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was distorted by an expression that seemed half angry； half fearful。
Batouch was smiling seraphically as he gazed towards the platform。
Suzanne； with a pinched…up mouth； was looking virginally at her lap。
Her whole attitude showed her consciousness of the many blazing eyes
that were intently staring at her。 The stomach dance which she had
just been watching had amazed her so much that she felt as if she were
the only respectable woman in the world； and as if no one would
suppose it unless she hung out banners white as the walls of Beni…
Mora's houses。 She strove to do so； and； meanwhile； from time to time；
cast sideway glances towards the platform to see whether another
stomach dance was preparing。 She did not see Hadj's excitement or the
poet's malignant satisfaction； but she； with Domini； saw a small door
behind the platform open； and the stout Kabyle appear followed by a
girl who was robed in gold tissue； and decorated with cascades of
golden coins。
Domini guessed at once that this was Irena； the returned exile； who
wished to kill Hadj； and she was glad that a new incident had occurred
to switch off the general attention from the stranger。
Irena was evidently a favourite。 There was a grave movement as she
came in； a white undulation as all the shrouded forms bent slightly
forward in her direction。 Only Hadj caught his burnous round him with
his thin fingers； dropped his chin； shook his hood down upon his
forehead； leaned back against the wall； and； curling his legs under
him； seemed to fall asleep。 But beneath his brown lids and long black
lashes his furtive eyes followed every movement of the girl in the
sparkling robe。
She came in slowly and languidly； with a heavy and cross expression
upon her face； which was thin to emaciation and painted white； with
scarlet lips and darkened eyes and eyebrows。 Her features were narrow
and pointed。 Her bones were tiny； and her body was so slender； her
waist so small； that； with her flat breast and meagre shoulders； she
looked almost like a stick crowned with a human face and hung with
brilliant draperies。 Her hair； which was thick and dark brown； was
elaborately braided and covered with a yellow silk handkerchief。
Domini thought she looked consumptive； and was bitterly disappointed
in her appearance。 For some unknown reason she had expected the woman
who wished to kill Hadj； and who obviously inspired him with fear； to
be a magnificent and glowing desert beauty。 This woman might be
violent。 She looked weary； anaemic； and as if she wished to go to bed；
and Domini's contempt for Hadj increased as she looked at her。 To be
afraid of a thin； tired； sleepy creature such as that was too pitiful。
But Hadj did not seem to think so。 He had pulled his hood still
further forward； and was now merely a bundle concealed in the shade of
Suzanne。
Irena stepped on to the platform； pushed the girl who sat at the end
of the bench till she moved up higher； sat down in the vacant place；
drank some water out of the glass nearest to her； and then remained
quite still staring at the floor； utterly indifferent to the Arabs who
were devouring her with their eyes。 No doubt the eyes of men had
devoured her ever since she could remember。 It was obvious that they
meant nothing to her； that they did not even for an instant disturb
the current of her dreary thoughts。
Another girl was dancing； a stout； Oriental Jewess with a thick hooked
nose； large lips and bulging eyes； that looked as if they had been
newly scoured with emery powder。 While she danced she sang； or rather
shouted roughly； an extraordinary melody that suggested battle； murder
and sudden death。 Careless of onlookers； she sometimes scratched her
head or rubbed her nose without ceasing her contortions。 Domini
guessed that this was the girl whom she had seen from the tower
dancing upon the roof in the sunset。 Distance and light had indeed
transformed her。 Under the lamps she was the embodiment of all that
was coarse and greasy。 Even the pitiful slenderness of Irena seemed
attractive when compared with her billowing charms； which she kept in
a continual commotion that was almost terrifying。
〃Hadj is nearly dead with fear；〃 whispered Batouch； complacently。
Domini's lips curled。
〃Does not Madame think Irena beautiful as the moon on the waters of
the Oued Beni…Mora？〃
〃Indeed I don't；〃 she replied bluntly。 〃And I think a man who can be
afraid of such a little thing must be afraid of the children in the
street。〃
〃Little！ But Irena is tall as a female palm in Ourlana。〃
〃Tall！〃
Domini looked at her again more carefully； and saw that Batouch spoke
the truth。 Irena was unusually tall； but her excessive narrowness； her
tiny bones； and the delicate way in which she held herself deceived
the eye and gave her a little appearance。
〃So she is； but who could be afraid of her？ Why； I could pick her up
and throw her over that moon of yours。〃
〃Madame is strong。 Madame is like the lioness。 But Irena is the most
terrible girl in all Beni…Mora if she loves or if she is angry； the
most terrible in all the Sahara。〃
Domini laughed。
〃Madame does not know her；〃 said Batouch； imperturbably。 〃But Madame
can ask the Arabs。 Many of the dancers of Beni…Mora are murdered； each
season two or three。 But no man would try to murder Irena。 No man
would dare。〃
The poet's calm and unimpassioned way of alluding to the most horrible
crimes as if they were perfectly natural； and in no way to be
condemned or wondered at； amazed Domini even more than his statement
about Irena。
〃Why do they murder the dancers？〃 she asked quickly。
〃For their jewels。 At night； in those little rooms with the balconies
which Madame has seen； it is easy。 You enter in to sleep there。 You
close your eyes； you breathe gently and a little loud。 The woman
hears。 She is not afraid。 She sleeps。 She dreams。 Her throat is like
that〃he threw back his head； exposing his great neck。 〃Just before
dawn you draw your knife from your burnous。 You bend down。 You cut the
throat without noise。 You take the jewels； the money from the box by
the bed。 You go down quietly with bare feet。 No one is on the stair。
You unbar the doorand there before you is the great hiding…place。〃
〃The great hiding…place！〃
〃The desert； Madame。〃 He sipped his coffee。 Domini looked at him；
fascinated。
Suzanne shivered。 She had been listening。 The loud contralto cry of
the Jewess rose up； with its suggestion of violence and of rough
indifference。 And Domini repeated softly：
〃The great hiding…place。〃
With every moment in Beni…Mora the desert seemed to become moremore
full of meaning； of variety； of mystery； of terror。 Was it everything？
The garden of God； the great hiding…place of murderers！ She had called
it； on the tower； the home of peace。 In the gorge of El…Akbara； ere he
prayed； Batouch had spoken of it as a vast realm of forgetfulness；
where the load of memory slips from the weary shoulders and vanishes
into the soft gulf of the sands。
But was it everything then？ And if it was so much to her already； in a
night and a day； what would it be when she knew it； what would it be
to her after many nights and many da