carmen(卡门)-第6节
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he had done nothing but steal！ But he has committed several murders； one
more hideous than the other。〃
* In 1830； the noble class still enjoyed this privilege。 Nowadays；
under the constitutional /regime/； commoners have attained the same
dignity。
〃What's his name？〃
〃In this country he is only known as Jose Navarro； but he has another
Basque name； which neither your nor I will ever be able to pronounce。 By
the way； the man is worth seeing； and you； who like to study the peculiar
features of each country； shouldn't lose this chance of noting how a rascal
bids farewell to this world in Spain。 He is in jail； and Father Martinez will
take you to him。〃
So bent was my Dominican friend on my seeing the preparations for
this 〃neat little hanging job〃 that I was fain to agree。 I went to see the
prisoner； having provided myself with a bundle of cigars； which I hoped
might induce him to forgive my intrusion。
I was ushered into Don Jose's presence just as he was sitting at table。
He greeted me with a rather distant nod； and thanked me civilly for the
present I had brought him。 Having counted the cigars in the bundle I had
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placed in his hand； he took out a certain number and returned me the rest；
remarking that he would not need any more of them。
I inquired whether by laying out a little money； or by applying to my
friends； I might not be able to do something to soften his lot。 He shrugged
his shoulders； to begin with； smiling sadly。 Soon； as by an after…thought；
he asked me to have a mass said for the repose of his soul。
Then he added nervously： 〃Would youwould you have another said
for a person who did you a wrong？〃
〃Assuredly I will； my dear fellow；〃 I answered。 〃But no one in this
country has wronged me so far as I know。〃
He took my hand and squeezed it； looking very grave。 After a
moment's silence； he spoke again。
〃Might I dare to ask another service of you？ When you go back to
your own country perhaps you will pass through Navarre。 At all events
you'll go by Vittoria； which isn't very far off。〃
〃Yes；〃 said I； 〃I shall certainly pass through Vittoria。 But I may very
possibly go round by Pampeluna； and for your sake； I believe I should be
very glad to do it。〃
〃Well； if you do go to Pampeluna； you'll see more than one thing that
will interest you。 It's a fine town。 I'll give you this medal；〃 he showed me a
little silver medal that he wore hung around his neck。 〃You'll wrap it up in
paper〃he paused a moment to master his emotion 〃and you'll take it； or
send it； to an old lady whose address I'll give you。 Tell her I am deadbut
don't tell her how I died。〃
I promised to perform his commission。 I saw him the next day； and
spent part of it in his company。 From his lips I learned the sad incidents
that follow。
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CHAPTER III
〃I was born；〃 he said； 〃at Elizondo； in the valley of Baztan。 My name
is Don Jose Lizzarrabengoa； and you know enough of Spain； sir； to know
at once； by my name； that I come of an old Christian and Basque stock。 I
call myself Don； because I have a right to it； and if I were at Elizondo I
could show you my parchment genealogy。 My family wanted me to go
into the church； and made me study for it； but I did not like work。 I was
too fond of playing tennis； and that was my ruin。 When we Navarrese
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
