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He did not remain there long； nor did he follow her into the hotel。
After she had disappeared he stood for a little while gazing up at the
deserted verandah upon which the moon…rays fell。 Then he turned and
looked towards the village； hesitated； and finally walked slowly back
towards the tiny； shrouded alley in which on the narrow staircases the
painted girls sat watching in the night。
CHAPTER IX
On the following morning Batouch arrived with a handsome grey Arab
horse for Domini to try。 He had been very penitent the night before；
and Domini had forgiven easily enough his pre…occupation with Suzanne；
who had evidently made a strong impression upon his susceptible
nature。 Hadj had been but slightly injured by Irena； but did not
appear at the hotel for a very sufficient reason。 Both the dancer and
he were locked up for the moment； till the Guardians of Justice in
Beni…Mora had made up their minds who should be held responsible for
the uproar of the previous night。 That the real culprit was the
smiling poet was not likely to occur to them； and did not seem to
trouble him。 When Domini inquired after Hadj he showed majestic
indifference； and when she hinted at his crafty share in the causing
of the tragedy he calmly replied
〃Hadj…ben…Ibrahim will know from henceforth whether the Mehari with
the swollen tongue can bite。〃
Then； leaping upon the horse； whose bridle he was holding； he forced
it to rear； caracole and display its spirit and its paces before
Domini； sitting it superbly； and shooting many sly glances at Suzanne；
who leaned over the parapet of the verandah watching； with a rapt
expression on her face。
Domini admired the horse； but wished to mount it herself before coming
to any conclusion about it。 She had brought her own saddle with her
and ordered Batouch to put it on the animal。 Meanwhile she went
upstairs to change into her habit。 When she came out again on to the
verandah Boris Androvsky was there； standing bare…headed in the sun
and looking down at Batouch and the horse。 He turned quickly； greeted
Domini with a deep bow； then examined her costume with wondering；
startled eyes。
〃I'm going to try that horse；〃 she said with deliberate friendliness。
〃To see if I'll buy him。 Are you a judge of a horse？〃
〃I fear not； Madame。〃
She had spoken in English and he replied in the same language。 She was
standing at the head of the stairs holding her whip lightly in her
right hand。 Her splendid figure was defined by the perfectly…fitting；
plain habit； and she saw him look at it with a strange expression in
his eyes； an admiration that was almost ferocious； and that was yet
respectful and even pure。 It was like the glance of a passionate
schoolboy verging on young manhood； whose natural instincts were astir
but whose temperament was unwarped by vice； a glance that was a
burning tribute； and that told a whole story of sex and surely of hot；
inquiring ignorancestrange glances of a man no longer even very
young。 It made something in her leap and quiver。 She was startled and
almost angered by that； but not by the eyes that caused it。
〃/Au revoir/；〃 she said； turning to go down。
〃May Imight I see you get up？〃 said Androvsky。
〃Get up！〃 she said。
〃Up on the horse？〃
She could not help smiling at his fashion of expressing the act of
mounting。 He was not a sportsman evidently； despite his muscular
strength。
〃Certainly； if you like。 Come along。〃
Without thinking of it she spoke rather as to a schoolboy； not with
superiority； but with the sort of bluffness age sometimes uses good…
naturedly to youth。 He did not seem to resent it and followed her down
to the arcade。
The side saddle was on and the poet held the grey by the bridle。 Some
Arab boys had assembled under the arcade to see what was going
forward。 The Arab waiter lounged at the door with the tassel of his
fez swinging against his pale cheek。 The horse fidgetted and tugged
against the rein； lifting his delicate feet uneasily from the ground；
flicking his narrow quarters with his long tail； and glancing sideways
with his dark and brilliant eyes； which were alive with a nervous
intelligence that was almost hectic。 Domini went up to him and
caressed him with her hand。 He reared up and snorted。 His whole body
seemed a…quiver with the desire to gallop furiously away alone into
some far distant place。
Androvsky stood near the waiter； looking at Domini and at the horse
with wonder and alarm in his eyes。
The animal； irritated by inaction； began to plunge violently and to
get out of hand。
〃Give me the reins；〃 Domini said to the poet。 〃That's it。 Now put your
hand for me。〃
Batouch obeyed。 Her foot just touched his hand and she was in the
saddle。
Androvsky sprang forward on to the pavement。 His eyes were blazing
with anxiety。 She saw it and laughed gaily。
〃Oh； he's not vicious；〃 she said。 〃And vice is the only thing that's
dangerous。 His mouth is perfect； but he's nervous and wants handling。
I'll just take him up the gardens and back。〃
She had been reining him in。 Now she let him go； and galloped up the
straight track between the palms towards the station。 The priest had
come out into his little garden with Bous…Bous； and leaned over his
brushwood fence to look after her。 Bous…Bous barked in a light
soprano。 The Arab boys jumped on their bare toes； and one of them； who
was a bootblack； waved his board over his shaven head。 The Arab waiter
smiled as if with satisfaction at beholding perfect competence。 But
Androvsky stood quite still looking down the dusty road at the
diminishing forms of horse and rider； and when they disappeared；
leaving behind them a light cloud of sand films whirling in the sun；
he sighed heavily and dropped his chin on his chest as if fatigued。
〃I can get a horse for Monsieur too。 Would Monsieur like to have a
horse？〃
It was the poet's amply seductive voice。 Androvsky started。
〃I don't ride；〃 he said curtly。
〃I will teach Monsieur。 I am the best teacher in Beni…Mora。 In three
lessons Monsieur will〃
〃I don't ride； I tell you。〃
Androvsky was looking angry。 He stepped out into the road。 Bous…Bous；
who was now observing Nature at the priest's garden gate； emerged with
some sprightliness and trotted towards him； evidently with the
intention of making his acquaintance。 Coming up to him the little dog
raised his head and uttered a short bark； at the same time wagging his
tail in a kindly； though not effusive manner。 Androvsky looked down；
bent quickly and patted him； as only a man really fond of animals and
accustomed to them knows how to pat。 Bous…Bous was openly gratified。
He began to wriggle affectionately。 The priest in his garden smiled。
Androvsky had not seen him and went on playing with the dog； who now
made preparations to lie down on his curly back in the road in the
hope of being tickled； a process he was an amateur of。 Still smiling；
and with a friendly look on his face； the priest came out of his
garden and approached the playmates。
〃Good morning； M'sieur；〃 he said politely； raising his hat。 〃I see you
like dogs。〃
Androvsky lifted himself up； leaving Bous…Bous in a prayerful
attitude； his paws