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She looked up at him。 His face was grim and powerful； hard like the
face of a fighting man。
〃Gone already？ Why？〃
〃He's tired out。 He told me to make his excuses to you。〃
〃But〃
She saw in the table the coffee cups。 Two of them were full of coffee。
The third； hers； was clean。
〃But he hasn't drunk his coffee！〃 she said。
She was astonished and showed it。 She could not understand a man who
had displayed such warm； even touching； appreciation of her kindness
leaving her without a word； taking the opportunity of her momentary
absence to disappear； to shirk awayfor she put it like that to
herself。
〃Nohe did not want coffee。〃
〃But was anything the matter？〃
She looked down at the broken glass； and saw stains upon the ground
among the fragments。
〃What's this？〃 she said。 〃Oh； the African liqueur！〃
Suddenly Androvsky put his arm round her with an iron grip； and led
her away out of the tent。 They crossed the space to the sleeping…tent
in silence。 She felt governed； and as if she must yield to his will；
but she also felt confused； even almost alarmed mentally。 The
sleeping…tent was dark。 When they reached it Androvsky took his arm
from her； and she heard him searching for the matches。 She was in the
tent door and could see that there was a light in the tower。 De
Trevignac must be there already。 No doubt it was he who had passed her
in the night when she was returning to the camp。 Androvsky struck a
match and lit a candle。 Then he came to the tent door and saw her
looking at the light in the tower。
〃Come in； Domini；〃 he said； taking her by the hand； and speaking
gently； but still with a firmness that hinted at command。
She obeyed； and he quickly let down the flap of canvas； and shut out
the night。
〃What is it； Boris？〃 she asked。
She was standing by one of the beds。
〃What has happened？〃
〃Whyhappened？〃
〃I don't understand。 Why did Monsieur de Trevignac go away so
suddenly？〃
〃Domini； do you care whether he is here or gone？ Do you care？〃 He sat
on the edge of the bed and drew her down beside him。
〃Do you want anyone to be with us； to break in upon our lives？ Aren't
we happier alone？〃
〃Boris！〃 she said； 〃youdid you let him see that you wanted him to
go？〃
It occurred to her suddenly that Androvsky； in his lack of worldly
knowledge； might perhaps have shown their guest that he secretly
resented the intrusion of a stranger upon them even for one evening；
and that De Trevignac； being a sensitive man； had been hurt and had
abruptly gone away。 Her social sense revolted at this idea。
〃You didn't let him see that； Boris！〃 she exclaimed。 〃After his escape
from death！ It would have been inhuman。〃
〃Perhaps my love for you might even make me that； Domini。 And if it
didif you knew why I was inhumanwould you blame me for it？ Would
you hate me for it？〃
There was a strong excitement dawning in him。 It recalled to her the
first night in the desert when they sat together on the ground and
watched the waning of the fire。
〃Could youcould you hate me for anything； Domini？〃 he said。 〃Tell me
could you？〃
His face was close to hers。 She looked at him with her long； steady
eyes； that had truth written in their dark fire。
〃No；〃 she answered。 〃I could never hate younow。〃
〃Not ifnot if I had done you harm？ Not if I had done you a wrong？〃
〃Could you ever do me a wrong？〃 she asked。
She sat； looking at him as if in deep thought； for a moment。
〃I could almost as easily believe that God could；〃 she said at last
simply。
〃Then youyou have perfect trust in me？〃
〃Buthave you ever thought I had not？〃 she asked。 There was wonder in
her voice。
〃But I have given my life to you；〃 she added still with wonder。 〃I am
here in the desert with you。 What more can I give？ What more can I
do？〃
He put his arms about her and drew her head down on his shoulder。
〃Nothing； nothing。 You have given； you have done everythingtoo much；
too much。 I feel myself below you； I know myself below youfar； far
down。〃
〃How can you say that？ I couldn't have loved you if it were so。〃 She
spoke with complete conviction。
〃Perhaps；〃 he said； in a low voice； 〃perhaps women never realise what
their love can do。 It mightit might〃
〃What； Boris？〃
〃It might do what Christ didgo down into hell to preach to theto
the spirits in prison。〃
His voice had dropped almost to a murmur。 With one hand on her cheek
he kept her face pressed down upon his shoulder so that she could not
see his face。
〃It might do that； Domini。〃
〃Boris；〃 she said； almost whispering too； for his words and manner
filled her with a sort of awe； 〃I want you to tell me something。〃
〃What is it？〃
〃Are you quite happy with me here in the desert？ If you are I want you
to tell me that you are。 RememberI shall believe you。〃
〃No other human being could ever give me the happiness you give me。〃
〃But〃
He interrupted her。
〃No other human being ever has。 Till I met you I had no conception of
the happiness there is in the world for man and woman who love each
other。〃
〃Then you are happy？〃
〃Don't I seem so？〃
She did not reply。 She was searching her heart for the answer
searching it with an almost terrible sincerity。 He waited for her
answer； sitting quite still。 His hand was always against her face。
After what seemed to him an eternity she said：
〃Boris！〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Why did you say that about a woman's love being able even to go down
into hell to preach to the spirits in prison？〃
He did not answer。 His hand seemed to her to lie more heavily on her
cheek。
〃II am not sure that you are quite happy with me；〃 she said。
She spoke like one who reverenced truth； even though it slew her。
There was a note of agony in her voice。
〃Hush！〃 he said。 〃Hush； Domini！〃
They were both silent。 Beyond the canvas of the tent that shut out
from them the camp they heard a sound of music。 Drums were being
beaten。 The African pipe was wailing。 Then the voice of Ali rose in
the song of the 〃Freed Negroes〃：
〃No one but God and I
Knows what is in my heart。〃
At that moment Domini felt that the words were truehorribly true。
〃Boris；〃 she said。 〃Do you hear？〃
〃Hush； Domini。〃
〃I think there is something in your heart that sometimes makes you sad
even with me。 I think perhaps I partly guess what it is。〃
He took his hand away from her face； his arm from her shoulder； but
she caught hold of him； and her arm was strong like a man's。
〃Boris； you are with me； you are close to me； but do you sometimes
feel far away from God？〃
He did not answer。
〃I don't know； I oughtn't to ask； perhaps。 I don't askno； I don't。
But； if it's that； don't be too sad。 It may all come righthere in
the desert。 For the desert is the Garden of Allah。 And； Borisput out
the light。〃
He extinguished the candle with his hand。
〃You feel； perhaps； that you can't pray honestly now； but some day you
may be able to。 You will be able to。 I know it。 Before I knew I loved
you I saw youpraying in the desert。〃
〃I！〃 he whispered。 〃You saw me praying in the desert！〃
It seemed to her that he was afraid。 She pressed him more closely with
her arms。
〃It was that night in the dancing