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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
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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
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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
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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