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〃That which is written is written。〃
Domini rose from her knees； hid the wooden cross once more in her
breast； and went out into the evening。
As she left the church door something occurred which struck the
vagueness from her。 She came upon Androvsky and the priest。 They were
standing together at the latter's gate； which he was in the act of
opening to an accompaniment of joyous barking from Bous…Bous。 Both men
looked strongly expressive； as if both had been making an effort of
some kind。 She stopped in the twilight to speak to them。
〃Monsieur Androvsky has kindly been paying me a visit；〃 said Father
Roubier。
〃I am glad；〃 Domini said。 〃We ought all to be friends here。〃
There was a perceptible pause。 Then Androvsky lifted his hat。
〃Good…evening； Madame；〃 he said。 〃Good…evening； Father。〃 And he walked
away quickly。
The priest looked after him and sighed profoundly。
〃Oh； Madame！〃 he exclaimed； as if impelled to liberate his mind to
someone； 〃what is the matter with that man？ What is the matter？〃
He stared fixedly into the twilight after Androvsky's retreating form。
〃With Monsieur Androvsky？〃
She spoke quietly； but her mind was full of apprehension； and she
looked searchingly at the priest。
〃Yes。 What can it be？〃
〃ButI don't understand。〃
〃Why did he come to see me？〃
〃I asked him to come。〃
She blurted out the words without knowing why； only feeling that she
must speak the truth。
〃You asked him！〃
〃Yes。 I wanted you to be friendsand I thought perhaps you might〃
〃Yes？〃
〃I wanted you to be friends。〃 She repeated it almost stubbornly。
〃I have never before felt so ill at ease with any human being；〃
exclaimed the priest with tense excitement。 〃And yet I could not let
him go。 Whenever he was about to leave me I was impelled to press him
to remain。 We spoke of the most ordinary things； and all the time it
was as if we were in a great tragedy。 What is he？ What can he be？〃 （He
still looked down the road。）
〃I don't know。 I know nothing。 He is a man travelling； as other men
travel。〃
〃Oh； no！〃
〃What do you mean； Father？〃
〃I mean that other travellers are not like this man。〃
He leaned his thin hands heavily on the gate； and she saw； by the
expression of his eyes； that he was going to say something startling。
〃Madame；〃 he said； lowering his voice； 〃I did not speak quite frankly
to you this afternoon。 You may； or you may not； have understood what I
meant。 But now I will speak plainly。 As a priest I warn you； I warn
you most solemnly； not to make friends with this man。〃
There was a silence； then Domini said：
〃Please give me your reason for this warning。〃
〃That I can't do。〃
〃Because you have no reason； or because it is not one you care to tell
me？〃
〃I have no reason to give。 My reason is my instinct。 I know nothing of
this manI pity him。 I shall pray for him。 He needs prayers； yes； he
needs them。 But you are a woman out here alone。 You have spoken to me
of yourself； and I feel it my duty to say that I advise you most
earnestly to break off your acquaintance with Monsieur Androvsky。〃
〃Do you mean that you think him evil？〃
〃I don't know whether he is evil； I don't know what he is。〃
〃I know he is not evil。〃
The priest looked at her； wondering。
〃You knowhow？〃
〃My instinct；〃 she said； coming a step nearer； and putting her hand；
too； on the gate near his。 〃Why should we desert him？〃
〃Desert him； Madame！〃
Father Roubier's voice sounded amazed。
〃Yes。 You say he needs prayers。 I know it。 Father； are not the first
prayers； the truest； those that go most swiftly to Heavenacts？〃
The priest did not reply for a moment。 He looked at her and seemed to
be thinking deeply。
〃Why did you send Monsieur Androvsky to me this afternoon？〃 he said at
last abruptly。
〃I knew you were a good man； and I fancied if you became friends you
might help him。〃
His face softened。
〃A good man；〃 he said。 〃Ah！〃 He shook his head sadly； with a sound
that was like a little pathetic laugh。 〃Ia good man！ And I allow an
almost invincible personal feeling to conquer my inward sense of
right！ Madame； come into the garden for a moment。〃
He opened the gate； she passed in； and he led her round the house to
the enclosure at the back； where they could talk in greater privacy。
Then he continued：
〃You are right； Madame。 I am here to try to do God's work； and
sometimes it is better to act for a human being； perhaps； even than to
pray for him。 I will tell you that I feel an almost invincible
repugnance to Monsieur Androvsky； a repugnance that is almost stronger
than my will to hold it in check。〃 He shivered slightly。 〃But； with
God's help； I'll conquer that。 If he stays on here I'll try to be his
friend。 I'll do all I can。 If he is unhappy； far away from good；
perhapsI say it humbly； Madame； I assure youI might help him。 But〃
and here his face and manner changed； became firmer； more dominating
〃you are not a priest； and〃
〃No； only a woman；〃 she said； interrupting him。
Something in her voice arrested him。 There was a long silence in which
they paced slowly up and down on the sand between the palm trees。 The
twilight was dying into night。 Already the tomtoms were throbbing in
the street of the dancers； and the shriek of the distant pipes was
faintly heard。 At last the priest spoke again。
〃Madame；〃 he said； 〃when you came to me this afternoon there was
something that you could not tell me。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Had it anything to do with Monsieur Androvsky？〃
〃I meant to ask you to advise me about myself。〃
〃My advice to you was and isbe strong but not too foolhardy。〃
〃Believe me I will try not to be foolhardy。 But you said something
else too； something about women。 Don't you remember？〃
She stopped； took his hands impulsively and pressed them。
〃Father； I've scarcely ever been of any use all my life。 I've scarcely
ever tried to be。 Nothing within me said； 'You could be；' and if it
had I was so dulled by routine and sorrow that I don't think I should
have heard it。 But here it is different。 I am not dulled。 I can hear。
Andsuppose I can be of use for the first time！ You wouldn't say to
me； 'Don't try！' You couldn't say that？〃
He stood holding her hands and looking into her face for a moment。
Then he said； half…humorously； half…sadly：
〃My child； perhaps you know your own strength best。 Perhaps your
safest spiritual director is your own heart。 Who knows？ But whether it
be so or not you will not take advice from me。〃
She knew that was true now and； for a moment； felt almost ashamed。
〃Forgive me；〃 she said。 〃Butit is strange； and may seem to you
ridiculous or even wrongever since I have been here I have felt as
if everything that happened had been arranged beforehand； as if it had
to happen。 And I feel that； too； about the future。〃
〃Count Anteoni's fatalism！〃 the priest said with a touch of impatient
irritation。 〃I know。 It is the guiding spirit of this land。 And you
too are going to be led by it。 Take care！ You have come to a land of
fire； and I think you are made of fire。〃
For a moment she saw a fanatical expression in his eyes。 She thought
of it as the look of the monk crushed d