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disappeared。 And besides； every gossip in the quarter covered her flight；
poked scorn at us； and pointed us in the wrong direction。 After a good deal
of marching and countermarching； we had to go back to the guard…room
without a receipt from the governor of the jail。
〃To avoid punishment； my men made known that Carmen had spoken
to me in Basque； and to tell the truth； it did not seem very natural that a
blow from such a little creature should have so easily overthrown a strong
fellow like me。 The whole thing looked suspicious； or； at all events； not
over…clear。 When I came off guard I lost my corporal's stripes； and was
condemned to a month's imprisonment。 It was the first time I had been
punished since I had been in the service。 Farewell； now； to the sergeant's
stripes； on which I had reckoned so surely！
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〃The first days in prison were very dreary。 When I enlisted I had
fancied I was sure to become an officer； at all events。 Two of my
compatriots； Longa and Mina； are captains…general； after all。
Chapalangarra was a colonel； and I have played tennis a score of times
with his brother； who was just a needy fellow like myself。 'Now；' I kept
crying to myself； 'all the time you served without being punished has been
lost。 Now you have a bad mark against your name； and to get yourself
back into the officers' good graces you'll have to work ten times as hard as
when you joined as a recruit。' And why have I got myself punished？ For
the sake of a gipsy hussy； who made game of me； and who at this moment
is busy thieving in some corner of the town。 Yet I couldn't help thinking
about her。 Will you believe it； sir； those silk stockings of hers with the
holes in them； of which she had given me such a full view as she took to
her heels； were always before my eyes？ I used to look through the barred
windows of the jail into the street； and among all the women who passed I
never could see one to compare with that minx of a girland then； in spite
of myself； I used to smell the acacia blossom she had thrown at me； and
which； dry as it was； still kept its sweet scent。 If there are such things as
witches； that girl certainly was one。
〃One day the jailer came in； and gave me an Alcala roll。*
* /Alcala de los Panaderos/； a village two leagues from Seville；
where the most delicious rolls are made。 They are said to owe their
quality to the water of the place； and great quantities of them are
brought to Seville every day。
〃 'Look here；' said he； 'this is what your cousin has sent you。'
〃I took the loaf； very much astonished； for I had no cousin in Seville。
It may be a mistake； thought I； as I looked at the roll； but it was so
appetizing and smelt so good； that I made up my mind to eat it； without
troubling my head as to whence it came； or for whom it was really
intended。
〃When I tried to cut it； my knife struck on something hard。 I looked；
and found a little English file； which had been slipped into the dough
before the roll had been baked。 The roll also contained a gold piece of two
piastres。 Then I had no further doubtit was a present from Carmen。 To
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people of her blood； liberty is everything； and they would set a town on
fire to save themselves one day in prison。 The girl was artful； indeed； and
armed with that roll； I might have snapped my fingers at the jailers。 In one
hour； with that little file； I could have sawn through 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 ladies
actresses； 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
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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