“Yes, Madame. I have told Monsieur.”
“Very well.”
At this moment Androvsky came into the room.
“The carriage is waiting,” he said.
She felt almost as if a stranger was speaking to her.
“I am ready,” she said.
And without looking round the room she went downstairs and got into the carriage.
They drove to the station without speaking. She had not seen Father Roubier. Androvsky took the tickets. When they came out upon the platform they found there a small crowd of Arab friends, with Batouch in command. Among them were the servants who had accompanied them upon their desert journey, and Hadj. He came forward smiling to shake hands. When she saw him Domini remembered Irena, and, forgetting that it is not etiquette to inquire after an Arab’s womenfolk, she said:
“Ah, Hadj, and are you happy now? How is Irena?”
Hadj’s face fell, and he showed his pointed teeth in a snarl. For a moment he hesitated, looking round at the other Arabs. Then he said: