按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and girls who rode on camels caparisoned in red to the dancing…houses
of Sahara citiesall these things cradled her humour at this moment
and seemed to plant her； like a mimosa tree； deep down in this sand
garden of the sun。
She had forgotten her bitter sensation in the railway carriage when it
was recalled to her mind by an incident that clashed with her present
mood。
Steps sounded on the path behind them； going faster than they were；
and presently Domini saw her fellow…traveller striding along；
accompanied by a young Arab who was carrying the green bag。 The
stranger was looking straight before him down the tunnel； and he went
by swiftly。 But his guide had something to say to Batouch； and altered
his pace to keep beside them for a moment。 He was a very thin； lithe；
skittish…looking youth； apparently about twenty…three years old； with
a chocolate…brown skin； high cheek bones； long； almond…shaped eyes
twinkling with dissipated humour； and a large mouth that smiled
showing pointed white teeth。 A straggling black moustache sprouted on
his upper lip； and long coarse strands of jet…black hair escaped from
under the front of a fez that was pushed back on his small head。 His
neck was thin and long； and his hands were wonderfully delicate and
expressive； with rosy and quite perfect nails。 When he laughed he had
a habit of throwing his head forward and tucking in his chin； letting
the tassel of his fez fall over his temple to left or right。 He was
dressed in white with a burnous； and had a many…coloured piece of silk
with frayed edges wound about his waist； which was as slim as a young
girl's。
He spoke to Batouch with intense vivacity in Arabic； at the same time
shooting glances half…obsequious； half…impudent； wholly and even
preternaturally keen and intelligent at Domini。 Batouch replied with
the dignified languor that seemed peculiar to him。 The colloquy
continued for two or three minutes。 Domini thought it sounded like a
quarrel； but she was not accustomed to Arabs' talk。 Meanwhile； the
stranger in front had slackened his pace； and was obviously lingering
for his neglectful guide。 Once or twice he nearly stopped； and made a
movement as if to turn round。 But he checked it and went on slowly。
His guide spoke more and more vehemently； and suddenly； tucking in his
chin and displaying his rows of big and dazzling teeth； burst into a
gay and boyish laugh； at the same time shaking his head rapidly。 Then
he shot one last sly look at Domini and hurried on； airily swinging
the green bag to and fro。 His arms had tiny bones； but they were
evidently strong； and he walked with the light ease of a young animal。
After he had gone he turned his head once and stared full at Domini。
She could not help laughing at the vanity and consciousness of his
expression。 It was childish。 Yet there was something ruthless and
wicked in it too。 As he came up to the stranger the latter looked
round； said something to him； and then hastened forward。 Domini was
struck by the difference between their gaits。 For the stranger；
although he was so strongly built and muscular； walked rather heavily
and awkwardly； with a peculiar shuffling motion of his feet。 She began
to wonder how old he was。 About thirty…five or thirty…seven； she
thought。
〃That is Hadj；〃 said Batouch in his soft； rich voice。
〃Hadj？〃
〃Yes。 He is my cousin。 He lives in Beni…Mora； but he； too； has been in
Paris。 He has been in prison too。〃
〃What for？〃
〃Stabbing。〃
Batouch gave this piece of information with quiet indifference； and
continued
〃He likes to laugh。 He is lazy。 He has earned a great deal of money；
and now he has none。 To…night he is very gay； because he has a
client。〃
〃I see。 Then he is a guide？〃
〃Many people in Beni…Mora are guides。 But Hadj is always lucky in
getting the English。〃
〃That man with him isn't English！〃 Domini exclaimed。
She had wondered what the traveller's nationality was； but it had
never occurred to her that it might be the same as her own。
〃Yes； he is。 And he is going to the Hotel du Desert。 You and he are
the only English here； and almost the only travellers。 It is too early
for many travellers yet。 They fear the heat。 And besides； few English
come here now。 What a pity！ They spend money； and like to see
everything。 Hadj is very anxious to buy a costume at Tunis for the
great /fete/ at the end of Ramadan。 It will cost fifty or sixty
francs。 He hopes the Englishman is rich。 But all the English are rich
and generous。〃
Here Batouch looked steadily at Domini with his large； unconcerned
eyes。
〃This one speaks Arabic a little。〃
Domini made no reply。 She was surprised by this piece of information。
There was something； she thought； essentially un…English about the
stranger。 He was certainly not dressed by an English tailor。 But it
was not only that which had caused her mistake。 His whole air and
look； his manner of holding himself； of sitting； of walkingyes；
especially of walkingwere surely foreign。 Yet； when she came to
think about it； she could not say that they were characteristic of any
other country。 Idly she had said to herself that the stranger might be
an Austrian or a Russian。 But she had been thinking of his colouring。
It happened that two /attaches/ of those two nations； whom she had met
frequently in London； had hair of that shade of rather warm brown。
〃He does not look like an Englishman；〃 she said presently。
〃He can talk in French and in Arabic； but Hadj says he is English。〃
〃How should Hadj know？〃
〃Because he has the eyes of the jackal； and has been with many
English。 We are getting near to the Catholic church； Madame。 You will
see it through the trees。 And there is Monsieur the Cure coming
towards us。 He is coming from his house； which is near the hotel。〃
At some distance in the twilight of the tunnel Domini saw a black
figure in a soutane walking very slowly towards them。 The stranger；
who had been covering the ground rapidly with his curious； shuffling
stride； was much nearer to it than they were； and； if he kept on at
his present pace； would soon pass it。 But suddenly Domini saw him
pause and hesitate。 He bent down and seemed to be doing something to
his boot。 Hadj dropped the green bag； and was evidently about to kneel
down； and assist him when he lifted himself up abruptly and looked
before him； as if at the priest who was approaching； then turned
sharply to the right into a path which led out of the garden to the
arcades of the Rue Berthe。 Hadj followed； gesticulating frantically；
and volubly explaining that the hotel was in the opposite direction。
But the stranger did not stop。 He only glanced swiftly back over his
shoulder once； and then continued on his way。
〃What a funny man that is！〃 said Batouch。 〃What does he want to do？〃
Domini did not answer him； for the priest was just passing them； and
she saw the church to the left among the trees。 It was a plain；
unpretending building； with a white wooden door set in an arch。 Above
the arch were a small cross； two windows with rounded tops； a clock；
and a white tower with a pink roof。 She looked at it； and at the
priest； whose face was dark and meditative； wit