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the /fumoir/； from whose walls it tore down frantically the purple
petals of the bougainvillea and dashed them； like enemies defeated；
upon the quivering paths which were made of its own body。
Everywhere in the oasis it came with a lust to kill； but surely its
deepest enmity was concentrated upon the Catholic Church。
There； despite the tempest； people were huddled； drawn together not so
much by the ceremony that was to take place within as by the desire to
see the departure of an unusual caravan。 In every desert centre news
is propagated with a rapidity seldom equalled in the home of
civilisation。 It runs from mouth to mouth like fire along straw。 And
Batouch； in his glory； had not been slow to speak of the wonders
prepared under his superintendence to make complete the desert journey
of his mistress and Androvsky。 The main part of the camp had already
gone forward； and must have reached Arba； the first halting stage
outside Beni…Mora； tents； the horses for the Roumis； the mules to
carry necessary baggage； the cooking utensils and the guard dogs。 But
the Roumis themselves were to depart from the church on camel…back
directly the marriage was accomplished。 Domini； who had a native
hatred of everything that savoured of ostentation； had wished for a
tiny expedition； and would gladly have gone out into the desert with
but one tent； Batouch and a servant to do the cooking。 But the journey
was to be long and indefinite； an aimless wandering through the land
of liberty towards the south； without fixed purpose or time of
returning。 She knew nothing of what was necessary for such a journey；
and tired of ceaseless argument； and too much occupied with joy to
burden herself with detail； at last let Batouch have his way。
〃I leave it to you； Batouch；〃 she said。 〃But； remember； as few people
and beasts as possible。 And as you say we must have camels for certain
parts of the journey； we will travel the first stage on camel…back。〃
Consciously she helped to fulfil the prediction of the Diviner； and
then she left Batouch free。
Now outside the church； shrouded closely in hoods and haiks； grey and
brown bundles with staring eyes； the desert men were huddled against
the church wall in the wind。 Hadj was there； and Smain； sheltering in
his burnous roses from Count Anteoni's garden。 Larbi had come with his
flute and the perfume…seller from his black bazaar。 For Domini had
bought perfumes from him on her last day in Beni…Mora。 Most of Count
Anteoni's gardeners had assembled。 They looked upon the Roumi lady；
who rode magnificently； but who could dream as they dreamed； too； as a
friend。 Had she not haunted the alleys where they worked and idled
till they had learned to expect her； and to miss her when she did not
come？ And with those whom Domini knew were assembled their friends；
and their friends' friends； men of Beni…Mora； men from the near oasis；
and also many of those desert wanderers who drift in daily out of the
sands to the centres of buying and selling； barter their goods for the
goods of the South； or sell their loads of dates for money； and；
having enjoyed the dissipation of the cafes and of the dancing…houses；
drift away again into the pathless wastes which are their home。
Few of the French population had ventured out； and the church itself
was almost deserted when the hour for the wedding drew nigh。
The priest came from his little house； bending forward against the
wind； his eyes partially protected from the driving sand by blue
spectacles。 His face； which was habitually grave； to…day looked sad
and stern； like the face of a man about to perform a task that was
against his inclination； even perhaps against his conscience。 He
glanced at the waiting Arabs and hastened into the church； taking off
his spectacles as he did so； and wiping his eyes； which were red from
the action of the sand…grains； with a silk pocket…handkerchief。 When
he reached the sacristy he shut himself into it alone for a moment。 He
sat down on a chair and； leaning his arms upon the wooden table that
stood in the centre of the room； bent forward and stared before him at
the wall opposite； listening to the howling of the wind。
Father Roubier had an almost passionate affection for his little
church of Beni…Mora。 So long and ardently had he prayed and taught in
it； so often had he passed the twilight hours in it alone wrapped in
religious reveries； or searching his conscience for the shadows of
sinful thoughts； that it had become to him as a friend； and more than
a friend。 He thought of it sometimes as his confessor and sometimes as
his child。 Its stones were to him as flesh and blood； its altars as
lips that whispered consolation in answer to his prayers。 The figures
of its saints were heavenly companions。 In its ugliness he perceived
only beauty； in its tawdriness only the graces that are sweet
offerings to God。 The love that； had he not been a priest； he might
have given to a woman he poured forth upon his church； and with it
that other love which； had it been the design of his Heavenly Father；
would have fitted him for the ascetic； yet impassioned； life of an
ardent and devoted monk。 To defend this consecrated building against
outrage he would； without hesitation； have given his last drop of
blood。 And now he was to perform in it an act against which his whole
nature revolted； he was to join indissolubly the lives of these two
strangers who had come to Beni…MoraDomini Enfilden and Boris
Androvsky。 He was to put on the surplice and white stole； to say the
solemn and irreparable 〃Ego Jungo；〃 to sprinkle the ring with holy
water and bless it。
As he sat there alone； listening to the howling of the storm outside；
he went mentally through the coming ceremony。 He thought of the
wonderful grace and beauty of the prayers of benediction； and it
seemed to him that to pronounce them with his lips； while his nature
revolted against his own utterance； was to perform a shameful act； was
to offer an insult to this little church he loved。
Yet how could he help performing this act？ He knew that he would do
it。 Within a few minutes he would be standing before the altar； he
would be looking into the faces of this man and woman whose love he
was called upon to consecrate。 He would consecrate it； and they would
go out from him into the desert man and wife。 They would be lost to
his sight in the town。
His eye fell upon a silver crucifix that was hanging upon the wall in
front of him。 He was not a very imaginative man； not a man given to
fancies； a dreamer of dreams more real to him than life； or a seer of
visions。 But to…day he was stirred； and perhaps the unwonted turmoil
of his mind acted subtly upon his nervous system。 Afterward he felt
certain that it must have been so； for in no other way could he
account for a fantasy that beset him at this moment。
As he looked at the crucifix there came against the church a more
furious beating of the wind； and it seemed to him that the Christ upon
the crucifix shuddered。
He saw it shudder。 He started； leaned across the table and stared at
the crucifix with eyes that were full of an amazement that was mingled
with horror。 Then h