carmen-第8节

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ead　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　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　cau