“I am always happy, Madame.”
Domini saw that she had made a mistake. She took out her purse and gave him five francs.
“A parting present,” she said.
Hadj shook his head with recovered cheerfulness, tucked in his chin and laughed. Domini turned away, shook hands with all her dark acquaintances, and climbed up into the train, followed by Androvsky. Batouch sprang upon the step as the porter shut the door.
“Madame!” he exclaimed.
“What is it, Batouch?”
“To-day you have put Hadj to shame.”
He smiled broadly.
“I? How? What have I done?”
“Irena is dancing at Onargla, far away in the desert beyond Amara.”