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it's a little bit too much。 But now； mind； I'm a bit of a doctor； and
if to…morrow your husband is no better I mightanyhow〃he looked
again longingly at the bon…bons and the cigars〃if you'll allow me
I'll call to know how he is。〃
〃Thank you； Monsieur。〃
〃Not at all； Madame； not at all！ I can set him right in a minute； if
it's anything to do with the sun； in a minute。 Ah； here's Belgassem！〃
The soldier stood like a statue without； bearing the lantern。 The
priest hesitated。 He was holding the burnt…out cigar in his hand； and
now he glanced at it and then at the cigar…box。 A plaintive expression
overspread his bronzed and bearded face。 It became almost piteous。
Quickly Domini wait to the table； took two cigars from the box and
came back。
〃Yon must have a cigar to smoke on the way。〃
〃Really； Madame； you are too good； butwell； I rarely refuse a fine
cigar； and theseupon my wordare〃
He struck a match on his broad…toed boot。 His demeanour was becoming
cheerful again。 Domini gave the other cigar to the soldier。
〃Good…night； Madame。 A demain then； a demain！ I trust your husband may
be able to rest。 A demain！ A demain！〃
The light moved away over the dunes and dropped down towards the city。
Then Domini hurried across the sand to the sleeping…tent。 As she went
she was acutely aware of the many distant noises that rose up in the
night to the pale crescent of the young moon； the pulsing of the
tomtoms in the city； the faint screaming of the pipes that sounded
almost like human beings in distress； the passionate barking of the
guard dogs tied up to the tents on the sand…slopes where the
multitudes of fires gleamed。 The sensation of being far away； and
close to the heart of the desert； deepened in her； but she felt now
that it was a savage heart； that there was something terrible in the
remoteness。 In the faint moonlight the tent cast black shadows upon
the wintry whiteness of the sands； that rose and fell like waves of a
smooth but foam…covered sea。 And the shadow of the sleeping…tent
looked the blackest of them all。 For she began to feel as if there was
another darkness about it than the darkness that it cast upon the
sand。 Her husband's face that night as he came in from the dunes had
been dark with a shadow cast surely by his soul。 And she did not know
what it was in his soul that sent forth the shadow。
〃Boris！〃
She was at the door of the sleeping…tent。 He did not answer。
〃Boris！〃
He came in from the farther tent that he used as a dressing…room；
carrying a lit candle in his hand。 She went up to him with a movement
of swift； ardent sincerity。
〃You felt ill in the city？ Did Batouch let you come back alone？〃
〃I preferred to be alone。〃
He set down the candle on the table； and moved so that the light of it
did not fall upon his face。 She took his hands in hers gently。 There
was no response in his hands。 They remained in hers； nervelessly。 They
felt almost like dead things in her hands。 But they were not cold； but
burning hot。
〃You have fever！〃 she said。
She let one of his hands go and put one of hers to his forehead。
〃Your forehead is burning； and your pulseshow they are beating！ Like
hammers！ I must〃
〃Don't give me anything； Domini！ It would be useless。〃
She was silent。 There was a sound of hopelessness in his voice that
frightened her。 It was like the voice of a man rejecting remedies
because he knew that he was stricken with a mortal disease。
〃Why did that priest come here to…night？〃 he asked。
They were both standing up； but now he sat down in a chair heavily；
taking his hand from hers。
〃Merely to pay a visit of courtesy。〃
〃At night？〃
He spoke suspiciously。 Again she thought of Mogar； and of how； on his
return from the dunes； he had said to her； 〃There is a light in the
tower。〃 A painful sensation of being surrounded with mystery came upon
her。 It was hateful to her strong and frank nature。 It was like a
miasma that suffocated her soul。
〃Oh； Boris；〃 she exclaimed bluntly； 〃why should he not come at night？〃
〃Is such a thing usual？〃
〃But he was visiting the tents over thereof the nomads； and he had
heard of our arrival。 He knew it was informal； but； as he said； in the
desert one forgets formalities。〃
〃Andand did he ask for anything？〃
〃Ask？〃
〃I sawon the table…coffee andand there was liqueur。〃
〃Naturally I offered him something。〃
〃He didn't ask？〃
〃But； Boris； how could he？〃
After a moment of silence he said：
〃No； of course not。〃
He shifted in his chair； crossed one leg over the other； put his hands
on the arms of it； and continued：
〃What did he talk about？〃
〃A little about Amara。〃
〃That was all？〃
〃He hadn't been here long when you came〃
〃Oh。〃
〃But he told me one thing that was horrible；〃 she added； obedient to
her instinct always to tell the complete truth to him； even about
trifles which had nothing to do with their lives or their relation to
each other。
〃Horrible！〃 Androvsky said； uncrossing his legs and leaning forward in
his chair。
She sat down by him。 They both had their backs to the light and were
in shadow。
〃Yes。〃
〃What was it aboutsome crime here？〃
〃Oh； no！ It was about that liqueur you saw on the table。〃
Androvsky was sitting upon a basket chair。 As she spoke it creaked
under a violent movement that he made。
〃How couldwhat could there be that was horrible connected with
that？〃 he asked； speaking slowly。
〃It was made by a monk； a Trappist〃
He got up from his chair and went to the opening of the tent。
〃What〃 she began； thinking he was perhaps feeling the pain in his
head more severely。
〃I only want to be in the air。 It's rather hot there。 Stay where； you
are； Domini； andwell； what else？〃
He stepped out into the sand； and stood just outside the tent in its
shadow。
〃It was invented by a Trappist monk of the monastery of El…Largani；
who disappeared from the monastery。 He had taken the final vows。 He
had been there for over twenty years。〃
〃Hehe disappeareddid the priest say？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Where？〃
〃I don't thinkI am sure he doesn't know。 But what does it matter？
The awful thing is that he should leave the monastery after taking the
eternal vowsvows made to God。〃
After a moment； during which neither of them spoke and Androvsky stood
quite still in the sand； she added：
〃Poor man！〃
Androvsky came a step towards her； then paused。
〃Why do you say that； Domini？〃
〃I was thinking of the agony he must be enduring if he is still
alive。〃
〃Agony？〃
〃Of mind； of heart。 YouI know； Boris； you can't feel with me on
certain subjectsyet〃
〃Yet！〃 he said。
〃Boris〃she got up and came to the tent door； but not out upon the
sand〃I dare to hope that some day perhaps〃
She was silent； looking towards him with her brave； steady eyes。
〃Agony of heart？〃 Androvsky said； recurring to her words。 〃You think
whatyou pity that man then？〃
〃And don't you？〃
〃Iwhat has he to do withus？ Why should we？〃
〃I know。 But one does sometimes pity men one never has seen； never
will see； if one hears something frightful about them。 Perhapsdon't
smile； Borisperhaps it was seeing that liqueur； which he had
actually made in the monastery when he was at peace with God； perhaps
it was seeing that； that has made me realisesuch trifles stir the
imagination； set it workingat any rate〃
She broke off。 After a minute； during which he said nothing； she
continued：
〃I believe the priest felt something of the same sort。 He could not
drink the liqueur that man had made； although he intended to。〃
〃Butthat might have been for a different reason；〃 Androvsky said in
a harsh voice； 〃priests have strange ideas。 They often judge things
cruelly； very cruelly。〃
〃Perhaps they do。 Yes； I can imagine that Father Roubier of Beni…Mora
might； though he is a good man and leads a saintly life。〃
〃Those are sometimes the most cruel。 They do not understand。〃
〃Perhaps not。 It may be so。 But this priesthe's not like that。〃
She thought of his genial； bearded face； his expression when he said；
〃We are ruffians of the sun；〃 including himself with the desert men；
his boisterous laugh。
〃His fault might be the other way。〃
〃Which way？〃
〃Too great a tolerance。〃
〃Can a man be too tolerant towards his fellow…man？〃 said Androvsky。
There was a strange sound of emotion in his deep voice which moved
her。 It seemed to herwhy； she did not knowto steal out of the
depth of something their mutual love had created。
〃The greatest of all tolerance is God's；〃 she said。 〃I'm surequite
sureof that。〃
Androvsky came in out of the shadow of the tent； took her in his arms
with passion； laid his lips on hers with passion； hot； burning force
and fire； and a hard tenderness that was hard because it was intense。
〃God will bless you；〃 he said。 〃God will bless you。 Whatever life
brings you at the end you mustyou must be blessed by Him。〃
〃But He has blessed me；〃 she whispered； through tears that rushed from
her eyes； stirred from their well…springs by his sudden outburst of
love for her。 〃He has blessed me。 He has given me you； your love； your
truth。〃
Androvsky released her as abruptly as he had taken her in his arms；
turned； and