poverty after the death of his father； a Russian who had come to
Africa to make a fortune by vine…growing； and who had had his hopes
blasted by three years of drought and by the visitation of the dreaded
phylloxera？ Had he not told her of his own hard work on the rich
uplands among the Spanish workmen； of how he had toiled early and late
in all kinds of weather； not for himself； but for a company that drew
a fortune from the land and gave him a bare livelihood？ Till she met
him he had never travelledhe had never seen almost anything of life。
A legacy from a relative had at last enabled him to have some freedom
and to gratify a man's natural taste for change。 And； strangely；
perhaps； he had come first to the desert。 She could notshe did not
expect him to show the sort of easy cultivation that a man acquires
only by long contact with all sorts and conditions of men and women。
But she knew that he was not only full of fire and feelinga man with
a great temperament； but also that he was a man who had found time to
study； whose mind was not empty。 He was a man who had thought
profoundly。 She knew this； although even with her； even in the great
intimacy that is born of a great mutual passion； she knew him for a
man of naturally deep reserve； who could not perhaps speak all his
thoughts to anyone； even to the woman he loved。 And knowing this； she
felt a fighting temper rise up in her。 She resolved to use her will
upon this man who loved her； to force him to show his best side to the
guest who had come to them out of the terror of the dunes。 She would
be obstinate for him。
Her lips went down a little at the corners。 De Trevignac glanced at
her above his soup…plate； and then at Androvsky。 He was a man who had
seen much of society； and who divined at once the gulf that must have
separated the kind of life led in the past by his hostess from the
kind of life led by his host。 Such gulfs； he knew； are bridged with
difficulty。 In this case a great love must have been the bridge。 His
interest in these two people； encountered by him in the desolation of
the wastes； and when all his emotions had been roused by the nearness
of peril； would have been deep in any case。 But there was something
that made it extraordinary； something connected with Androvsky。 It
seemed to him that he had seen； perhaps known Androvsky at some time
in his life。 Yet Androvsky's face was not familiar to him。 He could
not yet tell from what he drew this impression； but it was strong。 He
searched his memory。
Just at first fatigue was heavy upon him； but the hot soup； the first
glass of wine revived him。 When Domini； full of her secret obstinacy；
began to talk gaily he was soon able easily to take his part； and to
join her in her effort to include Androvsky in the conversation。 The
cheerful noise of the camp came to them from without。
〃I'm afraid my men are lifting up their voices rather loudly；〃 said De
Trevignac。
〃We like it；〃 said Domini。 〃Don't we； Boris？〃
There was a long peal of laughter from the distance。 As it died away
Batouch's peculiar guttural chuckle； which had something negroid in
it； was audible； prolonging itself in a loneliness that spoke his
pertinacious sense of humour。
〃Certainly；〃 said Androvsky； still in the same strained and unnatural
voice which had surprised Domini when she introduced the two men。 〃We
are accustomed to gaiety round the camp fire。〃
〃You are making a long stay in the desert； Monsieur？〃 asked De
Trevignac。
〃I hope so； Monsieur。 It depends on myit depends on Madame
Androvsky。〃
〃Why didn't he say 'my wife'？〃 thought De Trevignac。 And again he
searched his memory。 Had he ever met this man？ If so； where？〃
〃I should like to stay in the desert for ever；〃 Domini said quickly；
with a long look at her husband。
〃I should not； Madame；〃 De Trevignac said。
〃I understand。 The desert has shown you its terrors。〃
〃Indeed it has。〃
〃But to us it has only shown its enchantment。 Hasn't it？〃 She spoke to
Androvsky。 After a pause he replied：
〃Yes。〃
The word； when it came； sounded like a lie。
For the first time since her marriage Domini felt a cold； like a cold
of ice about her heart。 Was it possible that Androvsky had not shared
her joy in the desert？ Had she been alone in her happiness？ For a
moment she sat like one stunned by a blow。 Then knowledge； reason；
spoke in her。 She knew of Androvsky's happiness with her； knew it
absolutely。 There are some things in which a woman cannot be deceived。
When Androvsky was with her he wanted no other human being。 Nothing
could take that certainty from her。
〃Of course；〃 she said； recovered； 〃there are places in the desert in
which melancholy seems to brood； in which one has a sense of the
terrors of the wastes。 Mogar； I think； is one of them； perhaps the
only one we have been in yet。 This evening； when I was sitting under
the tower； even I〃and as she said 〃even I〃 she smiled happily at
Androvsky〃knew some forebodings。〃
〃Forebodings？〃 Androvsky said quickly。 〃Why should you？〃 He broke
off。
〃Not of coming misfortune； I hope； Madame？〃 said De Trevignac in a
voice that was now irresistibly cheerful。
He was helping himself to some gazelle； which sent forth an appetising
odour； and Ouardi was proudly pouring out for him the first glass of
blithely winking champagne。
〃I hardly know； but everything looked sad and strange； I began to
think about the uncertainties of life。〃
Domini and De Trevignac were sipping their champagne。 Ouardi came
behind Androvsky to fill his glass。
〃Non！ non！〃 he said； putting his hand over it and shaking his head。
De Trevignac started。
Ouardi looked at Domini and made a distressed grimace； pointing with a
brown finger at the glass。
〃Oh； Boris！ you must drink champagne to…night！〃 she exclaimed。
〃I would rather not；〃 he answered。 〃I am not accustomed to it。〃
〃But to drink our guest's health after his escape from death！〃
Androvsky took his hand from the glass and Ouardi filled it with wine。
Then Domini raised her glass and drank to De Trevignac。 Androvsky
followed her example； but without geniality； and when he put his lips
to the wine he scarcely tasted it。 Then he put the glass down and told
Ouardi to give him red wine。 And during the rest of the evening he
drank no more champagne。 He also ate very little； much less than
usual； for in the desert they both had the appetites of hunters。
After thanking them cordially for drinking his health； De Trevignac
said：
〃I was nearly experiencing the certainty of death。 But was it Mogar
that turned you to such thoughts； Madame？〃
〃I think so。 There is something sad； even portentous about it。〃
She looked towards the tent door； imagining the immense desolation
that was hidden in the darkness outside； the white plains； the mirage
sea； the sand dunes like monsters； the bleached bones of the dead
camels with the eagles hovering above them。
〃Don't you think so； Boris？ Don't you think it looks like a place in
whichlike a tragic place； a place in which tragedies ought to
occur？〃
〃It is not places that make tragedies；〃 he said； 〃or at least they
make tragedies far more seldom than the people in them。〃
He stopped； seemed to make an effort to throw off his taciturnity； and
suddenly to be able to throw it off； at least partially。 For he
continued speaking with greater naturalness and ease； even with a
certain dominating force。
〃If people would use their wills they need not be influenced by place；
they need not be governed by a thousand things； by memories； by fears；
by fanciesyes； even by fancies that are the merest shadows； but out
of which they make phantoms。 Half the terrors and miseries of life lie
only in the minds of men。 They even cause the very tragedies they
would avoid by expecting them。〃
He said the last words with a sort of strong contemptthen； more
quietly； he added：
〃You； Domini； why should you feel the uncertainty of life； especially
at Mogar？ You need not。 You can choose not to。 Life is the same in its
chances here as everywhere？〃
〃But you；〃 she answered〃did you not feel a tragic influence when we
arrived here？ Do you remember how you looked at the tower？〃
〃The tower！〃 he said； with a quick glance at De Trevignac。 〃Iwhy
should I look at the tower？〃
〃I don't know； but you did； almost as if you were afraid of it。〃
〃My tower！〃 said De Trevignac。
Another roar of laughter reached them from the camp fire。 It made
Domini smile in sympathy； but De Trevignac and Androvsky looked at
each other for a moment； the one with a sort of earnest inquiry； the
other with hostility； or what seemed hostility； across the circle of
lamplight that lay between them。
〃A tower rising in the desert emphasises the desolation。 I suppose
that was it；〃 Androvsky said； as the laugh died down into Batouch's
throaty chuckle。 〃it suggests lonely people watching。〃
〃For something that never comes； or something terrible that comes；〃 De
Trevignac said。
As he spoke the last words Androvsky moved uneasily in his chair； and
looked out towards the camp； as if he longed to get up and go into the
open air； as if the tent roof above his head oppressed him。
Trevignac turned