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Domini did not ascend the tower of the hotel that morning。 She had
seen enough for the moment； and did not wish to disturb her
impressions by adding to them。 So she walked back to the Hotel du
Desert with Batouch。
Count Anteoni had said good…bye to her at the door of the garden； and
had begged her to come again whenever she liked； and to spend as many
hours there as she pleased。
〃I shall take you at your word；〃 she said frankly。 〃I feel that I
may。〃
As they shook hands she gave him her card。 He took out his。 〃By the
way；〃 he said； 〃the big hotel you passed in coming here is mine。 I
built it to prevent a more hideous one being built； and let it to the
proprietor。 You might like to ascend the tower。 The view at sundown is
incomparable。 At present the hotel is shut； but the guardian will show
you everything if you give him my card。〃
He pencilled some words in Arabic on the back from right to left。
〃You write Arabic； too？〃 Domini said； watching the forming of the
pretty curves with interest。
〃Oh； yes； I am more than half African； though my father was a Sicilian
and my mother a Roman。〃
He gave her the card； took off his hat and bowed。 When the tall white
door was softly shut by Smain； Domini felt rather like a new Eve
expelled from Paradise； without an Adam as a companion in exile。
〃Well； Madame？〃 said Batouch。 〃Have I spoken the truth？〃
〃Yes。 No European garden can be so beautiful as that。 Now I am going
straight home。〃
She smiled to herself as she said the last word。
Outside the hotel they found Hadj looking ferocious。 He exchanged some
words with Batouch； accompanying them with violent gestures。 When he
had finished speaking he spat upon the ground。
〃What is the matter with him？〃 Domini asked。
〃The Monsieur who is staying here would not take him to…day； but went
into the desert alone。 Hadj wishes that the nomads may cut his throat；
and that his flesh may be eaten by jackals。 Hadj is sure that he is a
bad man and will come to a bad end。〃
〃Because he does not want a guide every day！ But neither shall I。〃
〃Madame is quite different。 I would give my life for Madame。〃
〃Don't do that； but go this afternoon and find me a horse。 I don't
want a quiet one； but something with devil； something that a Spahi
would like to ride。〃
The desert spirits were speaking to her body as well as to her mind。 A
physical audacity was stirring in her； and she longed to give it vent。
〃Madame is like the lion。 She is afraid of nothing。〃
〃You speak without knowing； Batouch。 Don't come for me this afternoon；
but bring round a horse； if you can find one； to…morrow morning。〃
〃This very evening I will〃
〃No； Batouch。 I said to…morrow morning。〃
She spoke with a quiet but inflexible decision which silenced him。
Then she gave him ten francs and went into the dark house； from which
the burning noonday sun was carefully excluded。 She intended to rest
after /dejeuner/； and towards sunset to go to the big hotel and mount
alone to the summit of the tower。
It was half…past twelve； and a faint rattle of knives and forks from
the /salle…a…manger/ told her that /dejeuner/ was ready。 She went
upstairs； washed her face and hands in cold water； stood still while
Suzanne shook the dust from her gown； and then descended to the public
room。 The keen air had given her an appetite。
The /salle…a…manger/ was large and shady； and was filled with small
tables； at only three of which were people sitting。 Four French
officers sat together at one。 A small； fat； perspiring man of middle
age； probably a commercial traveller； who had eyes like a melancholy
toad； was at another； eating olives with anxious rapidity； and wiping
his forehead perpetually with a dirty white handkerchief。 At the third
was the priest with whom Domini had spoken in the church。 His napkin
was tucked under his beard； and he was drinking soup as he bent well
over his plate。
A young Arab waiter； with a thin； dissipated face； stood near the door
in bright yellow slippers。 When Domini came in he stole forward to
show her to her table； making a soft； shuffling sound on the polished
wooden floor。 The priest glanced up over his napkin； rose and bowed。
The French officers stared with an interest they were too chivalrous
to attempt to conceal。 Only the fat little man was entirely
unconcerned。 He wiped his forehead； stuck his fork deftly into an
olive； and continued to look like a melancholy toad entangled by fate
in commercial pursuits。
Domini's table was by a window； across which green Venetian shutters
were drawn。 It was at a considerable distance from the other guests；
who did not live in the house； but came there each day for their
meals。 Near it she noticed a table laid for one person； and so
arranged that if he came to /dejeuner/ he would sit exactly opposite
to her。 She wondered if it was for the man at whom she had just been
looking through Count Anteoni's field…glasses； the man who had fled
from prayer in the 〃Garden of Allah。〃 As she glanced at the empty
chair standing before the knives and forks； and the white cloth； she
was uncertain whether she wished it to be filled by the traveller or
not。 She felt his presence in Beni…Mora as a warring element。 That she
knew。 She knew also that she had come there to find peace； a great
calm and remoteness in which she could at last grow； develop； loose
her true self from cramping bondage； come to an understanding with
herself； face her heart and soul； andas it werelook them in the
eyes and know them for what they were； good or evil。 In the presence
of this total stranger there was something unpleasantly distracting
which she could not and did not ignore； something which roused her
antagonism and which at the same time compelled her attention。 She had
been conscious of it in the train； conscious of it in the tunnel at
twilight； at night in the hotel； and once again in Count Anteoni's
garden。 This man intruded himself； no doubt unconsciously； or even
against his will； into her sight； her thoughts； each time that she was
on the point of giving herself to what Count Anteoni called 〃the
desert spirits。〃 So it had been when the train ran out of the tunnel
into the blue country。 So it had been again when she leaned on the
white wall and gazed out over the shining fastnesses of the sun。 He
was there like an enemy； like something determined； egoistical； that
said to her； 〃You would look at the greatness of the desert； at
immensity； infinity； God！Look at me。〃 And she could not turn her
eyes away。 Each time the man had； as if without effort； conquered the
great competing power； fastened her thoughts upon himself； set her
imagination working about his life； even made her heart beat faster
with some thrill ofwhat？ Was it pity？ Was it a faint horror？ She
knew that to call the feeling merely repugnance would not be sincere。
The intensity； the vitality of the force shut up in a human being
almost angered her at this moment as she looked at the empty chair and
realised all that it had suddenly set at work。 There was something
insolent in humanity as well as something divine； and just then she
felt the insolence m