silence gave Batouch an opportunity of pouring forth upon them a flood
of poetical description of the dancing…girls of Amara； all of whom he
seemed to know as intimate friends。 Before he ceased they came into
the city。
The road was still majestically broad。 They looked with interest at
the first houses； one on each side of the way。 And here again they
were met by the sharp contrast which was evidently to be the keynote
of Amara。 The house on the left was European； built of white stone；
clean； attractive； but uninteresting； with stout white pillars of
plaster supporting an arcade that afforded shade from the sun； windows
with green blinds； and an open doorway showing a little hall； on the
floor of which lay a smart rug glowing with gay colours； that on the
right； before which the sand lay deep as if drifted there by some
recent wind of the waste； was African and barbarous； an immense and
rambling building of brown earth； brushwood and palm； windowless； with
a flat…terraced roof； upon which were piled many strange…looking
objects like things collapsed； red and dark green； with fringes and
rosettes； and tall sticks of palm pointing vaguely to the sky。
〃Why； these are like our palanquin！〃 Domini said。
〃They are the palanquins of the dancing…girls； Madame；〃 said Batouch。
〃That is the cafe of the dancers； and that〃he pointed to the neat
house opposite〃is the house of Monsieur the Aumonier of Amara。〃
〃Aumonier；〃 said Androvsky； sharply。 〃Here！〃
He paused； then added more quietly：
〃What should he do here？〃
〃But； Monsieur； he is for the French officers。〃
〃There are French officers？〃
〃Yes； Monsieur； four or five； and the commandant。 They live in the
palace with the cupolas。〃
〃I forgot；〃 Androvsky said to Domini。 〃We are not out of the sphere of
French influence。 This place looks so remote and so barbarous that I
imagined it given over entirely to the desert men。〃
〃We need not see the French；〃 she said。 〃We shall be encamped outside
in the sand。〃
〃And we need not stay here long；〃 he said quickly。
〃Boris；〃 she asked him； half in jest； half in earnest； 〃shall we buy a
desert island to live in？〃
〃Let us buy an oasis；〃 he said。 〃That would be the perfthe safest
life for us。〃
〃The safest？〃
〃The safest for our happiness。 Domini； I have a horror of the world！〃
He said the last words with a strong； almost fierce； emphasis。
〃Had you it always； or only since we have been married？〃
〃Iperhaps it was born in me； perhaps it is part of me。 Who knows？〃
He had relapsed into a gravity that was heavy with gloom； and looked
about him with eyes that seemed to wish to reject all that offered
itself to their sight。
〃I want the desert and you in it；〃 he said。 〃The lonely desert； with
you。〃
〃And nothing else？〃
〃I want that。 I cannot have that taken from me。〃
He looked about him quickly from side to side as they rode up the
street； as if he were a scout sent in advance of an army and suspected
ambushes。 His manner reminded her of the way he had looked towards the
tower as they rode into Mogar。 And he had connected that tower with
the French。 She remembered his saying to her that it must have been
built for French soldiers。 As they rode into Mogar he had dreaded
something in Mogar。 The strange incident with De Trevignac had
followed。 She had put it from her mind as a matter of small； or no；
importance； had resolutely forgotten it； had been able to forget it in
their dream of desert life and desert passion。 But the entry into a
city for the moment destroyed the dreamlike atmosphere woven by the
desert； recalled her town sense； that quick…wittedness； that sharpness
of apprehension and swiftness of observation which are bred in those
who have long been accustomed to a life in the midst of crowds and
movement； and changing scenes and passing fashions。 Suddenly she
seemed to herself to be reading Androvsky with an almost merciless
penetration； which yet she could not check。 He had dreaded something
in Mogar。 He dreaded something here in Amara。 An unusual incidentfor
the coming of a stranger into their lives out of their desolation of
the sand was unusualhad followed close upon the first dread。 Would
another such incident follow upon this second dread？ And of what was
this dread born？
Batouch drew her attention to the fact that they were coming to the
marketplace； and to the curious crowds of people who were swarming out
of the tortuous； narrow streets into the main thoroughfare to watch
them pass； or to accompany them； running beside their horses。 She
divined at once； by the passionate curiosity their entry aroused； that
he had misspent his leisure in spreading through the city lying
reports of their immense importance and fabulous riches。
〃Batouch；〃 she said； 〃you have been talking about us。〃
〃No； Madame； I merely said that Madame is a great lady in her own
land； and that Monsieur〃
〃I forbid you ever to speak about me； Batouch；〃 said Androvsky；
brusquely。
He seemed worried by the clamour of the increasing mob that surrounded
them。 Children in long robes like night…gowns skipped before them；
calling out in shrill voices。 Old beggars； with diseased eyes and
deformed limbs； laid filthy hands upon their bridles and demanded
alms。 Impudent boys； like bronze statuettes suddenly endowed with a
fury of life； progressed backwards to keep them full in view； shouting
information at them and proclaiming their own transcendent virtues as
guides。 Lithe desert men； almost naked； but with carefully…covered
heads； strode beside them； keeping pace with the horses； saying
nothing； but watching them with a bright intentness that seemed to
hint at unutterable designs。 And towards them； through the air that
seemed heavy and almost suffocating now that they were among
buildings； and through clouds of buzzing flies； came the noise of the
larger tumult of the market…place。
Looking over the heads of the throng Domini saw the wide road opening
out into a great space； with the first palms of the oasis thronging on
the left； and a cluster of buildings； many with small cupolas； like
down…turned white cups； on the right。 On the farther side of this
space； which was black with people clad for the most in dingy
garments； was an arcade jutting out from a number of hovel…like
houses； and to the right of them； where the market…place； making a
wide sweep； continued up hill and was hidden from her view； was the
end of the great building whose gilded cupolas they had seen as they
rode in from the desert； rising above the city with the minarets of
its mosques。
The flies buzzed furiously about the horses' heads and flanks； and the
people buzzed more furiously； like larger flies； about the riders。 It
seemed to Domini as if the whole city was intent upon her and
Androvsky； was observing them； considering them； wondering about them；
was full of a thousand intentions all connected with them。
When they gained the market…place the noise and the watchful curiosity
made a violent crescendo。 It happened to be market day and； although
the sun was setting； buying and selling were not yet over。 On the hot
earth over which； whenever there is any wind from the desert； the
white sand grains sift and settle； were laid innumerable rugs of gaudy
colours on which were disposed all sorts of goods for sale； heavy
ornaments for women； piles of burnouses； haiks； gandouras； gaiters of
bright red leather； slippers； weaponsmany jewelled and gilt； or rich
with patterns in silverpyramids of the cords of camels' hair that
bind the turbans of the desert men； handkerchiefs and cottons of all
the colours of the rainbow； cheap perfumes in azure flasks powdered
with golden and silver flowers and leaves； incense twigs； panniers of
henna to dye the finger…nails of the faithful； innumerable
comestibles； vegetables； corn； red butcher's meat thickly covered with
moving insects； pale yellow cakes crisp and shining； morsels of liver
spitted on skewerswhich； cooked with dust of keef； produce a dreamy
drunkenness more overwhelming even than that produced by haschish
musical instruments； derboukas； guitars； long pipes； and strange
fiddles with two strings； tomtoms； skins of animals with heads and
claws； live birds； tortoise backs； and plaits of false hair。
The sellers squatted on the ground； their brown and hairy legs
crossed； calmly gazing before them； or； with frenzied voices and
gestures； driving bargains with the buyers； who moved to and fro；
treading carelessly among the merchandise。 The tellers of fates glided
through the press； fingering the amulets that hung upon their hearts。
Conjurors proclaimed the merits of their miracles； bawling in the
faces of the curious。 Dwarfs went to and fro； dressed in bright
colours with green and yellow turbans on their enormous heads； tapping
with long staves； and relating their deformities。 Water…sellers
sounded their gongs。 Before pyramids of oranges and dates； neatly
arranged in patterns； sat boys crying in shrill voices the luscious
virtues of their fruits。 Idiots； with blear eyes and protending under…
lips； gibbered and whined。 Dogs barked。 Bakers hurried along with
trays of loaves upon their heads。 From the lo