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And he turned and went into the tower； while the soldiers rode round
to the court； tugging at the cords of the led mules。
Domini waited for the return of Marelle。 Her mood had changed。 A glow
of cordial humanity chased away her melancholy。 The hostess that lurks
in every womanthat housewife…hostess sense which goes hand…in…hand
with the mother sensewas alive in her。 She was keenly anxious to
play the good fairy simply； unostentatiously； to these exhausted men
who had come to Mogar out of the jaws of Death； to see their weary
faces shine under the influence of repose and good cheer。 But the
tower looked desolate。 The camp was gayer； cosier。 Suddenly she
resolved to invite them all to dine in the camp that night。
Marelle returned with Batouch。 She saw them from a distance coming
through the darkness with blazing torches in their hands。 When they
came to her she said：
〃Batouch； I want you to order dinner in camp for the soldiers。〃
A broad and radiant smile irradiated the blunt Breton features of
Marelle。
〃And Monsieur the officer will dine with me and Monsieur。 Give us all
you can。 Perhaps there will be some gazelle。〃
She saw him opening his lips to say that the dinner would be poor and
stopped him。
〃You are to open some of the champagnethe Pommery。 We will drink to
all safe returns。 Now； give me the brand and go and tell the cook。〃
As he took his torch and disappeared into the darkness De Trevignac
came out from the tower。 He still looked exhausted and walked with
some difficulty； but he had washed the sand from his face with water
from the artesian well behind the tower； changed his uniform； brushed
the sand from his yellow hair； and put on a smart gold…laced cap
instead of his sun…helmet。 The spectacles were gone from his eyes； and
between his lips was a large Havanahis last； kept by him among the
dunes as a possible solace in the dreadful hour of death。
〃Monsieur de Trevignac； I want you to dine with us in camp to…night
only to dine。 We won't keep you from your bed one moment after the
coffee and the cognac。 You must seal the triple allianceFrance；
Russia； Englandin some champagne。〃
She had spoken gaily； cordially。 She added more gravely：
〃One doesn't escape from death among the dunes every day。 Will you
come？〃
She held out her hand frankly； as a man might to another man。 He
pressed it as a man presses a woman's hand when he is feeling very
soft and tender。
〃Madame； what can I say； but that you are too good to us poor fellows
and that you will find it very difficult to get rid of us； for we
shall be so happy in your camp that we shall forget all about our
tower。〃
〃That's settled then。〃
With the brand in her hand she walked to the edge of the hill。 De
Trevignac followed her。 He had taken the other brand from Marelle。
They stood side by side； overlooking the immense desolation that was
now almost hidden in the night。
〃You are going to signal to your husband； Madame？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Let me do it for you。 See； I have the other brand！〃
〃Thank youbut I will do it。〃
In the light of the flame that leaped up as if striving to touch her
face he saw a light in her eyes that he understood； and he drooped his
torch towards the earth while she lifted hers on high and waved it in
the blackness。
He watched her。 The tall； strong； but exquisitely supple figure； the
uplifted arm with the torch sending forth a long tongue of golden
flame； the ardent and unconscious pose； that set before him a warm
passionate heart calling to another heart without shame； made him
think of her as some Goddess of the Sahara。 He had let his torch droop
towards the earth； but； as she waved hers； he had an irresistible
impulse to join her in the action she made heroic and superb。 And
presently he lifted his torch； too； and waved it beside hers in the
night。
She smiled at him in the flames。
〃He must see them surely；〃 she said。
From below； in the distance of the desert； there rose a loud cry in a
strong man's voice。
〃Aha！〃 she exclaimed。
She called out in return in a warm； powerful voice。 The man's voice
answered； nearer。 She dropped her brand to the earth。
〃Monsieur； you will come thenin half an hour？〃
〃Madame； with the most heartfelt pleasure。 But let me accompany〃
〃No； I am quite safe。 And bring your men with you。 We'll make the best
feast we can for them。 And there's enough champagne for all。〃
Then she went away quickly； eagerly； into the darkness。
〃To be her husband！〃 murmured De Trevignac。 〃Luckylucky fellow！〃 And
he dropped his brand beside hers on the ground； and stood watching the
two flames mingle。
〃Luckylucky fellow！〃 he said again aloud。 〃I wonder what he's like。〃
CHAPTER XX
When Domini reached the camp she found it in a bustle。 Batouch；
resigned to the inevitable； had put the cook upon his mettle。 Ouardi
was already to be seen with a bottle of Pommery in each hand； and was
only prevented from instantly uncorking them by the representations of
his mistress and an elaborate exposition of the peculiar and
evanescent virtues of champagne。 Ali was humming a mysterious song
about a lovesick camel…man； with which he intended to make glad the
hearts of the assembly when the halting time was over。 And the dining…
table was already set for three。
When Androvsky rode in with the Arabs Domini met him at the edge of
the hill。
〃You saw my signal； Boris？〃
〃Yes〃
He was going to say more； when she interrupted him eagerly。
〃Have you any gazelle？ Ah〃〃
Across the mule of one of the Arabs she saw a body drooping； a
delicate head with thin； pointed horns； tiny legs with exquisite
little feet that moved as the mule moved。
〃We shall want it to…night。 Take it quickly to the cook's tent；
Ahmed。〃 Androvsky got off his mule。
〃There's a light in the tower！〃 he said； looking at her and then
dropping his eyes。
〃Yes。〃
〃And I saw two signals。 There were two brands being waved together。〃
〃To…night； we have comrades in the desert。〃
〃Comrades！〃 he said。
His voice sounded startled。
〃Men who have escaped from a horrible death in the dunes。〃
〃Arabs？〃
〃French。〃
Quickly she told him her story。 He listened in silence。 When she had
finished he said nothing。 But she saw him look at the dining…table
laid for three and his expression was dark and gloomy。
〃Boris； you don't mind！〃 she said in surprise。 〃Surely you would not
refuse hospitality to these poor fellows！〃
She put her hand through his arm and pressed it。
〃Have I done wrong？ But I know I haven't！〃
〃Wrong！ How could you do that？〃
He seemed to make an effort； to conquer something within him。
〃It's I who am wrong； Domini。 The truth is； I can't bear our happiness
to be intruded upon even for a night。 I want to be alone with you。
This life of ours in the desert has made me desperately selfish。 I
want to be alone； quite alone； with you。〃
〃It's that！ How glad I am！〃
She laid her cheek against his arm。
〃Then；〃 he said； 〃that other signal？〃
〃Monsieur de Trevignac gave it。〃
Androvsky took his arm from hers abruptly。
〃Monsieur de Trevignac！〃 he said。 〃Monsieur de Trevignac？〃
He stood as if in deep and anx