carmen-第14章

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rted　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　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　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　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　steadily。

〃　'You　mean　to　kill　me；　I　see　that　well；'　said　she。　'It　is　fate。　But　you'll　never　make　me　give　in。'

〃I　said　to　her：　'Be　rational；　I　implore　you；　listen　to　me。　All　the　past　is　forgotten。　Yet　you　know　it　is　you　who　have　been　my　ruinit　is　because　of　you　that　I　am　a　robber　and　a　murderer。　Carmen；　my　Carmen；　let　me　save　you；　and　save　myself　with　you。'

〃　'Jose；'　she　answered；　'what　you　ask　is　impossible。　I　don't　love　you　any　more。　You　love　me　still；　and　that　is　why　you　want　to　kill　me。　If　I　liked；　I　might　tell　you　some　other　lie；　but　I　don't　choose　to　give　myself　the　trouble。　Everything　is　over　between　us　two。　You　are　my　/rom/；　and　you　have　the　right　to　kill　your　/romi/；　but　Carmen　will　always　be　free。　A　/calli/　she　was　born；　and　a　/calli/　she'll　die。'

〃　'Then；　you　love　Lucas？'　I　asked。

〃　'Yes；　I　have　loved　himas　I　loved　youfor　an　instantless　than　I　loved　you；　perhaps。　But　now　I　don't　love　anything；　and　I　hate　myself　for　ever　having　loved　you。'

〃I　cast　myself　at　her　feet；　I　seized　her　hands；　I　watered　them　with　my　tears；　I　reminded　her　of　all　the　happy　moments　we　had　spent　together；　I　offered　to　continue　my　brigand's　life；　if　that　would　please　her。　Everything；　sir；　everythingI　offered　her　everything　if　she　would　only　love　me　again。

〃She　said：

〃　'Love　you　again？　That's　not　possible！　Live　with　you？　I　will　not　do　it！'

〃I　was　wild　with　fury。　I　drew　my　knife；　I　would　have　had　her　look　frightened；　and　sue　for　mercybut　that　woman　was　a　demon。

〃I　cried；　'For　the　last　time　I　ask　you。　Will　you　stay　with　me？'

〃　'No！　no！　no！'　she　said；　and　she　stamped　her　foot。

〃Then　she　pulled　a　ring　I　had　given　her　off　her　finger；　and　cast　it　into　the　brushwood。

〃I　struck　her　twice　overI　had　take