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d or white sails are scattered over it like wings； steamers leaving behind them their trail of smoke； and on the sands； fishermen no larger than birds； in their anchored boats like nests。 Then the road descends； follows a rapid declivity along the rocks and sharp promontories。 The fresh wind from the waves shakes the little harness bells； while on the right； on the side of the mountain； the rows of pine…trees； the green oaks with roots capriciously leaving the arid soil； and olive…trees growing on their terraces； up to a wide and white pebbly ravine； bordered with grass； marking the passage of the waters。 This is really a dried…up water…course； which the loaded mules ascend with firm foot among the shingle； and a washer…woman stoops near a microscopic pondthe few drops that remained of the great inundation of winter。 From time to time one crosses the street of some village； or little town rather； grown rusty through too much sun； of historic age； the houses closely packed and joined by dark arcadesa network of vaulted courts which clamber the hillside with glimpses of the upper daylight； here and there letting one see crowds of children with aureoles of hair； baskets of brilliant fruit； a woman coming down the road； her water…pot on her head and her distaff on her arm。 Then at a corner of the street； the blue sparkle of the waves and the immensity of nature。
But as the day advanced； the sun rising in the heavens spread over the seanow escaped from its mists； still with the transparence of quartz thousands of rays striking the water like arrow…heads； a dazzling sight made doubly so by the whiteness of the rocks and of the soil； by a veritable African sirocco which raised the dust in a whirlwind on the road。 They were coming to the hottest and most sheltered places of the Cornichea true exotic temperature； scattering dates； cactus； and aloes。 Seeing these thin trunks； this fantastic vegetation in the white hot air； feeling the blinding dust crackle under the wheels like snow； de Gery； his eyes half closed； dreaming in this leaden noon； thought he was once more on that fatiguing road from Tunis to the Bardo； in a singular medley of Levantine carriages with brilliant liveries； of long…necked camels； of caparisoned mules； of young donkeys； of Arabs in rags； of half…naked negroes； of officials in full…dress with their guard of honour。 Should he find there； where the road ran through the gardens of palm…trees； the strange and colossal architecture of the Bey's palace； its barred windows with closed lattices； its marble gates； its balconies in carved wood painted in bright colours？ It was not the Bardo； but the lovely country of Bordighera； divided； like all those on the coast； into two partsthe sea town lying on the shore； and the upper town； joined to it by a forest of motionless palm…trees； with upright stem and falling crown like green rockets； springing into the blue with their thousand feathers。
The insupportable heat； the overtired horses； forced the traveller to stop for a couple of hours at one of those great hotels which line the road； and bring every November into this little town； so marvellously sheltered； the luxurious life and cosmopolitan animation of an aristocratic wintering place。 But at this time of year there was no one in the sea town of Bordighera but fishermen； invisible at this hour。 The villas and hotels seemed dead； their blinds and shutters closed。 They took Paul through long； cool； and silent passages to a great drawing…room facing north； which seemed to be part of the suites let for the season； whose doors communicated with the other rooms。 White curtains； a carpet； the comfort demanded by the English even when travelling； and outside the windows； which the hotel…keeper opened wide to tempt the traveller to a longer stay； a splendid view of the mountain。 An astonishing quiet reigned in this great deserted inn； with neither manager； nor cook； nor waitersthe whole staff coming only in the winterand given up for domestic needs to a local spoil…sauce； expert at a /stoffato/； a /risotto/； also to two stablemen； who clothed themselves at meal…time with the dress…coat and white tie of office。 Happily； de Gery was only going to remain there for an hour or two； to rest his eyes from the overpowering light； his head from the dolorous grip of the sun。
From the divan where he lay； the admirable landscape； diversified with light and trembling leaves； seemed to descend to his window by stages of different greens； where scattered villas shone white； and among them that of Maurice Trott； the banker； recognisable by its capricious architecture and the height of its palms。
The Levantine house； whose gardens came up to the windows of the hotel； had sheltered for some months an artistic celebrity； the sculptor Brehat； who was dying of consumption； and owed the prolonging of his existence to this princely hospitality。 The neighbourhood of this dying celebrityof which the hotel…keeper was proud； and which he would have liked to charge in the billthe name of Brehat； which de Gery had so often heard pronounced with admiration in Felicia Ruys's studio； brought back his thoughts to the beautiful face； with its pure lines； which he had last seen in the Bois de Boulogue； leaning on Mora's shoulder。 What had become of this unfortunate girl when this prop had failed her？ Would this lesson be of use to her in the future？ And； by a strange coincidence； while he was thinking thus of Felicia； a great white greyhound was bounding up an alley of green trees on the slopes of the neighbouring garden。 It was like Kadour the same short hair； the same mouth； red； fierce； and delicate。 Paul； before his open window； was assailed in a moment by all sorts of visions； sad or charming。 Perhaps the beauty of the scene before his eyes made his thoughts wander。 Under the orange…trees and lemon…trees in rows； laden with their golden fruit； stretched immense fields of violets in regular and packed beds； separated by little irrigation canals； whose white stone cut up the exuberant verdure。
An exquisite ordour of violets dried in the sun was risinga hot boudoir scent； enervating； enfeebling； which called up for de Gery feminine visionsAline； Feliciapermeating the fairy…like landscape； in this blue…charged atmosphere； this heavenly day； which one might have called the perfume become visible of so many open flowers。 The creaking of a door made him open his eyes。 Some one had just gone into the next room。 He heard the rustle of a dress against the thin partition； a leaf turned in a book which could not be very interesting； for a long sigh turning into a yawn made him start。 Was he still sleeping； dreaming？ Had he not heard the cry of the 〃jackal in the desert；〃 so much in keeping with the burning temperature out of doors？ Nonothing more。 He fell asleep again； and this time all the confused images which pursued him fixed themselves in a dreama very pleasant dream。
He was on his honeymoon with Aline。 She was a delicious wife； her clear eyes full of love and faith； which only knew； only looked at him。 In this very room； on the other side of the partition； she was sitting in white morning dress； which smelt of violets and of the fine lace of her trous