young。 It made something in her leap and quiver。 She was startled and
almost angered by that； but not by the eyes that caused it。
〃/Au revoir/；〃 she said； turning to go down。
〃May Imight I see you get up？〃 said Androvsky。
〃Get up！〃 she said。
〃Up on the horse？〃
She could not help smiling at his fashion of expressing the act of
mounting。 He was not a sportsman evidently； despite his muscular
strength。
〃Certainly； if you like。 Come along。〃
Without thinking of it she spoke rather as to a schoolboy； not with
superiority； but with the sort of bluffness age sometimes uses good…
naturedly to youth。 He did not seem to resent it and followed her down
to the arcade。
The side saddle was on and the poet held the grey by the bridle。 Some
Arab boys had assembled under the arcade to see what was going
forward。 The Arab waiter lounged at the door with the tassel of his
fez swinging against his pale cheek。 The horse fidgetted and tugged
against the rein； lifting his delicate feet uneasily from the ground；
flicking his narrow quarters with his long tail； and glancing sideways
with his dark and brilliant eyes； which were alive with a nervous
intelligence that was almost hectic。 Domini went up to him and
caressed him with her hand。 He reared up and snorted。 His whole body
seemed a…quiver with the desire to gallop furiously away alone into
some far distant place。
Androvsky stood near the waiter； looking at Domini and at the horse
with wonder and alarm in his eyes。
The animal； irritated by inaction； began to plunge violently and to
get out of hand。
〃Give me the reins；〃 Domini said to the poet。 〃That's it。 Now put your
hand for me。〃
Batouch obeyed。 Her foot just touched his hand and she was in the
saddle。
Androvsky sprang forward on to the pavement。 His eyes were blazing
with anxiety。 She saw it and laughed gaily。
〃Oh； he's not vicious；〃 she said。 〃And vice is the only thing that's
dangerous。 His mouth is perfect； but he's nervous and wants handling。
I'll just take him up the gardens and back。〃
She had been reining him in。 Now she let him go； and galloped up the
straight track between the palms towards the station。 The priest had
come out into his little garden with Bous…Bous； and leaned over his
brushwood fence to look after her。 Bous…Bous barked in a light
soprano。 The Arab boys jumped on their bare toes； and one of them； who
was a bootblack； waved his board over his shaven head。 The Arab waiter
smiled as if with satisfaction at beholding perfect competence。 But
Androvsky stood quite still looking down the dusty road at the
diminishing forms of horse and rider； and when they disappeared；
leaving behind them a light cloud of sand films whirling in the sun；
he sighed heavily and dropped his chin on his chest as if fatigued。
〃I can get a horse for Monsieur too。 Would Monsieur like to have a
horse？〃
It was the poet's amply seductive voice。 Androvsky started。
〃I don't ride；〃 he said curtly。
〃I will teach Monsieur。 I am the best teacher in Beni…Mora。 In three
lessons Monsieur will〃
〃I don't ride； I tell you。〃
Androvsky was looking angry。 He stepped out into the road。 Bous…Bous；
who was now observing Nature at the priest's garden gate； emerged with
some sprightliness and trotted towards him； evidently with the
intention of making his acquaintance。 Coming up to him the little dog
raised his head and uttered a short bark； at the same time wagging his
tail in a kindly； though not effusive manner。 Androvsky looked down；
bent quickly and patted him； as only a man really fond of animals and
accustomed to them knows how to pat。 Bous…Bous was openly gratified。
He began to wriggle affectionately。 The priest in his garden smiled。
Androvsky had not seen him and went on playing with the dog； who now
made preparations to lie down on his curly back in the road in the
hope of being tickled； a process he was an amateur of。 Still smiling；
and with a friendly look on his face； the priest came out of his
garden and approached the playmates。
〃Good morning； M'sieur；〃 he said politely； raising his hat。 〃I see you
like dogs。〃
Androvsky lifted himself up； leaving Bous…Bous in a prayerful
attitude； his paws raised devoutly towards the heavens。 When he saw
that it was the priest who had addressed him his face changed；
hardened to grimness； and his lips trembled slightly。
〃That's my little dog；〃 the priest continued in a gentle voice。 〃He
has evidently taken a great fancy to you。〃
Batouch was watching Androvsky under the arcade； and noted the sudden
change in his expression and his whole bearing。
〃II did not know he was your dog； Monsieur； or I should not have
interfered with him；〃 said Androvsky。
Bous…Bous jumped up against his leg。 He pushed the little dog rather
roughly away and stepped back to the arcade。 The priest looked puzzled
and slightly hurt。 At this moment the soft thud of horse's hoofs was
audible on the road and Domini came cantering back to the hotel。 Her
eyes were sparkling； her face was radiant。 She bowed to the priest and
reined up before the hotel door； where Androvsky was standing。
〃I'll buy him；〃 she said to Batouch； who swelled with satisfaction at
the thought of his commission。 〃And I'll go for a long ride nowout
into the desert。〃
〃You will not go alone； Madame？〃
It was the priest's voice。 She smiled down at him gaily。
〃Should I be carried off by nomads； Monsieur？〃
〃It would not be safe for a lady； believe me。〃
Batouch swept forward to reassure the priest。 〃I am Madame's guide。 I
have a horse ready saddled to accompany Madame。 I have sent for it
already； M'sieur。〃
One of the little Arab boys was indeed visible running with all his
might towards the Rue Berthe。 Domini's face suddenly clouded。 The
presence of the guide would take all the edge off her pleasure； and in
the short gallop she had just had she had savoured its keenness。 She
was alive with desire to be happy。
〃I don't need you； Batouch；〃 she said。
But the poet was inexorable； backed up by the priest。
〃It is my duty to accompany Madame。 I am responsible for her safety。〃
〃Indeed； you cannot go into the desert alone；〃 said the priest。
Domini glanced at Androvsky； who was standing silently under the
arcade； a little withdrawn； looking uncomfortable and self…conscious。
She remembered her thought on the tower of the dice…thrower； and of
how the presence of the stranger had seemed to double her pleasure
then。 Up the road from the Rue Berthe came the noise of a galloping
horse。 The shoeblack was returning furiously； his bare legs sticking
out on either side of a fiery light chestnut with a streaming mane and
tail。
〃Monsieur Androvsky；〃 she said。
He started。
〃Madame？〃
〃Will you come with me for a ride into the desert？〃
His face was flooded with scarlet； and he came a step forward； looking
up at her。
〃I！〃 he said with an accent of infinite surprise。
〃Yes。 Will you？〃
The chestnut thundered up and was pulled sharply back on its haunches。
Androvsky shot a sideways glance at it and hesitated。 Domini thought
he was going to refuse and wished she had not asked him； wished it
passionately。
〃Never mind；〃 she said； almost brutally in her vexation at what she
had done。
〃Batouch！〃
The poet was about to spring upon the horse when Androvsky caught him
by the arm。
〃I will go；〃 he said。
Batouch looked vicious。 〃But Monsieur told me he did not〃
He stopped。 The hand on his arm had given him a wrench that made him
feel as if his flesh were caught between steel pincers。 Androvsky came
up to the chestnut。
〃Oh； it's an Arab saddle；〃 said Domini。
〃It does not matter； Madame。〃
His face was stern。
〃Are you accustomed to them？〃
〃It makes no difference。〃
He took hold of the rein and put his foot in the high stirrup； but so
awkwardly that he kicked the horse in the side。 It plunged。
〃Take care！〃 said Domini。
Androvsky hung on； and climbed somehow into the saddle； coming down in
it heavily； with a thud。 The horse； now thoroughly startled； plunged
furiously and lashed out with its hind legs。 Androvsky was thrown
forward against the high red peak of the saddle with his hands on the
animal's neck。 There was a struggle。 He tugged at the rein violently。
The horse jumped back； reared； plunged sideways as if about to bolt。
Androvsky was shot off and fell on his right shoulder heavily。 Batouch
caught the horse while Androvsky got up。 He was white with dust。 There
was even dust on his face and in his short hair。 He looked passionate。
〃You see；〃 Batouch began； speaking to Domini； 〃that Monsieur cannot〃
〃Give me the rein！〃 said Androvsky。
There was a sound in his deep voice that was terrible。 He was looking
not at Domini； but at the priest； who stood a little aside with an
expression of concern on his face。 Bous…Bous barked with excitement at
the conflict。 Androvsky took the rein； and； with a sort of furious
determination； sprang into the saddle and pressed his legs against the
horse's flanks。 It reared up。 The priest moved back under the palm
trees； the Arab boys scattered。 Batouch sought the shelter of the
arcade； and the horse； with a short； whining neigh that was like a c