carmen-第7章

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〃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　serious　tone；　'Do　you　know；　my　son；　I　really　believe　I　love　you　a　little；　but　that　can't　last！　The　dog　and　the　wolf　can't　agree　for　long。　Perhaps　if　you　turned　gipsy；　I　might　care　to　be　your　/romi/。　But　that's　all　nonsense；　such　things　aren't　possible。　Pshaw！　my　boy。　Believe　me；　you're　well　out　of　it。　You've　come　across　the　devilhe　isn't　always　blackand　you've　not　had　your　neck　wrung。　I　wear　a　woollen　suit；　but　I'm　no　sheep。*　Go　and　burn　a　candle　to　your　/majari/；**　she　deserves　it　well。　Come；　good…by　once　more。　Don't　think　any　more　about　/La　Carmencita/；　or　she'll　end　by　making　you　marry　a　widow　with　wooden　legs。'***

*　　　/Me　dicas　vriarda　de　jorpoy；　bus　ne　sino　braco/。A　gipsy　proverb。

**　　The　Saint；　the　Holy　Virgin。

***　The　gallows；　which　is　the　widow　of　the　last　man　hanged　upon　it。

〃As　she　spoke；　she　drew　back　the　bar　that　closed　the　door；　and　once　we　were　out　in　the　street　she　wrapped　her　mantilla　about　her；　and　turned　on　her　heel。

〃She　spoke　the　truth。　I　should　have　done　far　better　never　to　think　of　her　again。　But　after　that　day　in　the　/Calle　del　Candilejo/　I　couldn't　think　of　anything　else。　All　day　long　I　used　to　walk　about；　hoping　I　might　meet　her。　I　sought　news　of　her　from　the　old　hag；　and　from　the　fried…fish　seller。　They　both　told　me　she　had　gone　away　to　/Laloro/；　which　is　their　name　for　Portugal。　They　probably　said　it　by　Carmen's　orders；　but　I　soon　found　out　they　were　lying。　Some　weeks　after　my　day　in　the　/Calle　del　Candilejo/　I　was　on　duty　at　one　of　the　town　gates。　A　little　way　from　the　gate　there　was　a　breach　in　the　wall。　The　masons　were　working　at　it　in　the　daytime；　and　at　night　a　sentinel　was　posted　on　it；　to　prevent　smugglers　from　getting　in。　All　through　one　day　I　saw　Lillas　Pastia　going　backward　and　forward　near　the　guard…room；　and　talking　to　some　of　my　comrades。　They　all　knew　him　well；　and　his　fried…　fish　and　fritters　even　better。　He　came　up　to　me；　and　asked　if　I　had　any　news　of　Carmen。

〃　'No；'　said　I。

〃　'Well；'　said　he；　'you'll　soon　hear　of　her；　old　fellow。'

〃He　was　not　mistaken。　That　night　I　was　posted　to　guard　the　breach　in　the　wall。　As　soon　as　the　sergeant　had　disappeared　I　saw　a　woman　coming　toward　me。　My　heart　told　me　it　was　Carmen。　Still　I　shouted：

〃　'Keep　off！　Nobody　can　pass　here！'

〃　'Now；　don't　be　spiteful；'　she　said；　making　herself　known　to　me。

〃　'What！　you　here；　Carmen？'

〃　'Yes；　/mi　payllo/。　Let　us　say　few　words；　but　wise　ones。　Would　you　like　to　earn　a　douro？　Some　people　will　be　coming　with　bundles。　Let　them　alone。'

〃　'No；'　said　I；　'I　must　not　allow　them　through。　These　are　my　orders。'

〃　'Orders！　orders！　You　didn't　think　about　orders　in　the　/Calle　del　Candilejo/！'

〃　'Ah！'　I　cried；　quite　maddened　by　the　very　thought　of　that　night。　'It　was　well　worth　while　to　forget　my　orders　for　that！　But　I　won't　have　any　smuggler's　money！'

〃　'Well；　if　you　won't　have　money；　shall　we　go　and　dine　together　at　old　Dorotea's？'

〃　'No；'　said　I；　half　choked　by　the　effort　it　cost　me。　'No；　I　can't。'

〃　'Very　good！　If　you　make　so　many　difficulties；　I　know　to　whom　I　can　go。　I'll　ask　your　officer　if　he'll　come　with　me　to　Dorotea's。　He　looks　good…natured；　and　he'll　post　a　sentry　who'll　only　see　what　he　had　better　see。　Good…bye；　canary…bird！　I　shall　have　a　good　laugh　the　day　the　order　comes　out　to　hang　you！'

〃I　was　weak　enough　to　call　her　back；　and　I　promised　to　let　the　whole　of　gipsydom　pass　in；　if　that　were　necessary；　so　that　I　secured　the　only　reward　I　longed　for。　She　instantly　swore　she　would　keep　her　word　faithfully　the　very　next　day；　and　ran　off　to　summon　her　friends；　who　were　close　by。　There　were　five　of　them；　of　whom　Pastia　was　one；　all　well　loaded　with　English　goods。　Carmen　kept　watch　for　them。　She　was　to　warn　them　with　her　castanets　the　instant　she　caught　sight　of　the　patrol。　But　there　was　no　necessity　for　that。　The　smugglers　finished　their　job　in　a　moment。

〃The　next　day　I　went　to　the　/Calle　del　Candilejo/。　Carmen　kept　me　waiting；　and　when　she　came；　she　was　in　rather　a　bad　temper。

〃　'I　don't　like　people　who　have　to　be　pressed；'　she　said。　'You　did　me　a　much　greater　service　the　first　time；　without　knowing　you'd　gain　anything　by　it。　Yesterday　you　bargained　with　me。　I　don't　know　why　I've　come；　for　I　don't　care　for　you　any　more。　Here；　be　off　with　you。　Here's　a　douro　for　your　trouble。'

〃I　very　nearly　threw　the　coin　at　her　head；　and　I　had　to　make　a　violent　effort　to　prevent　myself　from　actually　beating　her。　After　we　had　wrangled　for　an　hour　I　went　off　in　a　fury。　For　some　time　I　wandered　about　the　town；　walking　hither　and　thither　like　a　madman。　At　last　I　went　into　a　church；　and　getting　into　the　darkest　corner　I　could　find；　I　cried　hot　tears。　All　at　once　I　heard　a　voice。

〃　'A　dragoon　in　tears。　I'll　make　a　philter　of　them！'

〃I　looked　up。　There　was　Carmen　in　front　of　me。

〃　'Well；　/mi　payllo/；　are　you　still　angry　with　me？'　she　said。　'I　must　care　for　you　in　spite　of　myself；　for　since　you　left　me　I　don't　know　what　has　been　the　matter　with　me。　Look　you；　it　is　I　who　ask　you　to　come　to　the　/Calle　del　Candilejo/；　now！'

〃So　we　made　it　up：　but　Carmen's　temper　was　like　the　weather　in　our　country。　The　storm　is　never　so　close；　in　our　mountains；　as　when　the　sun　is　at　its　brightest。　She　had　promised　to　meet　me　again　at　Dorotea's；　but　she　didn't　come。

〃And　Dorotea　began　telling　me　again　that　she　had　gone　off　to　Portugal　about　some　gipsy　business。

〃As　experience　had　already　taught　me　how　much　of　that　I　was　to　believe；　I　went　about　looking　for　Carmen　wherever　I　thought　she　might　be；　and　twenty　times　in　every　day　I　walked　through　the　/Calle　del　Candilejo/。　One　evening　I　was　with　Dorotea；　whom　I　had　almost　tamed　by　giving　her　a　glass　of　anisette　now　and　then；　when　Carmen　walked　in；　followed　by　a　young　man；　a　lieutenant　in　our　regiment。

〃　'Get　away　at　once；'　she　said　to　me　in　Basque。　I　stood　there；　dumfounded；　my　heart　full　of　rage。

〃　'What　are　you　doing　here？'　said　the　lieutenant　to　me。　'Take　yourself　offget　out　of　this。'

〃I　couldn't　move　a　step。　I　felt　paralyzed。　The　officer　grew　angry；　and　seeing　I　did　not　go　out；　and　had　not　even　taken　off　my　forage　cap；　he　caught　me　by　the　collar　and　shook　me　roughly。　I　don't　know　what　I　said　to　him。　He　drew　his　sword；　and　I　unsheathed　mine。　The　old　woman　caught　hold　of　my　arm；　and　the　lieutenant　gave　me　a　wound　on　the　forehead；　of　which　I　still　bear　the　scar。　I　made　a　step　backward；　and　with　one　jerk　of　my　elbow　I　threw　old　Dorotea　down。　Then；　as　the　lieutenant　still　pressed　me；　I　turned　the　point　of　my　sword　against　his　body　and　he　ran　upon　it。　Then　Carmen　put　out　the　lamp　and　told　Dorotea；　in　her　own　language；　to　take　to　flight。　I　fled　into　the　street　myself；　and　began　running　along；　I　knew　not　whither。　It　seemed　to　me　that　some　one　was　following　me。　When　I　came　to　myself　I　discovered　that　Carmen　had　never　left　me。

〃　'Great　stupid　of　a　canary…bird！'　she　said；　'you　never　make　anything　but　blunders。　And；　indeed；　you　know　I　told　you　I　should　bring　you　bad　luck。　But　come；　there's　a　cure　for　everything　when　you　have　a　Fleming　from　Rome*　for　your　love。　Begin　by　rolling　this　handkerchief　round　your　head；　and　throw　me　over　that　belt　of　yours。　Wait　for　me　in　this　alleyI'll　be　back　in　two　minutes。

*　　　/Flamenco　de　Roma/；　a　slang　term　for　the　gipsies。　Roma　does　not　　　　　stand　for　the　Eternal　City；　but　for　the　nation　of　the　/romi/；　or　　　　　the　married　folka　name　applied　by　the　gipsies　to　themselves。　The　　　　　first　gipsies　seen　in　Spain　probably　came　from　the　Low　Countries；　　　　　hence　their　name　of　/Flemings/。

〃She　disappeared；　and　soon　came　back　bringing　me　a　striped　cloak　which　she　had　gone　to　fetch；　I　knew　not　whence。　She　made　me　take　off　my　uniform；　and　put　on　the　cloak　over　my　shirt。　Thus　dressed；　and　with　the　wound　on　my　head　bound　round　with　the　handkerchief；　I　was　tolerably　like　a　Valencian　peasant；　many　of　whom　come　to　Seville　to　sell　a　drink　they　make　out　of　'/chufas/。'*　Then　she　took　me　to　a　house　very　much　like　Dorotea's；　at　the　bottom　of　a　little　lane。　Here　she　and　another　gipsy　woman　washed　and　dressed　my　wounds；　better　than　any　army　surgeon　could　have　done；　gave　me　something；　I　know　not　what；　to　drink；　and　finally　made　me　lie　down　on　a　mattress；　on　which　I　went　to　sleep。

*　　　A　bulbous　root；　out　of　which　rather　a　pleasant　beverage　is　　　　　manufactured。

〃Probably　the　woman　had　mixed　one　of　the　soporific　drugs　of　which　they　know　the　secret　in　my　drink；　for　I　did　not　wake　up　till　very　late　the　next　day。　I　was　rather　feverish；　and　had　a　violent　headache。　It　was　some　time　before　the　memory　of　the　terrible　scene　in　which　I　had　taken　part　on　the　previous　night　came　back　to　me。　After　having　dressed　my　wound；　Carmen　and　her　friend；　squatting　on　their　heels　beside　my　mattress；　exchanged　a　few　words　of　'/chipe　calli/；'　which　appeared　to　me　to　be　something　in　the　nature　of　a　medical　consultation。　Then　they　both　of　them　assured　me　that　I　should　soon　be　cured；　but　that　I　must　get　out　of　Seville　at　the　earliest　possible　moment；　for　that；　if　I　was　caught　there；　I　should　most　undoubtedly　be　shot。

〃　'My　boy；'　said　Carmen　to　me；　'you'll　have　to　do　something。　Now　that　the　king　won't　give　you　either　rice　or　haddock*　you'll　have　to　think　of　earning　your　livelihood。　You're　too　stupid　for　stealing　/a　pastesas/。**　But　you　are　brave　and　active。　If　you　have　the　pluck；　take　yourself　off　to　the　coast　and　turn　smuggler。　Haven't　I　promised　to　get　you　hanged？　That's　better　than　being　shot；　and　besides；　if　you　set　about　it　properly；　you'll　live　like　a　prince　as　long　as　the　/minons/***　and　the　coast…guard　don't　lay　their　hands　on　your　collar。'

*　　　The　ordinary　food　of　a　Spanish　soldier。

**　　/Ustilar　a　pastesas/；　to　steal　cleverly；　to　purloin　without　　　　　violence。

***　A　sort　of　volunteer　corps。

〃In　this　attractive　guise　did　this　fiend　of　a　girl　describe　the　new　career　she　was　suggesting　to　me；the　only　one；　indeed；　remaining；　now　I　had　incurred　the　penalty　of　death。　Shall　I　confess　it；　sir？　She　persuaded　me　without　much　difficulty。　This　wild　and　dangerous　life；　it　seemed　to　me；　would　bind　her　and　me　more　closely　together。　In　future；　I　thought；　I　should　be　able　to　make　sure　of　her　love。

〃I　had　often　heard　talk　of　certain　smugglers　who　travelled　about　Andalusia；　each　riding　a　good　horse；　with　his　mistress　behind　him　and　his　blunderbuss　in　his　fist。　Already　I　saw　myself　trotting　up　and　down　the　world；　with　a　pretty　gipsy　behind　me。　When　I　mentioned　that　notion　to　her；　she　laughed　till　she　had　to　hold　her　sides；　and　vowed　there　was　nothing　in　the　world　so　delightful　as　a　night　spent　camping　in　the　open　air；　when　each　/rom/　retired　with　his　/romi/　beneath　their　little　tent；　made　of　three　hoops　with　a　blanket　thrown　across　them。

〃　'If　I　take　to　the　mountains；'　said　I　to　her；　'I　shall　be　sure　of　you。　There'll　be　no　lieutenant　there　to　go　shares　with　me。'

〃　'Ha！　ha！　you're　jealous！'　she　retorted；　'so　much　the　worse　for　you。　How　can　you　be　such　a　fool　as　that？　Don't　you　see　I　must　love　you；　because　I　have　never　asked　you　for　money？'

〃When　she　said　that　sort　to　thing　I　could　have　strangled　her。

〃To　shorten　the　story；　sir；　Carmen　procured　me　civilian　clothes；　disguised　in　which　I　got　out　of　Seville　without　being　recognise