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wail of the unknown that draws some men and women to splendid follies
and to ardent pilgrimages whose goal is the mirage。
Hadj was talking in a low voice； but Domini did not listen to him。 She
was vaguely aware that he was abusing Batouch； saying that he was a
liar； inclined to theft； a keef smoker； and in a general way steeped
to the lips in crime。 But the moon was rising； the distant music was
becoming more distinct。 She could not listen to Hadj。
As they turned into the street of the sand…diviner the first ray of
the moon fell on the white road。 Far away at the end of the street
Domini could see the black foliage of the trees in the Gazelles'
garden； and beyond； to the left； a dimness of shadowy palms at the
desert edge。 The desert itself was not visible。 Two Arabs passed；
shrouded in burnouses； with the hoods drawn up over their heads。 Only
their black beards could be seen。 They were talking violently and
waving their arms。 Suzanne shuddered and drew close to the poet。 Her
plump face worked and she glanced appealingly at her mistress。 But
Domini was not thinking of her； or of violence or danger。 The sound of
the tomtoms and hautboys seemed suddenly much louder now that the moon
began to shine； making a whiteness among the white houses of the
village； the white robes of the inhabitants； a greater whiteness on
the white road that lay before them。 And she was thinking that the
moon whiteness of Beni…Mora was more passionate than pure； more like
the blanched face of a lover than the cool； pale cheek of a virgin。
There was excitement in it； suggestion greater even than the
suggestion of the tremendous coloured scenes of the evening that
preceded such a night。 And she mused of white heat and of what it
meansthe white heat of the brain blazing with thoughts that govern；
the white heat of the heart blazing with emotions that make such
thoughts seem cold。 She had never known either。 Was she incapable of
knowing them？ Could she imagine them till there was physical heat in
her body if she was incapable of knowing them？ Suzanne and the two
Arabs were distant shadows to her when that first moon…ray touched
their feet。 The passion of the night began to burn her； and she
thought she would like to take her soul and hold it out to the white
flame。
As they passed the sand…diviner's house Domini saw his spectral figure
standing under the yellow light of the hanging lantern in the middle
of his carpet shop； which was lined from floor to ceiling with dull
red embroideries and dim with the fumes of an incense brazier。 He was
talking to a little boy； but keeping a wary eye on the street； and he
came out quickly； beckoning with his long hands； and calling softly；
in a half…chuckling and yet authoritative voice：
〃Venez； Madame； venez！ Come！ come！〃
Suzanne seized Domini's arm。
〃Not to…night！〃 Domini called out。
〃Yes； Madame； to…night。 The vie of Madame is there in the sand to…
night。 Je la vois； je la vois。 C'est la dans le sable to…night。〃
The moonlight showed the wound on his face。 Suzanne uttered a cry and
hid her eyes with her hands。 They went on towards the trees。 Hadj
walked with hesitation。
〃How loud the music is getting；〃 Domini said to him。
〃It will deafen Madame's ears if she gets nearer；〃 said Hadj； eagerly。
〃And the dancers are not for Madame。 For the Arabs； yes； but for a
great lady of the most respectable England！ Madame will be red with
disgust； with anger。 Madame will have /mal…au…coeur/。〃
Batouch began to look like an idol on whose large face the artificer
had carved an expression of savage ferocity。
〃Madame is my client；〃 he said fiercely。 〃Madame trusts in me。〃
Hadj laughed with a snarl：
〃He who smokes the keef is like a Mehari with a swollen tongue；〃 he
rejoined。
The poet looked as if he were going to spring upon his cousin； but he
restrained himself and a slow； malignant smile curled about his thick
lips like a snake。
〃I shall show to Madame a dancer who is modest； who is beautiful；
Hadj…ben…Ibrahim；〃 he said softly。
〃Fatma is sick；〃 said Hadj； quickly。
〃It will not be Fatma。〃
Hadj began suddenly to gesticulate with his thin； delicate hands and
to look fiercely excited。
〃Halima is at the Fontaine Chaude；〃 he cried。
〃Keltoum will be there。〃
〃She will not。 Her foot is sick。 She cannot dance。 For a week she will
not dance。 I know it。〃
〃AndIrena？ Is she sick？ Is she at the Hammam Salahine？〃
Hadj's countenance fell。 He looked at his cousin sideways； always
showing his teeth。
〃Do you not know； Hadj…ben…Ibrahim？〃
〃/Ana ma 'audi ma nek oul lek！/〃＇*＇ growled Hadj in his throat。
＇*＇ 〃I have nothing to say to you。〃
They had reached the end of the little street。 The whiteness of the
great road which stretched straight through the oasis into the desert
lay before them； with the statue of Cardinal Lavigerie staring down it
in the night。 At right angles was the street of the dancers； narrow；
bounded with the low white houses of the ouleds； twinkling with starry
lights； humming with voices； throbbing with the clashing music that
poured from the rival /cafes maures/； thronged with the white figures
of the desert men； strolling slowly； softly as panthers up and down。
The moonlight was growing brighter； as if invisible hands began to fan
the white flame of passion which lit up Beni…Mora。 A patrol of
Tirailleurs Indigenes passed by going up the street； in yellow and
blue uniforms； turbans and white gaiters； their rifles over their
broad shoulders。 The faint tramp of their marching feet was just
audible on the sandy road。
〃Hadj can go home if he is afraid of anything in the dancing street；〃
said Domini； rather maliciously。 〃Let us follow the soldiers。〃
Hadj started as if he had been stung； and looked at Domini as if he
would like to strangle her。
〃I am afraid of nothing；〃 he exclaimed proudly。 〃Madame does not know
Hadj…ben…Ibrahim。〃
Batouch laughed soundlessly； shaking his great shoulders。 It was
evident that he had divined his cousin's wish to supplant him and was
busily taking his revenge。 Domini was amused； and as they went slowly
up the street in the wake of the soldiers she said：
〃Do you often come here at night； Hadj…ben…Ibrahim？〃
〃Oh； yes； Madame； when I am alone。 But with ladies〃
〃You were here last night； weren't you； with the traveller from the
hotel？〃
〃No； Madame。 The Monsieur of the hotel preferred to visit the cafe of
the story…teller； which is far more interesting。 If Madame will permit
me to take her〃
But this last assault was too much for the poet's philosophy。 He
suddenly threw off all pretence of graceful calm； and poured out upon
Hadj a torrent of vehement Arabic； accompanying it with passionate
gestures which filled Suzanne with horror and Domini with secret
delight。 She liked this abrupt unveiling of the raw。 There had always
lurked in her an audacity； a quick spirit of adventure more boyish
than feminine。 She had reached the age of thirty…two without ever
gratifying it； or even fully realising how much she longed to gratify
it。 But now she began to understand it and to feel that it was
imperious。
〃I have a barbarian in me；〃 she thought。