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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。'
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〃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 gipsies； but I hardly
dared confide in them。 I was taking stock of them； and they were taking
stock of me。 We had mutually guessed each other to be rogues； but the
important thing for us was to know whether we belonged to the same gang。
After having spent two days in fruitless wanderings； and having found out
nothing either as to /La Rollona/ or as to Carmen； I was thinking I would
go back to my comrades as soon as I had made a few purchases； when；
toward sunset； as I was walking along a street； I heard a woman's voice
from a window say； 'Orange…seller！'
* To the galleys； or else to all the devils in hell。
〃I looked up； and on a balcony I saw Carmen looking out； beside a
scarlet…coated officer with gold epaulettes； curly hair； and all the
appearance of a rich /milord/。 As for her； she was magnificently dressed； a
shawl hung on her shoulders； she'd a gold comb in her hair； everything she
wore was of silk； and the cunning little wretch； not a bit altered； was
laughing till she held her sides。
〃The Englishman shouted to me in mangled Spanish to come upstairs；
as the lady wanted some oranges； and Carmen said to me in Basque：
〃 'Come up； and don't look astonished at anything！'
〃Indeed； nothing that she did ought ever to have astonished me。 I don't
know whether I was most happy or wretched at seeing her again。 At the
door of the house there was a tall English servant with a powdered head；
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who ushered me into a splendid drawing…room。 Instantly Carmen said to
me in Basque； 'You don't know one word of Spanish； and you don't know
me。' Then turning to the Englishman； she added：
〃 'I told you so。 I saw at once he was a Basque。 Now you'll hear what a
queer language he speaks。 Doesn't he look silly？ He's like a cat that's been
caught in the larder！'
〃 'And you；' said I to her in my own language； 'you look like an
impudent jadeand I've a good mind to scar your face here and now；
before your spark。'
〃 'My spark！' said she。 'Why； you've guessed that all alone！ Are you
jealous of this idiot？ You're even sillier than you were before our evening
in the /Calle del Candilejo/！ Don't you see； fool； that at this moment I'm
doing gipsy business； and doing it in the most brilliant manner？ This
house belongs to methe guineas of that crayfish will belong to me！ I lead
him by the nose； and I'll lead him to a place that he'll never get out of！'
〃 'And if I catch you doing any gipsy business in this style again； I'll
see to it that you never do any again！' said I。 〃 'Ah！ upon my word！ Are
you my /rom/； pray that you give me orders？ If /El Tuerto/ is pleased； what
have you to do with it？ Oughtn't you to be very happy that you are the
only man who can call himself my /minchorro/？'*
* My 〃lover；〃 or rather my 〃fancy。〃
〃 'What does he say？' inquired the Englishman。
〃 'He says he's thirsty； and would like a drink；' answered Carmen； and
she threw herself back upon a sofa； screaming with laughter at her own
translation。
〃When that girl begins to laugh； sir； it was hopeless for anybody to try
and talk sense。 Everybody laughed with her。 The big Englishman began to
laugh too； like the idiot he was； and ordered the servant to bring me
something to drink。
〃While I was drinking she said to me：
〃 'Do you see that ring he has on his finger？ If you like I'll give it to
you。'
〃And I answered：
〃 'I would give one of my fingers to have your /milord/ out on the