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either have his money； or else； as he is a good rider and a plucky fellow；
we can enroll him in our gang。 We have lost such an one an such an one；
you'll have to replace them。 Take this man with you！'
〃 'I want neither his money nor himself；' I replied； 'and I forbid you to
speak to him。'
〃 'Beware！' she retorted。 'If any one defies me to do a thing； it's very
quickly done。'
〃Luckily the /picador/ departed to Malaga； and I set about passing in
the Jew's cotton stuffs。 This expedition gave me a great deal to do； and
Carmen as well。 I forgot Lucas； and perhaps she forgot him too for the
moment； at all events。 It was just about that time； sir； that I met you； first
at Montilla； and then afterward at Cordova。 I won't talk about that last
interview。 You know more about it； perhaps； than I do。 Carmen stole your
watch from you； she wanted to have your money besides； and especially
that ring I see on your finger； and which she declared to be a magic ring；
the possession of which was very important to her。 We had a violent
quarrel； and I struck her。 She turned pale and began to cry。 It was the first
time I had ever seen her cry； and it affected me in the most painful manner。
I begged her to forgive me； but she sulked with me for a whole day； and
when I started back to Montilla she wouldn't kiss me。 My heart was still
very sore； when； three days later； she joined me with a smiling face and as
merry as a lark。 Everything was forgotten； and we were like a pair of
honeymoon lovers。 Just as we were parting she said； 'There's a /fete/ at
Cordova； I shall go and see it； and then I shall know what people will be
coming away with money； and I can warn you。'
〃I let her go。 When I was alone I thought about the /fete/； and about the
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change in Carmen's temper。 'She must have avenged herself already；' said I
to myself； 'since she was the first to make our quarrel up。' A peasant told
me there was to be bull…fighting at Cordova。 Then my blood began to boil；
and I went off like a madman straight to the bull…ring。 I had Lucas pointed
out to me； and on the bench； just beside the barrier； I recognised Carmen。
One glance at her was enough to turn my suspicion into certainty。 When
the first bull appeared Lucas began； as I had expected to play the agreeable；
he snatched the cockade off the bull and presented it to Carmen； who put it
in her hair at once。*
* /La divisa/。 A knot of ribbon； the colour of which indicates the
pasturage from which each bull comes。 This knot of ribbon is
fastened into the bull's hide with a sort of hook； and it is considered
the very height of gallantry to snatch it off the living beast and
present it to a woman。
〃The bull avenged me。 Lucas was knocked down； with his horse on his
chest； and the bull on top of both of them。 I looked for Carmen； she had
disappeared from her place already。 I couldn't get out of mine； and I was
obliged to wait until the bull…fight was over。 Then I went off to that house
you already know； and waited there quietly all that evening and part of the
night。 Toward two o'clock in the morning Carmen came back； and was
rather surprised to see me。
〃 'Come with me；' said I。
〃 'Very well；' said she； 'let's be off。'
〃I went and got my horse； and took her up behind me； and we travelled
all the rest of the night without saying a word to each other。 When daylight
came we stopped at a lonely inn； not far from a hermitage。 There I said to
Carmen：
〃 'ListenI forget everything； I won't mention anything to you。 But
swear one thing to methat you'll come with me to America； and live
there quietly！'
〃 'No；' said she； in a sulky voice； 'I won't go to AmericaI am very
well here。'
〃 'That's because you're near Lucas。 But be very sure that even if he
gets well now； he won't make old bones。 And； indeed； why should I
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quarrel with him？ I'm tired of killing all your lovers； I'll kill you this time。'
〃She looked at me steadily with her wild eyes； and then she said：
〃 'I've always thought you would kill me。 The very first time I saw you
I had just met a priest at the door of my house。 And to…night； as we were
going out of Cordova； didn't you see anything？ A hare ran across the road
between your horse's feet。 It is fate。'
〃 'Carmencita；' I asked； 'don't you love me any more？'
〃She gave me no answer； she was sitting cross…legged on a mat；
making marks on the ground with her finger。
〃 'Let us change our life； Carmen；' said I imploringly。 'Let us go away
and live somewhere we shall never be parted。 You know we have a
hundred and twenty gold ounces buried under an oak not far from here；
and then we have more money with Ben…Joseph the Jew。'
〃She began to smile； and then she said； 'Me first； and then you。 I know
it will happen like that。'
〃 'Think about it；' said I。 'I've come to the end of my patience and my
courage。 Make up your mindor else I must make up mine。'
〃I left her alone and walked toward the hermitage。 I found the hermit
praying。 I waited till his prayer was finished。 I longed to pray myself； but I
couldn't。 When he rose up from his knees I went to him。
〃 'Father；' I said； 'will you pray for some one who is in great danger？'
〃 'I pray for every one who is afflicted；' he replied。
〃 'Can you say a mass for a soul which is perhaps about to go into the
presence of its Maker？'
〃 'Yes；' he answered； looking hard at me。
〃And as there was something strange about me； he tried to make me
talk。
〃 'It seems to me that I have seen you somewhere；' said he。
〃I laid a piastre on his bench。
〃 'When shall you say the mass？' said I。
〃 'In half an hour。 The son of the innkeeper yonder is coming to serve
it。 Tell me； young man； haven't you something on your conscience that is
tormenting you？ Will you listen to a Christian's counsel？'
〃I could hardly restrain my tears。 I told him I would come back； and
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hurried away。 I went and lay down on the grass until I heard the bell。 Then
I went back to the chapel； but I stayed outside it。 When he had said the
mass； I went back to the /venta/。 I was hoping Carmen would have fled。
She could have taken my horse and ridden away。 But I found her there still。
She did not choose that any one should say I had frightened her。 While I
had been away she had unfastened the hem of her gown and taken out the
lead that weighted it； and now she was sitting before a table； looking into a
bowl of water into which she had just thrown the lead she had melted。 She
was so busy with her spells that at first she didn't notice my return。
Sometimes she would take out a bit of lead and turn it round every way
with a melancholy look。 Sometimes she would sing one of those magic
songs； which invoke the help of Maria Padella； Don Pedro's mistress； who
is said to have been the /Bari Crallisa/the great gipsy queen。*
* Maria Padella was accused of having bewitched Don Pedro。
According to one popular tradition she presented Queen Blanche of
Bourbon with a golden girdle which； in the eyes of the bewitched
king； took on the appearance of a living snake。 Hence the
repugnance he always showed toward the unhappy princess。
〃 'Carmen；' I said to her； 'will you come with me？' She rose； threw
away her wooden bowl； and put her mantilla over her head ready to start。
My horse was led up； she mounted behind me； and we rode away。
〃After we had gone a little distance I said to her； 'So； my Carmen； you
are quite ready to follow me； isn't that so？'
〃She answered； 'Yes； I'll follow you； even to deathbut I won't live
with you any more。'
〃We had reached a lonely gorge。 I stopped my horse。
〃 'Is this the place？' she said。
〃And with a spring she reached the ground。 She took off her mantilla
and threw it at her feet； and stood motionless； with one hand on her hip；
looking at me