carmen-第6章

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ugh　the　thickest　bar；　and　with　the　gold　coin　I　could　have　exchanged　my　soldier's　cloak　for　civilian　garb　at　the　nearest　shop。　You　may　fancy　that　a　man　who　has　often　taken　the　eaglets　out　of　their　nests　in　our　cliff　would　have　found　no　difficulty　in　getting　down　to　the　street　out　of　a　window　less　than　thirty　feet　above　it。　But　I　didn't　choose　to　escape。　I　still　had　a　soldier's　code　of　honour；　and　desertion　appeared　to　me　in　the　light　of　a　heinous　crime。　Yet　this　proof　of　remembrance　touched　me。　When　a　man　is　in　prison　he　likes　to　think　he　has　a　friend　outside　who　takes　an　interest　in　him。　The　gold　coin　did　rather　offend　me；　I　should　have　very　much　liked　to　return　it；　but　where　was　I　to　find　my　creditor？　That　did　not　seem　a　very　easy　task。

〃After　the　ceremony　of　my　degradation　I　had　fancied　my　sufferings　were　over；　but　I　had　another　humiliation　before　me。　That　came　when　I　left　prison；　and　was　told　off　for　duty；　and　put　on　sentry；　as　a　private　soldier。　You　can　not　conceive　what　a　proud　man　endures　at　such　a　moment。　I　believe　I　would　have　just　as　soon　been　shot　deadthen　I　should　have　marched　alone　at　the　head　of　my　platoon；　at　all　events；　I　should　have　felt　I　was　somebody；　with　the　eyes　of　others　fixed　upon　me。

〃I　was　posted　as　sentry　on　the　door　of　the　colonel's　house。　The　colonel　was　a　young　man；　rich；　good…natured；　fond　of　amusing　himself。　All　the　young　officers　were　there；　and　many　civilians　as　well；　besides　ladiesactresses；　as　it　was　said。　For　my　part；　it　seemed　to　me　as　if　the　whole　town　had　agreed　to　meet　at　that　door；　in　order　to　stare　at　me。　Then　up　drove　the　colonel's　carriage；　with　his　valet　on　the　box。　And　who　should　I　see　get　out　of　it；　but　the　gipsy　girl！　She　was　dressed　up；　this　time；　to　the　eyes；　togged　out　in　golden　ribbonsa　spangled　gown；　blue　shoes；　all　spangled　too；　flowers　and　gold　lace　all　over　her。　In　her　hand　she　carried　a　tambourine。　With　her　there　were　two　other　gipsy　women；　one　young　and　one　old。　They　always　have　one　old　woman　who　goes　with　them；　and　then　an　old　man　with　a　guitar；　a　gipsy　too；　to　play　alone；　and　also　for　their　dances。　You　must　know　these　gipsy　girls　are　often　sent　for　to　private　houses；　to　dance　their　special　dance；　the　/Romalis/；　and　often；　too；　for　quite　other　purposes。

〃Carmen　recognised　me；　and　we　exchanged　glances。　I　don't　know　why；　but　at　that　moment　I　should　have　liked　to　have　been　a　hundred　feet　beneath　the　ground。

〃　'/Agur　laguna/；'*　said　she。　'Oficial　mio！　You　keep　guard　like　a　recruit；'　and　before　I　could　find　a　word　in　answer；　she　was　inside　the　house。

*　　　Good…day；　comrade！

〃The　whole　party　was　assembled　in　the　/patio/；　and　in　spite　of　the　crowd　I　could　see　nearly　everything　that　went　on　through　the　lattice。*　I　could　hear　the　castanets　and　the　tambourine；　the　laughter　and　applause。　Sometimes　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　her　head　as　she　bounded　upward　with　her　tambourine。　Then　I　could　hear　the　officers　saying　many　things　to　her　which　brought　the　blood　to　my　face。　As　to　her　answers；　I　knew　nothing　of　them。　It　was　on　that　day；　I　think；　that　I　began　to　love　her　in　earnestfor　three　or　four　times　I　was　tempted　to　rush　into　the　/patio/；　and　drive　my　sword　into　the　bodies　of　all　the　coxcombs　who　were　making　love　to　her。　My　torture　lasted　a　full　hour；　then　the　gipsies　came　out；　and　the　carriage　took　them　away。　As　she　passed　me　by；　Carmen　looked　at　me　with　those　eyes　you　know；　and　said　to　me　very　low；　'Comrade；　people　who　are　fond　of　good　/fritata/　come　to　eat　it　at　Lillas　Pastia's　at　Triana！'

*　　　In　most　of　the　houses　in　Seville　there　is　an　inner　court　　　　　surrounded　by　an　arched　portico。　This　is　used　as　a　sitting…room　in　　　　　summer。　Over　the　court　is　stretched　a　piece　of　tent　cloth；　which　　　　　is　watered　during　the　day　and　removed　at　night。　The　street　door　is　　　　　almost　always　left　open；　and　the　passage　leading　to　the　court　　　　　（/zaguan/）　is　closed　by　an　iron　lattice　of　very　elegant　　　　　workmanship。

〃Then；　light　as　a　kid；　she　stepped　into　the　carriage；　the　coachman　whipped　up　his　mules；　and　the　whole　merry　party　departed；　whither　I　know　not。

〃You　may　fancy　that　the　moment　I　was　off　guard　I　went　to　Triana；　but　first　of　all　I　got　myself　shaved　and　brushed　myself　up　as　if　I　had　been　going　on　parade。　She　was　living　with　Lillas　Pastia；　an　old　fried…　fish　seller；　a　gipsy；　as　black　as　a　Moor；　to　whose　house　a　great　many　civilians　resorted　to　eat　/fritata/；　especially；　I　think；　because　Carmen　had　taken　up　her　quarters　there。

〃　'Lillas；'　she　said；　as　soon　as　she　saw　me。　'I'm　not　going　to　work　any　more　to…day。　To…morrow　will　be　a　day；　too。*　Come；　fellow…　countryman；　let　us　go　for　a　walk！'

*　　　/Manana　sera　otro　dia。/A　Spanish　proverb。

〃She　pulled　her　mantilla　across　her　nose；　and　there　we　were　in　the　street；　without　my　knowing　in　the　least　whither　I　was　bound。

〃　'Senorita；'　said　I；　'I　think　I　have　to　thank　you　for　a　present　I　had　while　I　was　in　prison。　I've　eaten　the　bread；　the　file　will　do　for　sharpening　my　lance；　and　I　keep　it　in　remembrance　of　you。　But　as　for　the　money；　here　it　is。'

〃　'Why；　he's　kept　the　money！'　she　exclaimed；　bursting　out　laughing。　'But；　after　all；　that's　all　the　betterfor　I'm　decidedly　hard　up！　What　matter！　The　dog　that　runs　never　starves！*　Come；　let's　spend　it　all！　You　shall　treat。'

*　　　/Chuquel　sos　pirela；　cocal　terela。　〃The　dog　that　runs　finds　a　　　　　bone。〃Gipsy　proverb。

〃We　had　turned　back　toward　Seville。　At　the　entrance　of　the　/Calle　de　la　Serpiente/　she　bought　a　dozen　oranges；　which　she　made　me　put　into　my　handkerchief。　A　little　farther　on　she　bought　a　roll；　a　sausage；　and　a　bottle　of　manzanilla。　Then；　last　of　all；　she　turned　into　a　confectioner's　shop。　There　she　threw　the　gold　coin　I　had　returned　to　her　on　the　counter；　with　another　she　had　in　her　pocket；　and　some　small　silver；　and　then　she　asked　me　for　all　the　money　I　had。　All　I　possessed　was　one　peseta　and　a　few　cuartos；　which　I　handed　over　to　her；　very　much　ashamed　of　not　having　more。　I　thought　she　would　have　carried　away　the　whole　shop。　She　took　everything　that　was　best　and　dearest；　/yemas/；*　/turon/；**　preserved　fruitsas　long　as　the　money　lasted。　And　all　these；　too；　I　had　to　carry　in　paper　bags。　Perhaps　you　know　the　/Calle　del　Candilejo/；　where　there　is　a　head　of　Don　Pedro　the　Avenger。***　That　head　ought　to　have　given　me　pause。　We　stopped　at　an　old　house　in　that　street。　She　passed　into　the　entry；　and　knocked　at　a　door　on　the　ground　floor。　It　was　opened　by　a　gipsy；　a　thorough…paced　servant　of　the　devil。　Carmen　said　a　few　words　to　her　in　Romany。　At　first　the　old　hag　grumbled。　To　smooth　her　down　Carmen　gave　her　a　couple　of　oranges　and　a　handful　of　sugar…plums；　and　let　her　have　a　taste　of　wine。　Then　she　hung　her　cloak　on　her　back；　and　led　her　to　the　door；　which　she　fastened　with　a　wooden　bar。　As　soon　as　we　were　alone　she　began　to　laugh　and　caper　like　a　lunatic；　singing　out；　'You　are　my　/rom/；　I'm　your　/romi/。'****

*　　　Sugared　yolks　of　eggs。

**　　A　sort　of　nougat。

***　This　king；　Don　Pedro；　whom　we　call　〃the　Cruel；〃　and　whom　Queen　　　　　Isabella；　the　Catholic；　never　called　anything　but　〃the　Avenger；〃　　　　　was　fond　of　walking　about　the　streets　of　Seville　at　night　in　　　　　search　of　adventures；　like　the　Caliph　Haroun　al　Raschid。　One　　　　　night；　in　a　lonely　street；　he　quarrelled　with　a　man　who　was　　　　　singing　a　serenade。　There　was　a　fight；　and　the　king　killed　the　　　　　amorous　/caballero/。　At　the　clashing　of　their　swords；　an　old　woman　　　　　put　her　head　out　of　the　window　and　lighted　up　the　scene　with　a　　　　　tiny　lamp　（candilejo）　which　she　held　in　her　hand。　My　readers　must　　　　　be　informed　that　King　Don　Pedro；　though　nimble　and　muscular；　　　　　suffered　from　one　strange　fault　in　his　physical　conformation。　　　　　Whenever　he　walked　his　knees　cracked　loudly。　By　this　cracking　the　　　　　old　woman　easily　recognised　him。　The　next　day　the　/veintiquatro/　　　　　in　charge　came　to　make　his　report　to　the　king。　〃Sir；　a　duel　was　　　　　fought　last　night　in　such　a　streetone　of　the　combatants　is　　　　　dead。〃　〃Have　you　found　the　murderer？〃　〃Yes；　sir。〃　〃Why　has　he　not　　　　　been　punished　already？〃　〃Sir；　I　await　your　orders！〃　〃Carry　out　the　　　　　law。〃　Now　the　king　had　just　published　a　decree　that　every　duellist　　　　　was　to　have　his　head　cut　off；　and　that　head　was　to　be　set　up　on　　　　　the　scene　of　the　fight。　The　/veintiquatro/　got　out　of　the　　　　　difficulty　like　a　clever　man。　He　had　the　head　sawed　off　a　statue　　　　　of　the　king；　and　set　that　up　in　a　niche　in　the　middle　of　the　　　　　street　in　which　the　murder　had　taken　place。　The　king　and　all　the　　　　　Sevillians　thought　this　a　very　good　joke。　The　street　took　its　name　　　　　from　the　lamp　held　by　the　old　woman；　the　only　witness　of　the　　　　　incident。　The　above　is　the　popular　tradition。　Zuniga　tells　the　　　　　story　somewhat　differently。　However　that　may　be；　a　street　called　　　　　/Calle　del　Candilejo/　still　exists　in　Seville；　and　in　that　street　　　　　there　is　a　bust　which　is　said　to　be　a　portrait　of　Don　Pedro。　This　　　　　bust；　unfortunately；　is　a　modern　production。　During　the　　　　　seventeenth　century　the　old　one　had　become　very　much　defaced；　and　　　　　the　municipality　had　it　replaced　by　that　now　to　be　seen。

****　/Rom/；　husband。　/Romi/；　wife。

〃There　I　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　laden　with　all　her　purchases；　and　not　knowing　where　I　was　to　put　them　down。　She　tumbled　them　all　onto　the　floor；　and　threw　her　arms　round　my　neck；　saying：

〃　'I　pay　my　debts；　I　pay　my　debts！　That's　the　law　of　the　/Cales/。'*

*　　　/Calo/；　feminine　/calli/；　plural　/cales/。　Literally　〃black；〃　the　　　　　name　the　gipsies　apply　to　themselves　in　their　own　language。

〃Ah；　sir；　that　day！　that　day！　When　I　think　of　it　I　forget　what　to…morrow　must　bring　me！〃

For　a　moment　the　bandit　held　his　peace；　then；　when　he　had　relighted　his　cigar；　he　began　afresh。

〃We　spent　the　whole　day　together；　eating；　drinking；　and　so　forth。　When　she　had　stuffed　herself　with　sugar…plums；　like　any　child　of　six　years　old；　she　thrust　them　by　handfuls　into　the　old　woman's　water…jar。　'That'll　make　sherbet　for　her；'　she　said。　She　smashed　the　/yemas/　by　throwing　them　against　the　walls。　'They'll　keep　the　flies　from　bothering　us。'　There　was　no　prank　or　wild　frolic　she　didn't　indulge　in。　I　told　her　I　should　have　liked　to　see　her　dance；　only　there　were　no　castanets　to　be　had。　Instantly　she　seized　the　old　woman's　only　earthenware　plate；　smashed　it　up；　and　there　she　was　dancing　the　/Romalis/；　and　making　the　bits　of　broken　crockery　rattle　as　well　as　if　they　had　been　ebony　and　ivory　castanets。　That　girl　was　good　company；　I　can　tell　you！　Evening　fell；　and　I　heard　the　drums　beating　tattoo。

〃　'I　must　get　back　to　quarters　for　roll…call；'　I　said。

〃　'To　quarters！'　she　answered；　with　a　look　of　scorn。　'Are　you　a　negro　slave；　to　let　yourself　be　driven　with　a　ramrod　like　that！　You　are　as　silly　as　a　canary　bird。　Your　dress　suits　your　nature。*　Pshaw！　you've　no　more　heart　than　a　chicken。'

*　　　Spanish　dragoons　wear　a　yellow　uniform。

〃I　stayed　on；　making　up　my　mind　to　the　inevitable　guard…room。　The　next　morning　the　first　suggestion　of　parting　came　from　her。

〃　'Hark　ye；　Joseito；'　she　said。　'Have　I　paid　you？　By　our　law；　I　owed　you　nothing；　because　you're　a　/payllo/。　But　you're　a　good…looking　fellow；　and　I　took　a　fancy　to　you。　Now　we're　quits。　Good…day！'

〃I　asked　her　when　I　should　see　her　again。

〃　'When　you're　less　of　a　simpleton；'　she　retorted；　with　a　laugh。　Then；　in　a　more