drooped under their loads of barbaric rings and bracelets。 Batouch
would evidently have liked to dismount here。 Like all Arabs he was
fascinated by the sight of these idols of the waste； whose painted
faces called to the surface the fluid poetry within him； but Domini
rode on； descending towards the city gate by which she had first
entered Amara。 The priest's house was there and Androvsky was with the
priest。 She hoped he had perhaps gone in to return the visit paid to
them。 As she rode into the city she glanced at the house。 The door was
open and she saw the gay rugs in the little hall。 She had a strong
inclination to stop and ask if her husband were there。 He might mount
Batouch's horse and accompany her home。
〃Batouch；〃 she said； 〃will you ask if Monsieur Androvsky is with Pere
Beret。 I think〃
She stopped speaking。 She had just seen her husband's face pass across
the window…space of the room on the right…hand side of the hall door。
She could not see it very well。 The arcade built out beyond the house
cast a deep shade within； and in this shade the face had flitted like
a shadow。 Batouch had sprung from his horse。 But the sight of the
shadowy face had changed her mind。 She resolved not to interrupt the
two men。 Long ago at Beni…Mora she had asked Androvsky to call upon a
priest。 She remembered the sequel to that visit。 This time Androvsky
had gone of his own will。 If he liked this priest； if they became
friends； perhapsshe remembered her vision in the dancing…house； her
feeling that when she drew near Amara she was drawing near to the
heart of the desert。 If she should see Androvsky praying here！ Yet
Father Beret hardly seemed a man likely to influence her husband； or
anyone with a strong and serious personality。 He was surely too fond
of the things of this world； too obviously a lover and cherisher of
the body。 Nevertheless； there was something attractive in him； a
kindness； a geniality。 In trouble he would be sympathetic。 Certainly
her husband must have taken a liking to him； and the chances of life
and the influences of destiny were strange and not to be foreseen。
〃No； Batouch；〃 she said。 〃We won't stop。〃
〃But； Madame；〃 he cried； 〃Monsieur is in there。 I saw his face at the
window。〃
〃Never mind。 We won't disturb them。 I daresay they have something to
talk about。〃
They cantered on towards the market…place。 It was not market…day； and
the town； like the camp of the Ouled Nails； was almost deserted。 As
she rode up the hill towards the place of the fountain； however； she
saw two handsomely…dressed Arabs； followed by a servant； slowly
strolling towards her from the doorway of the Bureau Arabe。 One； who
was very tall； was dressed in green； and carried a long staff； from
which hung green ribbons。 The other wore a more ordinary costume of
white； with a white burnous and a turban spangled with gold。
〃Madame！〃 said Batouch。
〃Yes。〃
〃Do you see the Arab dressed in green？〃
He spoke in an almost awestruck voice。
〃Yes。 Who is he？〃
〃The great marabout who lives at Beni…Hassan。〃
The name struck upon Domini's ear with a strange familiarity。
〃But that's where Count Anteoni went when he rode away from Beni…Mora
that morning。〃
〃Yes； Madame。〃
〃Is it far from Amara？〃
〃Two hours' ride across the desert。〃
〃But then Count Anteoni may be near us。 After he left he wrote to me
and gave me his address at the marabout's house。〃
〃If he is still with the marabout； Madame。〃
They were close to the fountain now； and the marabout and his
companion were coming straight towards them。
〃If Madame will allow me I will salute the marabout；〃 said Batouch。
〃Certainly。〃
He sprang off his horse immediately； tied it up to the railing of the
fountain； and went respectfully towards the approaching potentate to
kiss his hand。 Domini saw the marabout stop and Batouch bend down；
then lift himself up and suddenly move back as if in surprise。 The
Arab who was with the marabout seemed also surprised。 He held out his
hand to Batouch； who took it； kissed it； then kissed his own hand； and
turning； pointed towards Domini。 The Arab spoke a word to the
marabout； then left him； and came rapidly forward to the fountain。 As
he drew close to her she saw a face browned by the sun； a very small；
pointed beard； a pair of intensely bright eyes surrounded by wrinkles。
These eyes held her。 It seemed to her that she knew them； that she had
often looked into them and seen their changing expressions。 Suddenly
she exclaimed：
〃Count Anteoni！〃
〃Yes； it is I！〃
He held out his hand and clasped hers。
〃So you have started upon your desert journey；〃 he added； looking
closely at her； as he had often looked in the garden。
〃Yes。〃
〃And as I ventured to advisethat last time； do you remember？〃
She recollected his words。
〃No；〃 she replied； and there was a warmth of joy； almost of pride； in
her voice。 〃I am not alone。〃
Count Anteoni was standing with one hand on her horse's neck。 As she
spoke； his hand dropped down。
〃I have been away from Beni…Hassan；〃 he said slowly。 〃The marabout and
I have been travelling in the south and only returned yesterday。 I
have heard no news for a long time from Beni…Mora； but I know。 You are
Madame Androvsky。〃
〃Yes；〃 she answered； 〃I am Madame Androvsky。〃
There was a silence between them。 In it she heard the dripping water
in the fountain。 At last Count Anteoni spoke again。
〃It was written；〃 he said quietly。 〃It was written in the sand。〃
She thought of the sand…diviner and was silent。 An oppression of
spirit had suddenly come upon her。 It seemed to her connected with
something physical； something obscure； unusual； such as she had never
felt before。 It was； she thought； as if her body at that moment became
more alive than it had ever been； and as if that increase of life
within her gave to her a peculiar uneasiness。 She was startled。 She
even felt alarmed； as at the faint approach of something strange； of
something that was going to alter her life。 She did not know at all
what it was。 For the moment a sense of confusion and of pain beset
her； and she was scarcely aware with whom she was； or where。 The
sensation passed and she recovered herself and met Count Anteoni's
eyes quietly。
〃Yes；〃 she answered； 〃all that has happened to me here in Africa was
written in the sand and in fire。〃
〃You are thinking of the sun。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Iwhere are you living？〃
〃Close by on the sand…hill beyond the city wall。〃
〃Where you can see the fires lit at night and hear the sound of the
music of Africa？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃As he said。〃
〃Yes； as he said。〃
Again the overwhelming sense of some strange and formidable approach
came over her； but this time she fought it resolutely。
〃Will you come and see me？〃 she said。
She had meant to say 〃us；〃 but did not say it。
〃If you will allow me。〃
〃When？〃
〃I〃 she heard the odd； upward grating in his voice which she
remembered so well。 〃May I come now if you are riding to the tents？〃
〃Please do。〃
〃I will explain to the marabout and follow you。〃
〃But the way？ Shall Batouch？〃
〃No； it is not necessary。〃
She rode away。 When she reached the camp she found that Androvsky had
not yet returned； and she was glad。 She wanted to talk to Count
Anteoni alone。 Within a few minutes she saw him coming towards the
tent。 His beard and his Arab dress so altered him that at a short
distance she could not recognise him； could only guess that it was he。
But directly he was near； and she saw his eyes； she forgot that he was
altered； and felt that she was with her kind and whimsical host of the
garden。
〃My husband is in the city；〃 she said。
〃Yes。〃
〃With the priest。〃
She saw an expression of surprise flit over Count Anteoni's face。 It
went away instantly。
〃Pere Beret；〃 he said。 〃He is a cheerful creature and very good to the
Arabs。〃
They sat down just inside the shadow of the tent before the door； and
he looked out quietly towards the city。
〃Yes； this is the place；〃 he said。
She knew that he was alluding to the vision of the sand…diviner； and
said so。
〃Did you believe at the time that what he said would come true？〃 she
asked。
〃How could I？ Am I a child？〃
He spoke with gentle irony； but she felt he was playing with her。
〃Cannot a man believe such things？〃
He did not answer her； but said：
〃My fate has come to pass。 Do you not care to know what it is？〃
〃Yes； do tell me。〃
She spoke earnestly。 She felt a change in him； a great change which as
yet she did not understand fully。 It was as if he had been a man in
doubt and was now a man no longer in doubt； as if he had arrived at
some goal and was more at peace with himself than he had been。
〃I have become a Mohammedan；〃 he said simply。
〃A Mohammedan！〃
She repeated the words as a person repeats words in surprise； but her
voice did not sound surprised。
〃You wonder？〃 he asked。
After a moment she answered：
〃No。 I never thought of such a thing； but I am not surprised。 Now you
have told me it seems to explain you； much that I noticed in you；
wondered about in you。〃
She looked at him steadily； but without curiosity。
〃I feel that you are happy now。〃
〃Yes； I