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begin to play tennis； we forget everything else。 One day； when I had won
the game； a young fellow from Alava picked a quarrel with me。 We took to
our /maquilas/；* and I won again。 But I had to leave the neighbourhood。 I
fell in with some dragoons； and enlisted in the Almanza Cavalry Regiment。
Mountain folks like us soon learn to be soldiers。 Before long I was a
corporal； and I had been told I should soon be made a sergeant； when； to
my misfortune； I was put on guard at the Seville Tobacco Factory。 If you
have been to Seville you have seen the great building； just outside the
ramparts； close to the Guadalquivir； I can fancy I see the entrance； and the
guard room just beside it； even now。 When Spanish soldiers are on duty；
they either play cards or go to sleep。 I； like an honest Navarrese； always
tried to keep myself busy。 I was making a chain to hold my priming…pin；
out of a bit of wire： all at once； my comrades said； 'there's the bell ringing；
the girls are coming back to work。' You must know； sir； that there are quite
four or five hundred women employed in the factory。 They roll the cigars
in a great room into which no man can go without a permit from the
/Veintiquatro/；** because when the weather is hot they make themselves at
home； especially the young ones。 When the work…girls come back after
their dinner； numbers of young men go down to see them pass by； and talk
all sorts of nonsense to them。 Very few of those young ladies will refuse a
silk mantilla； and men who care for that sort of sport have nothing to do
but bend down and pick their fish up。 While the others watched the girls
go by； I stayed on my bench near the door。 I was a young fellow thenmy
heart was still in my own country； and I didn't believe in any pretty girls
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who hadn't blue skirts and long plaits of hair falling on their shoulders。***
And besides； I was rather afraid of the Andalusian women。 I had not got
used to their ways yet； they were always jeering onenever spoke a single
word of sense。 So I was sitting with my nose down upon my chain； when I
heard some bystanders say； 'Here comes the /gitanella/！' Then I lifted up
my eyes； and I saw her！ It was that very Carmen you know； and in whose
rooms I met you a few months ago。
* Iron…shod sticks used by the Basques。
** Magistrate in charge of the municipal police arrangements； and
local government regulations。
*** The costume usually worn by peasant women in Navarre and the
Basque Provinces。
〃She was wearing a very short skirt； below which her white silk
stockingswith more than one hole in themand her dainty red morocco
shoes； fastened with flame…coloured ribbons； were clearly seen。 She had
thrown her mantilla back； to show her shoulders； and a great bunch of
acacia that was thrust into her chemise。 She had another acacia blossom in
the corner of her mouth； and she walked along； swaying her hips； like a
filly from the Cordova stud farm。 In my country anybody who had seen a
woman dressed in that fashion would have crossed himself。 At Seville
every man paid her some bold compliment on her appearance。 She had an
answer for each and all； with her hand on her hip； as bold as the thorough
gipsy she was。 At first I didn't like her looks； and I fell to my work again。
But she； like all women and cats； who won't come if you call them； and do
come if you don't call them； stopped short in front of me； and spoke to me。
〃 '/Compadre/；' said she； in the Andalusian fashion； 'won't you give me
your chain for the keys of my strong box？'
〃 'It's for my priming…pin；' said I。
〃 'Your priming…pin！' she cried； with a laugh。 'Oho！ I suppose the
gentleman makes lace； as he wants pins！'
〃Everybody began to laugh； and I felt myself getting red in the face；
and couldn't hit on anything in answer。
〃 'Come； my love！' she began again； 'make me seven ells of lace for
my mantilla； my pet pin…maker！'
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〃And taking the acacia blossom out of her mouth she flipped it at me
with her thumb so that it hit me just between the eyes。 I tell you； sir； I felt
as if a bullet had struck me。 I didn't know which way to look。 I sat stock…
still； like a wooden board。 When she had gone into the factory； I saw the
acacia blossom； which had fallen on the ground between my feet。 I don't
know what made me do it； but I picked it up； unseen by any of my
comrades； and put it carefully inside my jacket。 That was my first folly。
〃Two or three hours later I was still thinking about her； when a panting；
terrified…looking porter rushed into the guard…room。 He told us a woman
had been stabbed in the great cigar…room； and that the guard must be sent
in at once。 The sergeant told me to take two men； and go and see to it。 I
took my two men and went upstairs。 Imagine； sir； that when I got into the
room； I found； to begin with； some three hundred women； stripped to their
shifts； or very near it； all of them screaming and yelling and gesticulating；
and making such a row that you couldn't have heard God's own thunder。
On one side of the room one of the women was lying on the broad of her
back； streaming with blood； with an X newly cut on her face by two
strokes of a knife。 Opposite the wounded woman； whom the best…natured
of the band were attending； I saw Carmen； held by five or six of her
comrades。 The wounded woman was crying out； 'A confessor； a confessor！
I'm killed！' Carmen said nothing at all。 She clinched her teeth and rolled
her eyes like a chameleon。 'What's this？' I asked。 I had hard work to find
out what had happened； for all the work…girls talked at once。 It appeared
that the injured girl had boasted she had money enough in her pocket to
buy a donkey at the Triana Market。 'Why；' said Carmen； who had a tongue
of her own； 'can't you do with a broom？' Stung by this taunt； it may be
because she felt herself rather unsound in that particular； the other girl
replied that she knew nothing about brooms； seeing she had not the honour
of being either a gipsy or one of the devil's godchildren； but that the
Senorita Carmen would shortly make acquaintance with her donkey； when
the /Corregidor/ took her out riding with two lackeys behind her to keep
the flies off。 'Well；' retorted Carmen； 'I'll make troughs for the flies to