her world would laugh or wonder； and perhaps for the first time in her
life she was uneasily self…conscious because of the self that watched
herself； as if that self held something coldly satirical that mocked
at her and marvelled。
CHAPTER XIV
〃What shall I do to…night？〃
Alone in the now empty /salle…a…manger/ Domini asked herself the
question。 She was restless； terribly restless in mind； and wanted
distraction。 The idea of going to her room； of reading； even of
sitting quietly in the verandah； was intolerable to her。 She longed
for action； swiftness； excitement； the help of outside things； of that
exterior life which she had told Count Anteoni she had begun to see as
a mirage。 Had she been in a city she would have gone to a theatre to
witness some tremendous drama； or to hear some passionate or terrible
opera。 Beni…Mora might have been a place of many and strange
tragedies； would be no doubt again； but it offered at this moment
little to satisfy her mood。 The dances of the Cafes Maures； the songs
of the smokers of the keef； the long histories of the story…tellers
between the lighted candlesshe wanted none of these； and； for a
moment； she wished she were in London； Paris； any great capital that
spent itself to suit the changing moods of men。 With a sigh she got up
and went out to the Arcade。 Batouch joined her immediately。
〃What can I do to…night； Batouch？〃 she said。
〃There are the femmes mauresques；〃 he began。
〃No； no。〃
〃Would Madame like to hear the story…teller？〃
〃No。 I should not understand him。〃
〃I can explain to Madame。〃
〃No。〃
She stepped out into the road。
〃There will be a moon to…night； won't there？〃 she said； looking up at
the starry sky。
〃Yes； Madame； later。〃
〃What time will it rise？〃
〃Between nine and ten。〃
She stood in the road； thinking。 It had occurred to her that she had
never seen moonrise in the desert。
〃And now it is〃she looked at her watch〃only eight。〃
〃Does Madame wish to see the moon come up pouring upon the palms〃
〃Don't talk so much； Batouch；〃 she said brusquely。
To…night the easy and luscious imaginings of the poet worried her like
the cry of a mosquito。 His presence even disturbed her。 Yet what could
she do without him？ After a pause she said：
〃Can one go into the desert at night？〃
〃On foot； Madame？ It would be dangerous。 One cannot tell what may be
in the desert by night。〃
These words made her long to go。 They had a charm； a violence perhaps；
of the unknown。
〃One might ride；〃 she said。 〃Why not？ Who could hurt us if we were
mounted and armed？〃
〃Madame is brave as the panther in the forests of the Djurdjurah。〃
〃And you； Batouch？ Aren't you brave？〃
〃Madame； I am afraid of nothing。〃 He did not say it boastfully； like
Hadj； but calmly； almost loftily。
〃Well； we are neither of us afraid。 Let us ride out on the Tombouctou
road and see the moon rise。 I'll go and put on my habit。〃
〃Madame should take her revolver。〃
〃Of course。 Bring the horses round at nine。〃
When she had put on her habit it was only a few minutes after eight。
She longed to be in the saddle； going at full speed up the long； white
road between the palms。 Physical movement was necessary to her； and
she began to pace up and down the verandah quickly。 She wished she had
ordered the horses at once； or that she could do something definite to
fill up the time till they came。 As she turned at the end of the
verandah she saw a white form approaching her； when it drew near she
recognised Hadj； looking self…conscious and mischievous； but a little
triumphant too。 At this moment she was glad to see him。 He received
her congratulations on his recovery and approaching marriage with a
sort of skittish gaiety； but she soon discovered that he had come with
a money…making reason。 Having seen his cousin safely off the premises；
it had evidently occurred to him to turn an honest penny。 And pennies
were now specially needful to him in view of married life。
〃Does Madame wish to see something strange and wonderful to…night？〃 he
asked； after a moment； looking at her sideways out of the corners of
his wicked eyes； which； as Domini could see； were swift to read
character and mood。
〃I am going out riding。〃
He looked astonished。
〃In the night？〃
〃Yes。 Batouch has gone to fetch the horses。〃
Hadj's face became a mask of sulkiness。
〃If Madame goes out with Batouch she will be killed。 There are robbers
in the desert； and Batouch is afraid of〃
〃Could we see the strange and wonderful thing in an hour？〃 she
interrupted。
The gay and skittish expression returned instantly to his face。
〃Yes； Madame。〃
〃What is it？〃
He shook his head and made an artful gesture with his hand in the air。
〃Madame shall see。〃
His long eyes were full of mystery； and he moved towards the
staircase。
〃Come； Madame。〃
Domini laughed and followed him。 She felt as if she were playing a
game； yet her curiosity was roused。 They went softly down and slipped
out of the hotel like children fearing to be caught。
〃Batouch will be angry。 There will be white foam on his lips；〃
whispered Hadj； dropping his chin and chuckling low in his throat。
〃This way； Madame。〃
He led her quickly across the gardens to the Rue Berthe； and down a
number of small streets； till they reached a white house before which；
on a hump； three palm trees grew from one trunk。 Beyond was waste
ground； and further away a stretch of sand and low dunes lost in the
darkness of the； as yet； moonless night。 Domini looked at the house
and at Hadj； and wondered if it would be foolish to enter。
〃What is it？〃 she asked again。
But he only replied； 〃Madame will see！〃 and struck his flat hand upon
the door。 It was opened a little way； and a broad face covered with
little humps and dents showed； the thick lips parted and muttering
quickly。 Then the face was withdrawn； the door opened wider； and Hadj
beckoned to Domini to go in。 After a moment's hesitation she did so；
and found herself in a small interior court； with a tiled floor；
pillars； and high up a gallery of carved wood； from which； doubtless；
dwelling…rooms opened。 In the court； upon cushions； were seated four
vacant…looking men； with bare arms and legs and long matted hair；
before a brazier； from which rose a sharply pungent perfume。 Two of
these men were very young； with pale； ascetic faces and weary eyes。
They looked like young priests of the Sahara。 At a short distance；
upon a red pillow； sat a tiny boy of about three years old； dressed in
yellow and green。 When Domini and Hadj came into the court no one
looked at them except the child； who stared with slowly…rolling；
solemn eyes； slightly shifting on the pillow。 Hadj beckoned to Domini
to seat herself upon some rugs between the pillars； sat down beside
her and began to make a cigarette。 Complete silence prevailed。 The
four men stared at the brazier； holding their nostrils over the
incense fumes which rose from it in airy spirals。 The child continued
to stare at Domini。 Hadj lit his cigarette。 And time rolled on。
Domini had desired violence； and had been conveyed into a dumbness of
mystery； that fell upon her turmoil of spirit like a blow。 What struck
her as especially strange and unnatural was the fact that the men with
whom she was sitting in the dim court of this lonely house had not
looked at her； did not appear to know that she was there。 Hadj had
caught the aroma of their meditations with the perfume of the incense；
for his eyes had lost their mischief and become gloomily profound； as
if they stared on bygone centuries or watched a far…off future。 Even
the child began to look elderly； and worn as with fastings and with
watchings。 As the fumes perpetually ascended from the red…hot coals of
the brazier the sharp smell of the perfume grew stronger。 There was in
it something provocative and exciting that was like a sound； and
Domini marvelled that the four men who crouched over it and drank it
in perpetually could be unaffected by its influence when she； who was
at some distance from it； felt dawning on her desires of movement； of
action； almost a physical necessity to get up and do something
extraordinary； absurd or passionate； such as she had never done or
dreamed of till this moment。
A low growl like that of a wild beast broke the silence。 Domini did
not know at first whence it came。 She stared at the four men； but they
were all gazing vacantly into the brazier； their naked arms dropping
to the floor。 She glanced at Hadj。 He was delicately taking a
cigarette paper from a little case。 The childno； it was absurd even
to think of a child emitting such a sound。
Someone growled again more fiercely； and this time Domini saw that it
was the palest of the ascetic…looking youths。 He shook back his long
hair； rose to his feet with a bound； and moving into the centre of the
court gazed ferociously at his companions。 As if in obedience to the
glance； two of them stretched their arms backwards； found two tomtoms；
and began to beat them loudly and monotonously。 The young ascetic
bowed to the tomtoms； dropping his lower jaw and jumping on his bare
feet。 He bowed again as if saluting a fetish； and again and agai