按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
you。'
〃And I answered：
〃 'I would give one of my fingers to have your /milord/ out on the
44
… Page 45…
CARMEN
mountains； and each of us with a /maquila/ in his fist。'
〃 '/Maquila/； what does that mean？' asked the Englishman。
〃 'Maquila；' said Carmen； still laughing； 'means an orange。 Isn't it a
queer word for an orange？ He says he'd like you to eat /maquila/。'
〃 'Does he？' said the Englishman。 'Very well； bring more /maquila/ to…
morrow。'
〃While we were talking a servant came in and said dinner was ready。
Then the Englishman stood up； gave me a piastre； and offered his arm to
Carmen； as if she couldn't have walked alone。 Carmen； who was still
laughing； said to me：
〃 'My boy； I can't ask you to dinner。 But to…morrow； as soon as you
hear the drums beat for parade； come here with your oranges。 You'll find a
better furnished room than the one in the /Calle del Candilejo/； and you'll
see whether I am still your /Carmencita/。 Then afterwards we'll talk about
gipsy business。'
〃I gave her no answereven when I was in the street I could hear the
Englishman shouting； 'Bring more /maquila/ to…morrow；' and Carmen's
peals of laughter。
〃I went out； not knowing what I should do； I hardly slept； and next
morning I was so enraged with the treacherous creature that I made up my
mind to leave Gibraltar without seeing her again。 But the moment the
drums began to roll； my courage failed me。 I took up my net full of
oranges； and hurried off to Carmen's house。 Her window…shutters had been
pulled apart a little； and I saw her great dark eyes watching for me。 The
powdered servant showed me in at once。 Carmen sent him out with a
message； and as soon as we were alone she burst into one of her fits of
crocodile laughter and threw her arms around my neck。 Never had I seen
her look so beautiful。 She was dressed out like a queen； and scented； she
had silken furniture； embroidered curtainsand I togged out like the thief I
was！
〃 '/Minchorro/；' said Carmen； 'I've a good mind to smash up everything
here； set fire to the house； and take myself off to the mountains。' And then
she would fondle me； and then she would laugh； and she danced about and
tore up her fripperies。 Never did monkey gambol nor make such faces； nor
45
… Page 46…
CARMEN
play such wild tricks； as she did that day。 When she had recovered her
gravity
〃 'Hark！' she said； 'this is gipsy business。 I mean him to take me to
Ronda； where I have a sister who is a nun' （here she shrieked with laughter
again）。 'We shall pass by a particular spot which I shall make known to
you。 Then you must fall upon him and strip him to the skin。 Your best plan
would be to do for him； but；' she added； with a certain fiendish smile of
hers； which no one who saw it ever had any desire to imitate； 'do you
know what you had better do？ Let /El Tuerto/ come up in front of you。
You keep a little behind。 The crayfish is brave； and skilful too； and he has
good pistols。 Do you understand？'
〃And she broke off with another fit of laughter that made me shiver。
〃 'No；' said I； 'I hate Garcia； but he's my comrade。 Some day； maybe；
I'll rid you of him； but we'll settle our account after the fashion of my
country。 It's only chance that has made me a gipsy； and in certain things I
shall always be a thorough Navarrese；* as the proverb says。
* /Navarro fino/。
〃 'You're a fool；' she rejoined； 'a simpleton； a regular /payllo/。 You're
just like the dwarf who thinks himself tall because he can spit a long way。*
You don't love me！ Be off with you！'
* /Or esorjle de or marsichisle； sin chisnar lachinguel/。 〃The
promise of a dwarf is that he will spit a long way。〃A gipsy proverb。
〃Whenever she said to me 'Be off with you；〃 I couldn't go away。 I
promised I would start back to my comrades and wait the arrival of the
Englishman。 She； on her side； promised she would be ill until she left
Gibraltar for Ronda。
〃I remained at Gibraltar two days longer。 She had the boldness to
disguise herself and come and see me at the inn。 I departed； I had a plan of
my own。 I went back to our meeting…place with the information as to the
spot and the hour at which the Englishman and Carmen were to pass by。 I
found /El Dancaire/ and Garcia waiting for me。 We spent the night in a
wood； beside a fire made of pine…cones that blazed splendidly。 I suggested
to Garcia that we should play cards； and he agreed。 In the second game I
told him he was cheating； he began to laugh； I threw the cards in his face。
46
… Page 47…
CARMEN
He tried to get at his blunderbuss。 I set my foot on it； and said； 'They say
you can use a knife as well as the best ruffian in Malaga； will you try it
with me？' /El Dancaire/ tried to part us。 I had given Garcia one or two
cuffs； his rage had given him courage； he drew his knife； and I drew mine。
We both of us told /El Dancaire/ he must leave us alone； and let us fight it
out。 He saw there was no means of stopping us； so he stood on one side。
Garcia was already bent double； like a cat ready to spring upon a mouse。
He held his hat in his left hand to parry with； and his knife in front of him…
…that's their Andalusian guard。 I stood up in the Navarrese fashion； with
my left arm raised； my left leg forward； and my knife held straight along
my right thigh。 I felt I was stronger than any giant。 He flew at me like an
arrow。 I turned round on my left foot； so that he found nothing in front of
him。 But I thrust him in the throat； and the knife went in so far that my
hand was under his chin。 I gave the blade such a twist that it broke。 That
was the end。 The blade was carried out of the wound by a gush of blood as
thick as my arm； and he fell full length on his face。
〃 'What have you done？' said /El Dancaire/ to me。
〃 'Hark ye；' said I； 'we couldn't live on together。 I love Carmen and I
mean to be the only one。 And besides； Garcia was a villain。 I remember
what he did to that poor /Remendado/。 There are only two of us left now；
but w