〃

〃Monsieur　de　Trevignac　gave　it。〃

Androvsky　took　his　arm　from　hers　abruptly。

〃Monsieur　de　Trevignac！〃　he　said。　〃Monsieur　de　Trevignac？〃

He　stood　as　if　in　deep　and　anxious　thought。

〃Yes；　the　officer。　That's　his　name。　What　is　it；　Boris？〃

〃Nothing。〃

There　was　a　sound　of　voices　approaching　the　camp　in　the　darkness。　They
were　speaking　French。

〃I　must；〃　said　Androvsky；　〃I　must〃

He　made　an　uncertain　movement；　as　if　to　go　towards　the　dunes；　checked
it；　and　went　hurriedly　into　the　dressing…tent。　As　he　disappeared　De
Trevignac　came　into　the　camp　with　his　men。　Batouch　conducted　the
latter　with　all　ceremony　towards　the　fire　which　burned　before　the
tents　of　the　attendants；　and；　for　the　moment；　Domini　was　left　alone
with　De　Trevignac。

〃My　husband　is　coming　directly；〃　she　said。　〃He　was　late　in　returning；
but　he　brought　gazelle。　Now　you　must　sit　down　at　once。〃

She　led　the　way　to　the　dining…tent。　De　Trevignac　glanced　at　the　table
laid　for　three　with　an　eager　anticipation　which　he　was　far　too　natural
to　try　to　conceal。

〃Madame；〃　he　said；　〃if　I　disgrace　myself　to…night；　if　I　eat　like　an
ogre　in　a　fairy　tale；　will　you　forgive　me？〃

〃I　will　not　forgive　you　if　you　don't。〃

She　spoke　gaily；　made　him　sit　down　in　a　folding…chair；　and　insisted　on
putting　a　soft　cushion　at　his　back。　Her　manner　was　cheerful；　almost
eagerly　kind　and　full　of　a　camaraderie　rare　in　a　woman；　yet　he　noticed
a　change　in　her　since　they　stood　together　waving　the　brands　by　the
tower。　And　he　said　to　himself：

〃The　husbandperhaps　he's　not　so　pleased　at　my　appearance。　I　wonder
how　long　they've　been　married？〃

And　he　felt　his　curiosity　to　see　〃Monsieur　Androvsky〃　deepen。

While　they　waited　for　him　Domini　made　De　Trevignac　tell　her　the　story
of　his　terrible　adventure　in　the　dunes。　He　did　so　simply；　like　a
soldier；　without　exaggeration。　When　he　had　finished　she　said：

〃You　thought　death　was　certain　then？〃

〃Quite　certain；　Madame。〃

She　looked　at　him　earnestly。

〃To　have　faced　a　death　like　that　in　utter　desolation；　utter
loneliness；　must　make　life　seem　very　different　afterwards。〃

〃Yes；　Madame。　But　I　did　not　feel　utterly　alone。〃

〃Your　men！〃

〃No；　Madame。〃

After　a　pause　he　added