carmen(卡门)-第16章
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hadn't jogged his elbow。
〃To put it shortly； I won Carmen back that day； and my first words
were to tell her she was a widow。
〃When she knew how it had all happened
〃 'You'll always be a /lillipendi/；' she said。 'Garcia ought to have killed
you。 Your Navarrese guard is a pack of nonsense； and he has sent far more
skilful men than you into the darkness。 It was just that his time had come
and yours will come too。'
〃 'Ay； and yours too！if you're not a faithful /romi/ to me。'
〃 'So be it；' said she。 'I've read in the coffee grounds； more than once；
that you and I were to end our lives together。 Pshaw！ what must be； will
be！' and she rattled her castanets； as was her way when she wanted to drive
away some worrying thought。
〃One runs on when one is talking about one's self。 I dare say all these
details bore you； but I shall soon be at the end of my story。 Our new life
lasted for some considerable time。 /El Dancaire/ and I gathered a few
comrades about us； who were more trustworthy than our earlier ones； and
we turned our attention to smuggling。 Occasionally； indeed； I must confess
we stopped travellers on the highways； but never unless we were at the last
extremity； and could not avoid doing so； and besides； we never ill…treated
the travellers； and confined ourselves to taking their money from them。
〃For some months I was very well satisfied with Carmen。 She still
served us in our smuggling operations； by giving us notice of any
opportunity of making a good haul。 She remained either at Malaga； at
Cordova； or at Granada； but at a word from me she would leave
everything； and come to meet me at some /venta/ or even in our lonely
camp。 Only onceit was at Malagashe caused me some uneasiness。 I
heard she had fixed her fancy upon a very rich merchant； with whom she
probably proposed to play her Gibraltar trick over again。 In spite of
everything /El Dancaire/ said to stop me； I started off； walked into Malaga
in broad daylight； sought for Carmen and carried her off instantly。 We had
a sharp altercation。
〃 'Do you know；' said she； 'now that you're my /rom/ for good and all； I
don't care for you so much as when you were my /minchorro/！ I won't be
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worried； and above all； I won't be ordered about。 I choose to be free to do
as I like。 Take care you don't drive me too far； if you tire me out； I'll find
some good fellow who'll serve you just as you served /El Tuerto/。'
〃/El Dancaire/ patched it up between us； but we had said things to each
other that rankled in our hearts； and we were not as we had been before。
Shortly after that we had a misfortune： the soldiers caught us； /El
Dancaire/ and two of my comrades were killed； two others were taken。 I
was sorely wounded； and； but for my good horse； I should have fallen into
the soldiers' hands。 Half dead with fatigue； and with a bullet in my body； I
sought shelter in a wood； with my only remaining comrade。 When I got off
my horse I fainted away； and I thought I was going to die there in the
brushwood； like a shot hare。 My comrade carried me to a cave he knew of；
and then he sent to fetch Carmen。
〃She was at Granada； and she hurried to me at once。 For a whole
fortnight she never left me for a single instant。 She never closed her eyes；
she nursed me with a skill and care such as no woman ever showed to the
man she loved most tenderly。 As soon as I could stand on my feet； she
conveyed me with the utmost secrecy to Granada。 These gipsy women
find safe shelter everywhere； and I spent more than six weeks in a house
only two doors from that of the /Corregidor/ who was trying to arrest me。
More than once I saw him pass by； from behind the shutter。 At last I
recovered； but I had thought a great deal； on my bed of pain； and I had
planned to change my way of life。 I suggested to Carmen that we should
leave Spain； and seek an honest livelihood in the New World。 She laughed
in my face。
〃 'We were not born to plant cabbages；' she cried。 'Our fate is to live
/payllos/！ Listen： I've arranged a business with Nathan Ben… Joseph at
Gibraltar。 He has cotton stuffs that he can not get through till you come to
fetch them。 He knows you're alive； and reckons upon you。 What would our
Gibraltar correspondents say if you failed them？'
〃I let myself by persuaded； and took up my vile trade once more。
〃While I was hiding at Granada there were bull…fights there； to which
Carmen went。 When she came back she talked a great deal about a skilful
/picador/ of the name of Lucas。 She knew the name of his horse； and how
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much his embroidered jacket had cost him。 I paid no attention to this； but a
few days later； Juanito； the only one of my comrades who was left； told me
he had seen Carmen with Lucas in a shop in the Zacatin。 Then I began to
feel alarmed。 I asked Carmen how and why she had made the /picador's/
acquaintance。
〃 'He's a man out of whom we may be able to get something；' said she。
'A noisy stream has either water in it or pebbles。 He has earned twelve
hundred reals at the bull…fights。 It must be one of two things： we must
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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chan
