carmen-第8章

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〃To　shorten　the　story；　sir；　Carmen　procured　me　civilian　clothes；　disguised　in　which　I　got　out　of　Seville　without　being　recognised。　I　went　to　Jerez；　with　a　letter　from　Pastia　to　a　dealer　in　anisette　whose　house　was　the　smugglers'　meeting…place。　I　was　introduced　to　them；　and　their　leader；　surnamed　/El　Dancaire/；　enrolled　me　in　his　gang。　We　started　for　Gaucin；　where　I　found　Carmen；　who　had　told　me　she　would　meet　me　there。　In　all　these　expeditions　she　acted　as　spy　for　our　gang；　and　she　was　the　best　that　ever　was　seen。　She　had　now　just　returned　from　Gibraltar；　and　had　already　arranged　with　the　captain　of　a　ship　for　a　cargo　of　English　goods　which　we　were　to　receive　on　the　coast。　We　went　to　meet　it　near　Estepona。　We　hid　part　in　the　mountains；　and　laden　with　the　rest；　we　proceeded　to　Ronda。　Carmen　had　gone　there　before　us。　It　was　she　again　who　warned　us　when　we　had　better　enter　the　town。　This　first　journey；　and　several　subsequent　ones；　turned　out　well。　I　found　the　smuggler's　life　pleasanter　than　a　soldier's：　I　could　give　presents　to　Carmen；　I　had　money；　and　I　had　a　mistress。　I　felt　little　or　no　remorse；　for；　as　the　gipsies　say；　'The　happy　man　never　longs　to　scratch　his　itch。'　We　were　made　welcome　everywhere；　my　comrades　treated　me　well；　and　even　showed　me　a　certain　respect。　The　reason　of　this　was　that　I　had　killed　my　man；　and　that　some　of　them　had　no　exploit　of　that　description　on　their　conscience。　But　what　I　valued　most　in　my　new　life　was　that　I　often　saw　Carmen。　She　showed　me　more　affection　than　ever；　nevertheless；　she　would　never　admit；　before　my　comrades；　that　she　was　my　mistress；　and　she　had　even　made　me　swear　all　sorts　of　oaths　that　I　would　not　say　anything　about　her　to　them。　I　was　so　weak　in　that　creature's　hands；　that　I　obeyed　all　her　whims。　And　besides；　this　was　the　first　time　she　had　revealed　herself　as　possessing　any　of　the　reserve　of　a　well…conducted　woman；　and　I　was　simple　enough　to　believe　she　had　really　cast　off　her　former　habits。

〃Our　gang；　which　consisted　of　eight　or　ten　men；　was　hardly　ever　together　except　at　decisive　moments；　and　we　were　usually　scattered　by　twos　and　threes　about　the　towns　and　villages。　Each　one　of　us　pretended　to　have　some　trade。　One　was　a　tinker；　another　was　a　groom；　I　was　supposed　to　peddle　haberdashery；　but　I　hardly　ever　showed　myself　in　large　places；　on　account　of　my　unlucky　business　at　Seville。　One　day；　or　rather　one　night；　we　were　to　meet　below　Veger。　/El　Dancaire/　and　I　got　there　before　the　others。

〃　'We　shall　soon　have　a　new　comrade；'　said　he。　'Carmen　has　just　managed　one　of　her　best　tricks。　She　has　contrived　the　escape　of　her　/rom/；　who　was　in　the　/presidio/　at　Tarifa。'

〃I　was　already　beginning　to　understand　the　gipsy　language；　which　nearly　all　my　comrades　spoke；　and　this　word　/rom/　startled　me。

〃What！　her　husband？　Is　she　married；　then？'　said　I　to　the　captain。

〃　'Yes！'　he　replied；　'married　to　Garcia　/el　Tuerto/*as　cunning　a　gipsy　as　she　is　herself。　The　poor　fellow　has　been　at　the　galleys。　Carmen　has　wheedled　the　surgeon　of　the　/presidio/　to　such　good　purpose　that　she　has　managed　to　get　her　/rom/　out　of　prison。　Faith！　that　girl's　worth　her　weight　in　gold。　For　two　years　she　has　been　trying　to　contrive　his　escape；　but　she　could　do　nothing　until　the　authorities　took　it　into　their　heads　to　change　the　surgeon。　She　soon　managed　to　come　to　an　understanding　with　this　new　one。'

*　　　One…eyed　man。

〃You　may　imagine　how　pleasant　this　news　was　for　me。　I　soon　saw　Garcia　/el　Tuerto/。　He　was　the　very　ugliest　brute　that　was　ever　nursed　in　gipsydom。　His　skin　was　black；　his　soul　was　blacker；　and　he　was　altogether　the　most　thorough…paced　ruffian　I　ever　came　across　in　my　life。　Carmen　arrived　with　him；　and　when　she　called　him　her　/rom/　in　my　presence；　you　should　have　seen　the　eyes　she　made　at　me；　and　the　faces　she　pulled　whenever　Garcia　turned　his　head　away。

〃I　was　disgusted；　and　never　spoke　a　word　to　her　all　night。　The　next　morning　we　had　made　up　our　packs；　and　had　already　started；　when　we　became　aware　that　we　had　a　dozen　horsemen　on　our　heels。　The　braggart　Andalusians；　who　had　been　boasting　they　would　murder　every　one　who　came　near　them；　cut　a　pitiful　figure　at　once。　There　was　a　general　rout。　/El　Dancaire/；　Garcia；　a　good…looking　fellow　from　Ecija；　who　was　called　/El　Remendado/；　and　Carmen　herself；　kept　their　wits　about　them。　The　rest　forsook　the　mules　and　took　to　the　gorges；　where　the　horses　could　not　follow　them。　There　was　no　hope　of　saving　the　mules；　so　we　hastily　unstrapped　the　best　part　of　our　booty；　and　taking　it　on　our　shoulders；　we　tried　to　escape　through　the　rocks　down　the　steepest　of　the　slopes。　We　threw　our　packs　down　in　front　of　us　and　followed　them　as　best　we　could；　slipping　along　on　our　heels。　Meanwhile　the　enemy　fired　at　us。　It　was　the　first　time　I　had　ever　heard　bullets　whistling　around　me　and　I　didn't　mind　it　very　much。　When　there's　a　woman　looking　on；　there's　no　particular　merit　in　snapping　one's　fingers　at　death。　We　all　escaped　except　the　poor　/Remendado/；　who　received　a　bullet　wound　in　the　loins。　I　threw　away　my　pack　and　tried　to　lift　him　up。

〃　'Idiot！'　shouted　Garcia；　'what　do　we　want　with　offal！　Finish　him　off；　and　don't　lose　the　cotton　stockings！'

〃　'Drop　him！'　cried　Carmen。

〃I　was　so　exhausted　that　I　was　obliged　to　lay　him　down　for　a　moment　under　a　rock。　Garcia　came　up；　and　fired　his　blunderbuss　full　into　his　face。　'He'd　be　a　clever　fellow　who　recognised　him　now！'　said　he；　as　he　looked　at　the　face；　cut　to　pieces　by　a　dozen　slugs。

〃There；　sir；　that's　the　delightful　sort　of　life　I've　led！　That　night　we　found　ourselves　in　a　thicket；　worn　out　with　fatigue；　with　nothing　to　eat；　and　ruined　by　the　loss　of　our　mules。　What　do　you　think　that　devil　Garcia　did？　He　pulled　a　pack　of　cards　out　of　his　pocket　and　began　playing　games　with　/El　Dancaire/　by　the　light　of　a　fire　they　kindled。　Meanwhile　I　was　lying　down；　staring　at　the　stars；　thinking　of　/El　Remendado/；　and　telling　myself　I　would　just　as　lief　be　in　his　place。　Carmen　was　squatting　down　near　me；　and　every　now　and　then　she　would　rattle　her　castanets　and　hum　a　tune。　Then；　drawing　close　to　me；　as　if　she　would　have　whispered　in　my　ear；　she　kissed　me　two　or　three　times　over　almost　against　my　will。

〃　'You　are　a　devil；'　said　I　to　her。

〃　'Yes；'　she　replied。

〃After　a　few　hours'　rest；　she　departed　to　Gaucin；　and　the　next　morning　a　little　goatherd　brought　us　some　food。　We　stayed　there　all　that　day；　and　in　the　evening　we　moved　close　to　Gaucin。　We　were　expecting　news　from　Carmen；　but　none　came。　After　daylight　broke　we　saw　a　muleteer　attending　a　well…dressed　woman　with　a　parasol；　and　a　little　girl　who　seemed　to　be　her　servant。　Said　Garcia；　'There　go　two　mules　and　two　women　whom　St。　Nicholas　has　sent　us。　I　would　rather　have　had　four　mules；　but　no　matter。　I'll　do　the　best　I　can　with　these。'

〃He　took　his　blunderbuss；　and　went　down　the　pathway；　hiding　himself　among　the　brushwood。

〃We　followed　him；　/El　Dancaire/　and　I　keeping　a　little　way　behind。　As　soon　as　the　woman　saw　us；　instead　of　being　frightenedand　our　dress　would　have　been　enough　to　frighten　any　oneshe　burst　into　a　fit　of　loud　laughter。　'Ah！　the　/lillipendi/！　They　take　me　for　an　/erani/！'*

*　　　〃The　idiots；　they　take　me　for　a　smart　lady！〃

〃It　was　Carmen；　but　so　well　disguised　that　if　she　had　spoken　any　other　language　I　should　never　have　recognised　her。　She　sprang　off　her　mule；　and　talked　some　time　in　an　undertone　with　/El　Dancaire/　and　Garcia。　Then　she　said　to　me：

〃　'Canary…bird；　we　shall　meet　again　before　you're　hanged。　I'm　off　to　Gibraltar　on　gipsy　businessyou'll　soon　have　news　of　me。'

〃We　parted；　after　she　had　told　us　of　a　place　where　we　should　find　shelter　for　some　days。　That　girl　was　the　providence　of　our　gang。　We　soon　received　some　money　sent　by　her；　and　a　piece　of　news　which　was　still　more　useful　to　usto　the　effect　that　on　a　certain　day　two　English　lords　would　travel　from　Gibraltar　to　Granada　by　a　road　she　mentioned。　This　was　a　word　to　the　wise。　They　had　plenty　of　good　guineas。　Garcia　would　have　killed　them；　but　/El　Dancaire/　and　I　objected。　All　we　took　from　them；　besides　their　shirts；　which　we　greatly　needed；　was　their　money　and　their　watches。

〃Sir；　a　man　may　turn　rogue　in　sheer　thoughtlessness。　You　lose　your　head　over　a　pretty　girl；　you　fight　another　man　about　her；　there　is　a　catastrophe；　you　have　to　take　to　the　mountains；　and　you　turn　from　a　smuggler　into　a　robber　before　you　have　time　to　think　about　it。　After　this　matter　of　the　English　lords；　we　concluded　that　the　neighbourhood　of　Gibraltar　would　not　be　healthy　for　us；　and　we　plunged　into　the　/Sierra　de　Ronda/。　You　once　mentioned　Jose…Maria　to　me。　Well；　it　was　there　I　made　acquaintance　with　him。　He　always　took　his　mistress　with　him　on　his　expeditions。　She　was　a　pretty　girl；　quiet；　modest；　well…　mannered；　you　never　heard　a　vulgar　word　from　her；　and　she　was　quite　devoted　to　him。　He；　on　his　side；　led　her　a　very　unhappy　life。　He　was　always　running　after　other　women；　he　ill…treated　her；　and　then　sometimes　he　would　take　it　into　his　head　to　be　jealous。　One　day　he　slashed　her　with　a　knife。　Well；　she　only　doted　on　him　the　more！　That's　the　way　with　women；　and　especially　with　Andalusians。　This　girl　was　proud　of　the　scar　on　her　arm；　and　would　display　it　as　though　it　were　the　most　beautiful　thing　in　the　world。　And　then　Jose…Maria　was　the　worst　of　comrades　in　the　bargain。　In　one　expedition　we　made　with　him；　he　managed　so　that　he　kept　all　the　profits；　and　we　had　all　the　trouble　and　the　blows。　But　I　must　go　back　to　my　story。　We　had　no　sign　at　all　from　Carmen。　/El　Dancaire/　said：　'One　of　us　will　have　to　go　to　Gibraltar　to　get　news　of　her。　She　must　have　planned　some　business。　I'd　go　at　once；　only　I'm　too　well　known　at　Gibraltar。'　/El　Tuerto/　said：

〃　'I'm　well　known　there　too。　I've　played　so　many　tricks　on　the　crayfish*and　as　I've　only　one　eye；　it　is　not　overeasy　for　me　to　disguise　myself。'

*　　　Name　applied　by　the　Spanish　populace　to　the　British　soldiers；　on　　　　　account　of　the　colour　of　their　uniform。

〃　'Then　I　suppose　I　must　go；'　said　I；　delighted　at　the　very　idea　of　seeing　Carmen　again。　'Well；　how　am　I　to　set　about　it？'

〃The　others　answered：

〃　'You　must　either　go　by　sea；　or　you　must　get　through　by　San　Rocco；　whichever　you　like　the　best；　once　you　are　in　Gibraltar；　inquire　in　the　port　where　a　chocolate…seller　called　/La　Rollona/　lives。　When　you've　found　her；　she'll　tell　you　everything　that's　happening。'

〃It　was　settled　that　we　were　all　to　start　for　the　Sierra；　that　I　was　to　leave　my　two　companions　there；　and　take　my　way　to　Gibraltar；　in　the　character　of　a　fruit…seller。　At　Ronda　one　of　our　men　procured　me　a　passport；　at　Gaucin　I　was　provided　with　a　donkey。　I　loaded　it　with　oranges　and　melons；　and　started　forth。　When　I　reached　Gibraltar　I　found　that　many　people　knew　/La　Rollona/；　but　that　she　was　either　dead　or　had　gone　/ad　finibus　terroe/；*　and；　to　my　mind；　her　disappearance　explained　the　failure　of　our　correspondence　with　Carmen。　I　stabled　my　donkey；　and　began　to　move　about　the　town；　carrying　my　oranges　as　though　to　sell　them；　but　in　reality　looking　to　see　whether　I　could　not　come　across　any　face　I　knew。　The　place　is　full　of　ragamuffins　from　every　country　in　the　world；　and　it　really　is　like　the　Tower　of　Babel；　for　you　can't　go　ten　paces　along　a　street　without　hearing　as　many　languages。　I　did　see　some