carmen-第3章

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ours　previously。　The　old　woman；　when　she　was　questioned　by　the　sergeant；　admitted　that　she　knew　Navarro；　but　said　that　living　alone；　as　she　did；　she　would　never　have　dared　to　risk　her　life　by　informing　against　him。　She　added　that　when　he　came　to　her　house；　he　habitually　went　away　in　the　middle　of　the　night。　I；　for　my　part；　was　made　to　ride　to　a　place　some　leagues　away；　where　I　showed　my　passport；　and　signed　a　declaration　before　the　/Alcalde/。　This　done；　I　was　allowed　to　recommence　my　archaeological　investigations。　Antonio　was　sulky　with　me；　suspecting　it　was　I　who　had　prevented　his　earning　those　two　hundred　ducats。　Nevertheless；　we　parted　good　friends　at　Cordova；　where　I　gave　him　as　large　a　gratuity　as　the　state　of　my　finances　would　permit。



CHAPTER　II

I　spent　several　days　at　Cordova。　I　had　been　told　of　a　certain　manuscript　in　the　library　of　the　Dominican　convent　which　was　likely　to　furnish　me　with　very　interesting　details　about　the　ancient　Munda。　The　good　fathers　gave　me　the　most　kindly　welcome。　I　spent　the　daylight　hours　within　their　convent；　and　at　night　I　walked　about　the　town。　At　Cordova　a　great　many　idlers　collect；　toward　sunset；　in　the　quay　that　runs　along　the　right　bank　of　the　Guadalquivir。　Promenaders　on　the　spot　have　to　breathe　the　odour　of　a　tan　yard　which　still　keeps　up　the　ancient　fame　of　the　country　in　connection　with　the　curing　of　leather。　But　to　atone　for　this；　they　enjoy　a　sight　which　has　a　charm　of　its　own。　A　few　minutes　before　the　Angelus　bell　rings；　a　great　company　of　women　gathers　beside　the　river；　just　below　the　quay；　which　is　rather　a　high　one。　Not　a　man　would　dare　to　join　its　ranks。　The　moment　the　Angelus　rings；　darkness　is　supposed　to　have　fallen。　As　the　last　stroke　sounds；　all　the　women　disrobe　and　step　into　the　water。　Then　there　is　laughing　and　screaming　and　a　wonderful　clatter。　The　men　on　the　upper　quay　watch　the　bathers；　straining　their　eyes；　and　seeing　very　little。　Yet　the　white　uncertain　outlines　perceptible　against　the　dark…blue　waters　of　the　stream　stir　the　poetic　mind；　and　the　possessor　of　a　little　fancy　finds　it　not　difficult　to　imagine　that　Diana　and　her　nymphs　are　bathing　below；　while　he　himself　runs　no　risk　of　ending　like　Acteon。

I　have　been　told　that　one　day　a　party　of　good…for…nothing　fellows　banded　themselves　together；　and　bribed　the　bell…ringer　at　the　cathedral　to　ring　the　Angelus　some　twenty　minutes　before　the　proper　hour。　Though　it　was　still　broad　daylight；　the　nymphs　of　the　Guadalquivir　never　hesitated；　and　putting　far　more　trust　in　the　Angelus　bell　than　in　the　sun；　they　proceeded　to　their　bathing　toilettealways　of　the　simplest　with　an　easy　conscience。　I　was　not　present　on　that　occasion。　In　my　day；　the　bell…ringer　was　incorruptible；　the　twilight　was　very　dim；　and　nobody　but　a　cat　could　have　distinguished　the　difference　between　the　oldest　orange　woman；　and　the　prettiest　shop…girl；　in　Cordova。

One　evening；　after　it　had　grown　quite　dusk；　I　was　leaning　over　the　parapet　of　the　quay；　smoking；　when　a　woman　came　up　the　steps　leading　from　the　river；　and　sat　down　near　me。　In　her　hair　she　wore　a　great　bunch　of　jasminea　flower　which；　at　night；　exhales　a　most　intoxicating　perfume。　She　was　dressed　simply；　almost　poorly；　in　black；　as　most　work…girls　are　dressed　in　the　evening。　Women　of　the　richer　class　only　wear　black　in　the　daytime；　at　night　they　dress　/a　la　francesa/。　When　she　drew　near　me；　the　woman　let　the　mantilla　which　had　covered　her　head　drop　on　her　shoulders；　and　〃by　the　dim　light　falling　from　the　stars〃　I　perceived　her　to　be　young；　short　in　stature；　well…　proportioned；　and　with　very　large　eyes。　I　threw　my　cigar　away　at　once。　She　appreciated　this　mark　of　courtesy；　essentially　French；　and　hastened　to　inform　me　that　she　was　very　fond　of　the　smell　of　tobacco；　and　that　she　even　smoked　herself；　when　she　could　get　very　mild　/papelitos/。　I　fortunately　happened　to　have　some　such　in　my　case；　and　at　once　offered　them　to　her。　She　condescended　to　take　one；　and　lighted　it　at　a　burning　string　which　a　child　brought　us；　receiving　a　copper　for　its　pains。　We　mingled　our　smoke；　and　talked　so　long；　the　fair　lady　and　I；　that　we　ended　by　being　almost　alone　on　the　quay。　I　thought　I　might　venture；　without　impropriety；　to　suggest　our　going　to　eat　an　ice　at　the　/neveria/。*　After　a　moment　of　modest　demur；　she　agreed。　But　before　finally　accepting；　she　desired　to　know　what　o'clock　it　was。　I　struck　my　repeater；　and　this　seemed　to　astound　her　greatly。

*　　　A　/café/　to　which　a　depot　of　ice；　or　rather　of　snow；　is　attached。　　　　　There　is　hardly　a　village　in　Spain　without　its　/neveria/。

〃What　clever　inventions　you　foreigners　do　have！　What　country　do　you　belong　to；　sir？　You're　an　Englishman；　no　doubt！〃*

*　　　Every　traveller　in　Spain　who　does　not　carry　about　samples　of　　　　　calicoes　and　silks　is　taken　for　an　Englishman　（/inglesito/）。　It　is　　　　　the　same　thing　in　the　East。

〃I'm　a　Frenchman；　and　your　devoted　servant。　And　you；　senora；　or　senorita；　you　probably　belong　to　Cordova？〃

〃No。〃

〃At　all　events；　you　are　an　Andalusian？　Your　soft　way　of　speaking　makes　me　think　so。〃

〃If　you　notice　people's　accent　so　closely；　you　must　be　able　to　guess　what　I　am。〃

〃I　think　you　are　from　the　country　of　Jesus；　two　paces　out　of　Paradise。〃

I　had　learned　the　metaphor；　which　stands　for　Andalusia；　from　my　friend　Francisco　Sevilla；　a　well…known　/picador/。

〃Pshaw！　The　people　here　say　there　is　no　place　in　Paradise　for　us！〃

〃Then　perhaps　you　are　of　Moorish　bloodor〃　I　stopped；　not　venturing　to　add　〃a　Jewess。〃

〃Oh　come！　You　must　see　I'm　a　gipsy！　Wouldn't　you　like　me　to　tell　you　/la　baji/？*　Did　you　never　hear　tell　of　Carmencita？　That's　who　I　am！〃

*　　　Your　fortune。

I　was　such　a　miscreant　in　those　daysnow　fifteen　years　agothat　the　close　proximity　of　a　sorceress　did　not　make　me　recoil　in　horror。　〃So　be　it！〃　I　thought。　〃Last　week　I　ate　my　supper　with　a　highway　robber。　To…day　I'll　go　and　eat　ices　with　a　servant　of　the　devil。　A　traveller　should　see　everything。〃　I　had　yet　another　motive　for　prosecuting　her　acquaintance。　When　I　left　collegeI　acknowledge　it　with　shameI　had　wasted　a　certain　amount　of　time　in　studying　occult　science；　and　had　even　attempted；　more　than　once；　to　exorcise　the　powers　of　darkness。　Though　I　had　been　cured；　long　since；　of　my　passion　for　such　investigations；　I　still　felt　a　certain　attraction　and　curiosity　with　regard　to　all　superstitions；　and　I　was　delighted　to　have　this　opportunity　of　discovering　how　far　the　magic　art　had　developed　among　the　gipsies。

Talking　as　we　went；　we　had　reached　the　/neveria/；　and　seated　ourselves　at　a　little　table；　lighted　by　a　taper　protected　by　a　glass　globe。　I　then　had　time　to　take　a　leisurely　view　of　my　/gitana/；　while　several　worthy　individuals；　who　were　eating　their　ices；　stared　open…mouthed　at　beholding　me　in　such　gay　company。

I　very　much　doubt　whether　Senorita　Carmen　was　a　pure…blooded　gipsy。　At　all　events；　she　was　infinitely　prettier　than　any　other　woman　of　her　race　I　have　ever　seen。　For　a　women　to　be　beautiful；　they　say　in　Spain；　she　must　fulfil　thirty　/ifs/；　or；　if　it　please　you　better；　you　must　be　able　to　define　her　appearance　by　ten　adjectives；　applicable　to　three　portions　of　her　person。

For　instance；　three　things　about　her　must　be　black；　her　eyes；　her　eyelashes；　and　her　eyebrows。　Three　must　be　dainty；　her　fingers；　her　lips；　her　hair；　and　so　forth。　For　the　rest　of　this　inventory；　see　Brantome。　My　gipsy　girl　could　lay　no　claim　to　so　many　perfections。　Her　skin；　though　perfectly　smooth；　was　almost　of　a　copper　hue。　Her　eyes　were　set　obliquely　in　her　head；　but　they　were　magnificent　and　large。　Her　lips；　a　little　full；　but　beautifully　shaped；　revealed　a　set　of　teeth　as　white　as　newly　skinned　almonds。　Her　haira　trifle　coarse；　perhapswas　black；　with　blue　lights　on　it　like　a　raven's　wing；　long　and　glossy。　Not　to　weary　my　readers　with　too　prolix　a　description；　I　will　merely　add；　that　to　every　blemish　she　united　some　advantage；　which　was　perhaps　all　the　more　evident　by　contrast。　There　was　something　strange　and　wild　about　her　beauty。　Her　face　astonished　you；　at　first　sight；　but　nobody　could　forget　it。　Her　eyes；　especially；　had　an　expression　of　mingled　sensuality　and　fierceness　which　I　had　never　seen　in　any　other　human　glance。　〃Gipsy's　eye；　wolf's　eye！〃　is　a　Spanish　saying　which　denotes　close　observation。　If　my　readers　have　no　time　to　go　to　the　〃Jardin　des　Plantes〃　to　study　the　wolf's　expression；　they　will　do　well　to　watch　the　ordinary　cat　when　it　is　lying　in　wait　for　a　sparrow。

It　will　be　understood　that　I　should　have　looked　ridiculous　if　I　had　proposed　to　have　my　fortune　told　in　a　/café/。　I　therefore　begged　the　pretty　witch's　leave　to　go　home　with　her。　She　made　no　difficulties　about　consenting；　but　she　wanted　to　know　what　o'clock　it　was　again；　and　requested　me　to　make　my　repeater　strike　once　more。

〃Is　it　really　gold？〃　she　said；　gazing　at　it　with　rapt　attention。

When　we　started　off　again；　it　was　quite　dark。　Most　of　the　shops　were　shut；　and　the　streets　were　almost　empty。　We　crossed　the　bridge　over　the　Guadalquivir；　and　at　the　far　end　of　the　suburb　we　stopped　in　front　of　a　house　of　anything　but　palatial　appearance。　The　door　was　opened　by　a　child；　to　whom　the　gipsy　spoke　a　few　words　in　a　language　unknown　to　me；　which　I　afterward　understood　to　be　/Romany/；　or　/chipe　calli/the　gipsy　idiom。　The　child　instantly　disappeared；　leaving　us　in　sole　possession　of　a　tolerably　spacious　room；　furnished　with　a　small　table；　two　stools；　and　a　chest。　I　must　not　forget　to　mention　a　jar　of　water；　a　pile　of　oranges；　and　a　bunch　of　onions。

As　soon　as　we　were　left　alone；　the　gipsy　produced；　out　of　her　chest；　a　pack　of　cards；　bearing　signs　of　constant　usage；　a　magnet；　a　dried　chameleon；　and　a　few　other　indispensable　adjuncts　of　her　art。　Then　she　bade　me　cross　my　left　hand　with　a　silver　coin；　and　the　magic　ceremonies　duly　began。　It　is　unnecessary　to　chronicle　her　predictions；　and　as　for　the　style　of　her　performance；　it　proved　her　to　be　no　mean　sorceress。

Unluckily　we　were　soon　disturbed。　The　door　was　suddenly　burst　open；　and　a　man；　shrouded　to　the　eyes　in　a　brown　cloak；　entered　the　room；　apostrophizing　the　gipsy　in　anything　but　gentle　terms。　What　he　said　I　could　not　catch；　but　the　tone　of　his　voice　revealed　the　fact　that　he　was　in　a　very　evil　temper。　The　gipsy　betrayed　neither　surprise　nor　anger　at　his　advent；　but　she　ran　to　meet　him；　and　with　a　most　striking　volubility；　she　poured　out　several　sentences　in　the　mysterious　language　she　had　already　used　in　my　presence。　The　word　/payllo/；　frequently　reiterated；　was　the　only　one　I　understood。　I　knew　that　the　gipsies　use　it　to　describe　all　men　not　of　their　own　race。　Concluding　myself　to　be　the　subject　of　this　discourse；　I　was　prepared　for　a　somewhat　delicate　explanation。　I　had　already　laid　my　hand　on　the　leg　of　one　of　the　stools；　and　was　studying　within　myself　to　discover　the　exact　moment　at　which　I　had　better　throw　it　at　his　head；　when；　roughly　pushing　the　gipsy　to　one　side；　the　man　advanced　toward　me。　Then　with　a　step　backward　he　cried：

〃What；　sir！　Is　it　you？〃

I　looked　at　him　in　my　turn　and　recognised　my　friend　Don　Jose。　At　that　moment　I　did　feel　rather　sorry　I　had　saved　him　from　the　gallows。

〃What；　is　it　you；　my　good　fellow？〃　I　exclaimed；　with　as　easy　a　smile　as　I　could　muster。　〃You　have　interrupted　this　young　lady　just　when　she　was　f