ays adorn
themselves, the all-pervading voluptuous atmosphere the enchantment of
which I cannot explain to you; finally, the fair rebel gloomy and
jealous, in the corner of the picture! All this, without my being any
longer surprised by it, kept me in a sort of happy contentment, like
that of a well satisfied vizir, which defies all analysis, but which you
will understand.

All at once the music ceased.

"Andre," said Hadidje to me, "won't you come into the garden for a
little while?"

"Come along!" I replied, and rose up to go.

She took my arm. Zouhra and Nazli followed us. As I went out by the
verandah, I passed close to Kondje-Gul; she drew back with a superb air
of dignity, as if she feared lest her dress should be ruffled by me.
Then darting a look of withering scorn at Hadidje, she wrapped herself
up in her veil and leant against the balustrade, watching us go off. It
was a delicious autumn evening, the air was soft and the sky clear and
starry. Under our feet the dry leaves crackled. Hadidje wanted to have a
row in the boat, so we went towards the lake. As we rowed along we
caught glimpses of Kondje-Gul from time to time, through the openings
between the trees; her motionless figure stood out like a solitary
shadow in front of the illuminated window of the drawing-room.

"That's capital!" said Hadidje, who was rowing with Nazli; "How dismal
she looks! But then why does she try to get privileges over us? Let us
stay here."

"Oh!" answered Zouhra in an indifferent tone, as she lay back on the
cushions, "Not the whole evening, I hope, for it's rather cold."

"Why didn't you bring your _feridjie_ then," said Nazli; "you poor
sensitive creature?"

"I will go and fetch it if you like," I said to Zouhra.

"Oh, no!" she answered quickly; "if you leave us we shall be afraid."

"Very well then, _I'll_ go," said Hadidje, who wanted to carry out her
plan. "Let us row to the bank."

We pulled up to the point nearest to the chateau, and Hadidje, not
without some nervousness after all, left us and ran off.

"Keep your eye on me all the time, won't you?" she said to me as she
picked up her long skirt.

Soon we saw her reach the verandah without any adventure. She ascended
the steps and passed in front of Kondje-Gul. It seemed to us that
Kondje-Gul spoke very passionately to her, and that she answered her in
the same tones. At last they both had gone in, when all at once we heard
piercing shrieks. Apprehending s