“‘He is a man,’ she said, ’with whom business can be done.  He has won twelve hundred pounds at the bullfights.  One of two things:  we must either have the money, or, as he is a good horseman, we can enroll him in our band.’

“‘I wish,’ I replied, ’neither his money nor his person, and I forbid you to speak to him.’

“‘Take care,’ she said; ’when anyone dares me to do a thing it is soon done.’

“Luckily the picador left for Malaga, and I set about my smuggling.  I had a great deal to do in this expedition, and it was about that time I first met you.  Carmen robbed you of your watch at our last interview, and she wanted your money as well.  We had a violent dispute about that, and I struck her.  She turned pale and wept.  It was the first time I saw her weep, and it had a terrible effect on me.  I begged her pardon, but it was not till three days later that she would kiss me.

“‘There is a fete at Cordova,’ she said, when we were friends again.  ’I am going to see it, then I shall find out the people who carry money with them and tell you.’

“I let her go, but when a peasant told me there was a bull-fight at Cordova, I set off like a madman to the spot.  Lucas was pointed out to me, and on the bench close to the barrier I recognised Carmen.  It was enough for me to see her to be certain how things stood.  Lucas, at the first bull, did the gallant, as I had foreseen.  He tore the bunch of ribbons from the bull and carried it to Carmen, who put it in her hair on the spot.  The bull took upon itself the task of avenging me.  Lucas was thrown down with his horse on his chest, and the bull on the top of both.  I looked at Carmen, she had already left her seat, but I was so wedged in I was obliged to wait for the end of the fights.

“I got home first, however, and Carmen only arrived at two o’clock in the morning.

“‘Come with me,’ I said.

“‘Very well, let us go,’ she answered.

“I went and fetched my horse; I put her behind me, and we travelled all the rest of the night without speaking.  At daybreak we were in a solitary gorge.

“‘Listen,’ I said to Carmen, ’I forget everything.  Only swear to me one thing, that you will follow me to America, and live there quietly with me.’

“‘No,’ she said, in a sulky tone, ’I do not want to go to America.  I am quite comfortable here.’

“I implored her to let us change our way of life and Carmen answered, ’I will follow you to death, but I will not live with you any longer.  I always thought you meant to kill me, and now I see that is what you are going to do.  It is destiny, but you will not make me yield.’

“‘Listen to me!’ I said, ’for the last time.  You know that it is for you I have become a robber and a murderer.  Carmen! my Carmen, there is still time for us to save ourselves,’ I promised anything and everything if she would love me again.

“‘Jose,’ she replied, ’you ask me for the impossible.  I do not love you any more.  All is over between us.  You have the right to kill me.  But Carmen must always be free.  To love you is impossible, and I do not wish to live with you.’