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is very valuable。〃
〃How long has he been there？〃
〃For many years。 He was there when I was born； and I have been married
twice and divorced twice。〃
Domini turned from the window and looked at Smain with astonishment。
He was smelling his rose like a dreamy child。
〃You have been divorced twice？〃
〃Yes。 Now I will show Madame the smoking…room。〃
They followed another of the innumerable alleys of the garden。 This
one was very narrow and less densely roofed with trees than those they
had already traversed。 Tall shrubs bent forward on either side of it；
and their small leaves almost meeting； were transformed by the radiant
sunbeams into tongues of pale fire； quivering； well nigh transparent。
As she approached them Domini could not resist the fancy that they
would burn her。 A brown butterfly flitted forward between them and
vanished into the golden dream beyond。
〃Oh； Smain； how you must love this garden！〃 she said。
A sort of ecstasy was waking within her。 The pure air； the caressing
warmth； the enchanted stillness and privacy of this domain touched her
soul and body like the hands of a saint with power to bless her。
〃I could live here for ever；〃 she added； 〃without once wishing to go
out into the world。〃
Smain looked drowsily pleased。
〃We are coming to the centre of the garden；〃 he said； as they passed
over a palm…wood bridge beneath which a stream glided under the red
petals of geraniums。
The tongues of flame were left behind。 Green darkness closed in upon
them and the sand beneath their feet looked blanched。 The sense of
mystery increased； for the trees were enormous and grew densely here。
Pine needles lay upon the ground； and there was a stirring of sudden
wind far up above their heads in the tree…tops。
〃This is the part of the garden that Monsieur the Count loves；〃 said
Smain。 〃He comes here every day。〃
〃What is that？〃 said Domini； suddenly stopping on the pale sand。
A thin and remote sound stole to them down the alley； clear and frail
as the note of a night bird。
〃It is Larbi playing upon the flute。 He is in love。 That is why he
plays when he ought to be watering the flowers and raking out the
sand。〃
The distant love…song of the flute seemed to Domini the last touch of
enchantment making this indeed a wonderland。 She could not move； and
held up her hands to stay the feet of Smain； who was quite content to
wait。 Never before had she heard any music that seemed to mean and
suggest so much to her as this African tune played by an enamoured
gardener。 Queer and uncouth as it was； distorted with ornaments and
tricked out with abrupt runs； exquisitely unnecessary grace notes； and
sudden twitterings prolonged till a strange and frivolous Eternity
tripped in to banish Time； it grasped Domini's fancy and laid a spell
upon her imagination。 For it sounded as naively sincere as the song of
a bird； and as if the heart from which it flowed were like the heart
of a child； a place of revelation； not of concealment。 The sun made
men careless here。 They opened their windows to it； and one could see
into the warm and glowing rooms。 Domini looked at the gentle Arab
youth beside her； already twice married and twice divorced。 She
listened to Larbi's unending song of love。 And she said to herself；
〃These people； uncivilised or not； at least live； and I have been dead
all my life； dead in life。〃 That was horribly possible。 She knew it as
she felt the enormously powerful spell of Africa descending upon her；
enveloping her quietly but irresistibly。 The dream of this garden was
quick with a vague and yet fierce stirring of realities。 There was a
murmuring of many small and distant voices； like the voices of
innumerable tiny things following restless activities in a deep
forest。 As she stood there the last grain of European dust was lifted
from Domini's soul。 How deeply it had been buried； and for how many
years。
〃The greatest act of man is the act of renunciation。〃 She had just
heard those words。 The eyes of the priest had flamed as he spoke them；
and she had caught the spark of his enthusiasm。 But now another fire
seemed lit within her； and she found herself marvelling at such
austerity。 Was it not a fanatical defiance flung into the face of the
sun？ She shrank from her own thought； like one startled； and walked on
softly in the green darkness。
Larbi's flute became more distant。 Again and again it repeated the
same queer little melody； changing the ornamentation at the fantasy of
the player。 She looked for him among the trees but saw no one。 He must
be in some very secret place。 Smain touched her。
〃Look！〃 he said； and his voice was very low。
He parted the branches of some palms with his delicate hands； and
Domini； peering between them； saw in a place of deep shadows an
isolated square room； whose white walls were almost entirely concealed
by masses of purple bougainvillea。 It had a flat roof。 In three of its
sides were large arched window…spaces without windows。 In the fourth
was a narrow doorway without a door。 Immense fig trees and palms and
thickets of bamboo towered around it and leaned above it。 And it was
circled by a narrow riband of finely…raked sand。
〃That is the smoking…room of Monsieur the Count；〃 said Smain。 〃He
spends many hours there。 Come and I will show the inside to Madame。〃
They turned to the left and went towards the room。 The flute was close
to them now。 〃Larbi must be in there；〃 Domini whispered to Smain； as a
person whispers in a church。
〃No； he is among the trees beyond。〃
〃But someone is there。〃
She pointed to the arched window…space nearest to them。 A thin spiral
of blue…grey smoke curled through it and evaporated into the shadows
of the trees。 After a moment it was followed gently and deliberately
by another。
〃It is not Larbi。 He would not go in there。 It must be〃
He paused。 A tall； middle…aged man had come to the doorway of the
little room and looked out into the garden with bright eyes。
CHAPTER VI
Domini drew back and glanced at Smain。 She was not accustomed to
feeling intrusive； and the sudden sensation rendered her uneasy。
〃It is Monsieur the Count；〃 Smain said calmly and quite aloud。
The man in the doorway took off his soft hat； as if the words effected
an introduction between Domini and him。
〃You were coming to see my little room； Madame？〃 he said in French。
〃If I may show it to you I shall feel honoured。〃
The timbre of his voice was harsh and grating； yet it was a very
interesting； even a seductive； voice； and； Domini thought； peculiarly
full of vivid life； though not of energy。 His manner at once banished
her momentary discomfort。 There is a freemasonry between people born
in the same social world。 By the way in which Count Anteoni took off
his hat and spoke she knew at once that all was right。
〃Thank you； Monsieur；〃 she answered。 〃I was told at the gate you gave
permission to travellers to visit your garden。〃
〃Certainly。〃
He spoke a few words in fluent Arabic to Smain； who turned away and
disappeared among the trees。
〃I hope you will allow me to accompany you through the rest of the
garden；〃 he said； turning again to Domini。 〃It will