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"Ah, Father," said Count Anteoni, going to meet him, while Domini got up from her chair, "it is good of you to come out in the sun to eat fish with such a bad parishioner as I am. Your little companion is welcome." He patted Bous-Bous, who took little notice of him. "You know Miss Enfilden, I think?" continued the Count. "Father Roubier and I meet every day," said Domini, smiling.
He leaned back in his chair and shook with the mirth his own remarks had roused. "We are ruffians of the sun!" he repeated with gusto. "And we must be forgiven everything." Although clad in a soutane he looked, at that moment, like a type of the most joyous tolerance, and Domini could not help mentally comparing him with the priest of Beni-Mora. What would Father Roubier think of Father Beret?
I will go now." He got up and stood by her, looking down at her. In his face there was a sort of sternness, a set expression. "To Father Roubier, Boris?" she said. "Yes. Before I go won't you won't you give me your hand?" She understood all the agony of spirit he was enduring, all the shame against which he was fighting.
"You are good to me," he said, remembering the last words of Father Roubier. "How can I be anything else?" Directly he had spoken the words his body trembled violently. "Boris, what is it?" she exclaimed, startled. He took his arm away from hers. "These these noises of the city in the night coming across the sand-hills are extraordinary.
"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.
The words sounded like a defiance flung at the two Catholics, and for a moment Domini thought that Father Roubier was going to treat them as a challenge, for he lifted his head and there was a flash of sudden fire in his eyes. But he only said, turning to the Count: "I think Mademoiselle and I shall find our little Ramadan a very easy business.
Domini looked him straight in the face. "Why did you invite Father Roubier?" she said. "Isn't four better than three?" "You don't want to tell me." "I am a little malicious. You have divined it, so why should I not acknowledge it? I asked Father Roubier because I wished to see the man of prayer with the man who fled from prayer." "Mussulman prayer," she said quickly. "Prayer," he said.
"I am afraid, Father Roubier, you will not be able to do full justice to my chef, Hamdane, although he has thought of you and done his best for you. But I hope Miss Enfilden and " "I keep Friday," Domini interrupted quietly. "Yes? Poor Hamdane!" He looked in grave despair, but she knew that he was really pleased that she kept the fast day.
"I never mentioned your name to Father Roubier, nor did he to me," she answered. For a moment he looked relieved, then a sudden suspicion seemed to strike him. "But without mentioning my name?" he said. "You wish to accuse me of quibbling, of insincerity, then!" she exclaimed with a heat almost equal to his own. "No, Madame, no! Madame, I I have suffered much. I am suspicious of everybody.
Suddenly the priest reached out his hand and lifted Bous-Bous on to his knee, and Count Anteoni very lightly and indifferently interposed. "Truth-telling among Arabs becomes a dire necessity to Europeans. One cannot out-lie them, and it doesn't pay to run second to Orientals. So one learns, with tears, to be sincere. Father Roubier is shocked by my apologia for my own blatant truthfulness."
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