"’Maquila，’saidCarmen，stilllaughing，’meansanorange。Isn’titaqueerwordforanorange？Hesayshe’dlikeyoutoeat/maquila/。’
　　"’Doeshe？’saidtheEnglishman。’Verywell，bringmore/maquila/
　　to—morrow。’
　　"Whileweweretalkingaservantcameinandsaiddinnerwasready。
　　ThentheEnglishmanstoodup，gavemeapiastre，andofferedhisarmtoCarmen，asifshecouldn’thavewalkedalone。Carmen，whowasstilllaughing，saidtome：
　　"’Myboy，Ican’taskyoutodinner。Butto—morrow，assoonasyouhearthedrumsbeatforparade，comeherewithyouroranges。You’llfindabetterfurnishedroomthantheoneinthe/CalledelCandilejo/，andyou’llseewhetherIamstillyour/Carmencita/。Thenafterwardswe’lltalkaboutgipsybusiness。’
　　"Igavehernoanswer——evenwhenIwasinthestreetIcouldheartheEnglishmanshouting，’Bringmore/maquila/to—morrow，’andCarmen’spealsoflaughter。
　　"Iwentout，notknowingwhatIshoulddo；Ihardlyslept，andnextmorningIwassoenragedwiththetreacherouscreaturethatImadeupmymindtoleaveGibraltarwithoutseeingheragain。Butthemomentthedrumsbegantoroll，mycouragefailedme。Itookupmynetfulloforanges，andhurriedofftoCarmen’shouse。Herwindow—shuttershadbeenpulledapartalittle，andIsawhergreatdarkeyeswatchingforme。Thepowderedservantshowedmeinatonce。Carmensenthimoutwithamessage，andassoonaswewerealonesheburstintooneofherfitsofcrocodilelaughterandthrewherarmsaroundmyneck。NeverhadIseenherlooksobeautiful。Shewasdressedoutlikeaqueen，andscented；shehadsilkenfurniture，embroideredcurtains——andI
　　toggedoutlikethethiefIwas!
　　"’/Minchorro/，’saidCarmen，’I’veagoodmindtosmashupeverythinghere，setfiretothehouse，andtakemyselfofftothemountains。’
　　Andthenshewouldfondleme，andthenshewouldlaugh，andshedancedaboutandtoreupherfripperies。Neverdidmonkeygambolnormakesuchfaces，norplaysuchwildtricks，asshedidthatday。Whenshehadrecoveredhergravity——
　　"’Hark!’shesaid，’thisisgipsybusiness。ImeanhimtotakemetoRonda，whereIhaveasisterwhoisanun’（heresheshriekedwithlaughteragain）。’WeshallpassbyaparticularspotwhichIshallmakeknowntoyou。Thenyoumustfalluponhimandstriphimtotheskin。Yourbestplanwouldbetodoforhim，but，’sheadded，withacertainfiendishsmileofhers，whichnoonewhosawiteverhadanydesiretoimitate，’doyouknowwhatyouhadbetterdo？Let/ElTuerto/comeupinfrontofyou。Youkeepalittlebehind。Thecrayfishisbrave，andskilfultoo，andhehasgoodpistols。Doyouunderstand？’
　　"Andshebrokeoffwithanotherfitoflaughterthatmademeshiver。
　　"’No，’saidI，’IhateGarcia，buthe’smycomrade。Someday，maybe，I’llridyouofhim，butwe’llsettleouraccountafterthefashionofmycountry。It’sonlychancethathasmademeagipsy，andincertainthingsIshallalwaysbeathoroughNavarrese，*astheproverbsays。
　　*/Navarrofino/。
　　"’You’reafool，’sherejoined，’asimpleton，aregular/payllo/。
　　You’rejustlikethedwarfwhothinkshimselftallbecausehecanspitalongway。*Youdon’tloveme!Beoffwithyou!’
　　*/Oresorjledeormarsichisle，sinchisnarlachinguel/。"Thepromiseofadwarfisthathewillspitalongway。"——Agipsyproverb。
　　"Whenevershesaidtome’Beoffwithyou，"Icouldn’tgoaway。I
　　promisedIwouldstartbacktomycomradesandwaitthearrivaloftheEnglishman。She，onherside，promisedshewouldbeilluntilsheleftGibraltarforRonda。
　　"IremainedatGibraltartwodayslonger。Shehadtheboldnesstodisguiseherselfandcomeandseemeattheinn。Ideparted，Ihadaplanofmyown。Iwentbacktoourmeeting—placewiththeinformationastothespotandthehouratwhichtheEnglishmanandCarmenweretopassby。Ifound/ElDancaire/andGarciawaitingforme。Wespentthenightinawood，besideafiremadeofpine—conesthatblazedsplendidly。IsuggestedtoGarciathatweshouldplaycards，andheagreed。InthesecondgameItoldhimhewascheating；hebegantolaugh；Ithrewthecardsinhisface。Hetriedtogetathisblunderbuss。Isetmyfootonit，andsaid，’TheysayyoucanuseaknifeaswellasthebestruffianinMalaga；willyoutryitwithme？’
　　/ElDancaire/triedtopartus。IhadgivenGarciaoneortwocuffs，hisragehadgivenhimcourage，hedrewhisknife，andIdrewmine。Webothofustold/ElDancaire/hemustleaveusalone，andletusfightitout。Hesawtherewasnomeansofstoppingus，sohestoodononeside。Garciawasalreadybentdouble，likeacatreadytospringuponamouse。Heheldhishatinhislefthandtoparrywith，andhisknifeinfrontofhim——that’stheirAndalusianguard。IstoodupintheNavarresefashion，withmyleftarmraised，myleftlegforward，andmyknifeheldstraightalongmyrightthigh。IfeltIwasstrongerthananygiant。Heflewatmelikeanarrow。Iturnedroundonmyleftfoot，sothathefoundnothinginfrontofhim。ButIthrusthiminthethroat，andtheknifewentinsofarthatmyhandwasunderhischin。Igavethebladesuchatwistthatitbroke。Thatwastheend。
　　Thebladewascarriedoutofthewoundbyagushofbloodasthickasmyarm，andhefellfulllengthonhisface。
　　"’Whathaveyoudone？’said/ElDancaire/tome。
　　"’Harkye，’saidI，’wecouldn’tliveontogether。IloveCarmenandImeantobetheonlyone。Andbesides，Garciawasavillain。I
　　rememberwhathedidtothatpoor/Remendado/。Thereareonlytwoofusleftnow，butwearebothgoodfellows。Come，willyouhavemeforyourfriend，forlifeordeath？’
　　"/ElDancaire/stretchedouthishand。Hewasamanoffifty。
　　"’Deviltaketheselovestories!’hecried。’Ifyou’daskedhimforCarmenhe’dhavesoldhertoyouforapiastre!Thereareonlytwoofusnow——howshallwemanageforto—morrow？’
　　"’I’llmanageitallalone，’Ianswered。’Icansnapmyfingersatthewholeworldnow。’
　　"WeburiedGarcia，andwemovedourcamptwohundredpacesfartheron。
　　ThenextmorningCarmenandherEnglishmancamealongwithtwomuleteersandaservant。Isaidto/ElDancaire/：
　　"’I’lllookaftertheEnglishman，youfrightentheothers——they’renotarmed!’
　　"TheEnglishmanwasapluckyfellow。He’dhavekilledmeifCarmenhadn’tjoggedhiselbow。
　　"Toputitshortly，IwonCarmenbackthatday，andmyfirstwordsweretotellhershewasawidow。
　　"Whensheknewhowithadallhappened——
　　"’You’llalwaysbea/lillipendi/，’shesaid。’Garciaoughttohavekilledyou。YourNavarreseguardisapackofnonsense，andhehassentfarmoreskilfulmenthanyouintothedarkness。Itwasjustthathistimehadcome——andyourswillcometoo。’
　　"’Ay，andyourstoo!——ifyou’renotafaithful/romi/tome。’
　　"’Sobeit，’saidshe。’I’vereadinthecoffeegrounds，morethanonce，thatyouandIweretoendourlivestogether。Pshaw!whatmustbe，willbe!’andsherattledhercastanets，aswasherwaywhenshewantedtodriveawaysomeworryingthought。
　　"Onerunsonwhenoneistalkingaboutone’sself。Idaresayallthesedetailsboreyou，butIshallsoonbeattheendofmystory。
　　Ournewlifelastedforsomeconsiderabletime。/ElDancaire/andI
　　gatheredafewcomradesaboutus，whoweremoretrustworthythanourearlierones，andweturnedourattentiontosmuggling。Occasionally，indeed，Imustconfesswestoppedtravellersonthehighways，butneverunlesswewereatthelastextremity，andcouldnotavoiddoingso；andbesides，weneverill—treatedthetravellers，andconfinedourselvestotakingtheirmoneyfromthem。
　　"ForsomemonthsIwasverywellsatisfiedwithCarmen。Shestillservedusinoursmugglingoperations，bygivingusnoticeofanyopportunityofmakingagoodhaul。SheremainedeitheratMalaga，atCordova，oratGranada，butatawordfrommeshewouldleaveeverything，andcometomeetmeatsome/venta/oreveninourlonelycamp。Onlyonce——itwasatMalaga——shecausedmesomeuneasiness。I
　　heardshehadfixedherfancyuponaveryrichmerchant，withwhomsheprobablyproposedtoplayherGibraltartrickoveragain。Inspiteofeverything/ElDancaire/saidtostopme，Istartedoff，walkedintoMalagainbroaddaylight，soughtforCarmenandcarriedheroffinstantly。Wehadasharpaltercation。
　　"’Doyouknow，’saidshe，’nowthatyou’remy/rom/forgoodandall，Idon’tcareforyousomuchaswhenyouweremy/minchorro/!Iwon’tbeworried，andaboveall，Iwon’tbeorderedabout。IchoosetobefreetodoasIlike。Takecareyoudon’tdrivemetoofar；ifyoutiremeout，I’llfindsomegoodfellowwho’llserveyoujustasyouserved/ElTuerto/。’
　　"/ElDancaire/patcheditupbetweenus；butwehadsaidthingstoeachotherthatrankledinourhearts，andwewerenotaswehadbeenbefore。Shortlyafterthatwehadamisfortune：thesoldierscaughtus，/ElDancaire/andtwoofmycomradeswerekilled；twoothersweretaken。Iwassorelywounded，and，butformygoodhorse，Ishouldhavefallenintothesoldiers’hands。Halfdeadwithfatigue，andwithabulletinmybody，Isoughtshelterinawood，withmyonlyremainingcomrade。WhenIgotoffmyhorseIfaintedaway，andIthoughtIwasgoingtodiethereinthebrushwood，likeashothare。Mycomradecarriedmetoacaveheknewof，andthenhesenttofetchCarmen。
　　"ShewasatGranada，andshehurriedtomeatonce。Forawholefortnightsheneverleftmeforasingleinstant。Sheneverclosedhereyes；shenursedmewithaskillandcaresuchasnowomanevershowedtothemanshelovedmosttenderly。AssoonasIcouldstandonmyfeet，sheconveyedmewiththeutmostsecrecytoGranada。Thesegipsywomenfindsafesheltereverywhere，andIspentmorethansixweeksinahouseonlytwodoorsfromthatofthe/Corregidor/whowastryingtoarrestme。MorethanonceIsawhimpassby，frombehindtheshutter。
　　AtlastIrecovered，butIhadthoughtagreatdeal，onmybedofpain，andIhadplannedtochangemywayoflife。IsuggestedtoCarmenthatweshouldleaveSpain，andseekanhonestlivelihoodintheNewWorld。Shelaughedinmyface。
　　"’Wewerenotborntoplantcabbages，’shecried。’Ourfateistolive/payllos/!Listen：I’vearrangedabusinesswithNathanBen—
　　JosephatGibraltar。Hehascottonstuffsthathecannotgetthroughtillyoucometofetchthem。Heknowsyou’realive，andreckonsuponyou。WhatwouldourGibraltarcorrespondentssayifyoufailedthem？’
　　"Iletmyselfbypersuaded，andtookupmyviletradeoncemore。
　　"WhileIwashidingatGranadatherewerebull—fightsthere，towhichCarmenwent。Whenshecamebackshetalkedagreatdealaboutaskilful/picador/ofthenameofLucas。Sheknewthenameofhishorse，andhowmuchhisembroideredjackethadcosthim。Ipaidnoattentiontothis；butafewdayslater，Juanito，theonlyoneofmycomradeswhowasleft，toldmehehadseenCarmenwithLucasinashopintheZacatin。ThenIbegantofeelalarmed。IaskedCarmenhowandwhyshehadmadethe/picador’s/acquaintance。
　　"’He’samanoutofwhomwemaybeabletogetsomething，’saidshe。
　　’Anoisystreamhaseitherwaterinitorpebbles。Hehasearnedtwelvehundredrealsatthebull—fights。Itmustbeoneoftwothings：
　　wemusteitherhavehismoney，orelse，asheisagoodriderandapluckyfellow，wecanenrollhiminourgang。Wehavelostsuchanoneansuchanone；you’llhavetoreplacethem。Takethismanwithyou!’
　　"’Iwantneitherhismoneynorhimself，’Ireplied，’andIforbidyoutospeaktohim。’
　　"’Beware!’sheretorted。’Ifanyonedefiesmetodoathing，it’sveryquicklydone。’
　　"Luckilythe/picador/departedtoMalaga，andIsetaboutpassingintheJew’scottonstuffs。Thisexpeditiongavemeagreatdealtodo，andCarmenaswell。IforgotLucas，andperhapssheforgothimtoo——
　　forthemoment，atallevents。Itwasjustaboutthattime，sir，thatImetyou，firstatMontilla，andthenafterwardatCordova。Iwon’ttalkaboutthatlastinterview。Youknowmoreaboutit，perhaps，thanIdo。Carmenstoleyourwatchfromyou，shewantedtohaveyourmoneybesides，andespeciallythatringIseeonyourfinger，andwhichshedeclaredtobeamagicring，thepossessionofwhichwasveryimportanttoher。Wehadaviolentquarrel，andIstruckher。Sheturnedpaleandbegantocry。ItwasthefirsttimeIhadeverseenhercry，anditaffectedmeinthemostpainfulmanner。Ibeggedhertoforgiveme，butshesulkedwithmeforawholeday，andwhenI
　　startedbacktoMontillashewouldn’tkissme。Myheartwasstillverysore，when，threedayslater，shejoinedmewithasmilingfaceandasmerryasalark。Everythingwasforgotten，andwewerelikeapairofhoneymoonlovers。Justaswewerepartingshesaid，’There’sa/fete/
　　atCordova；Ishallgoandseeit，andthenIshallknowwhatpeoplewillbecomingawaywithmoney，andIcanwarnyou。’
　　"Ilethergo。WhenIwasaloneIthoughtaboutthe/fete/，andaboutthechangeinCarmen’stemper。’Shemusthaveavengedherselfalready，’saidItomyself，’sinceshewasthefirsttomakeourquarrelup。’Apeasanttoldmetherewastobebull—fightingatCordova。Thenmybloodbegantoboil，andIwentofflikeamadmanstraighttothebull—ring。IhadLucaspointedouttome，andonthebench，justbesidethebarrier，IrecognisedCarmen。Oneglanceatherwasenoughtoturnmysuspicionintocertainty。WhenthefirstbullappearedLucasbegan，asIhadexpectedtoplaytheagreeable；hesnatchedthecockadeoffthebullandpresentedittoCarmen，whoputitinherhairatonce。*
　　*/Ladivisa/。Aknotofribbon，thecolourofwhichindicatesthepasturagefromwhicheachbullcomes。Thisknotofribbonisfastenedintothebull’shidewithasortofhook，anditisconsideredtheveryheightofgallantrytosnatchitoffthelivingbeastandpresentittoawoman。
　　"Thebullavengedme。Lucaswasknockeddown，withhishorseonhischest，andthebullontopofbothofthem。IlookedforCarmen，shehaddisappearedfromherplacealready。Icouldn’tgetoutofmine，andIwasobligedtowaituntilthebull—fightwasover。ThenIwentofftothathouseyoualreadyknow，andwaitedtherequietlyallthateveningandpartofthenight。Towardtwoo’clockinthemorningCarmencameback，andwasrathersurprisedtoseeme。
　　"’Comewithme，’saidI。
　　"’Verywell，’saidshe，’let’sbeoff。’
　　"Iwentandgotmyhorse，andtookherupbehindme，andwetravelledalltherestofthenightwithoutsayingawordtoeachother。Whendaylightcamewestoppedatalonelyinn，notfarfromahermitage。
　　ThereIsaidtoCarmen：
　　"’Listen——Iforgeteverything，Iwon’tmentionanythingtoyou。Butswearonethingtome——thatyou’llcomewithmetoAmerica，andlivetherequietly!’
　　"’No，’saidshe，inasulkyvoice，’Iwon’tgotoAmerica——Iamverywellhere。’
　　"’That’sbecauseyou’renearLucas。Butbeverysurethatevenifhegetswellnow，hewon’tmakeoldbones。And，indeed，whyshouldI
　　quarrelwithhim？I’mtiredofkillingallyourlovers；I’llkillyouthistime。’
　　"Shelookedatmesteadilywithherwildeyes，andthenshesaid：
　　"’I’vealwaysthoughtyouwouldkillme。TheveryfirsttimeIsawyouIhadjustmetapriestatthedoorofmyhouse。Andto—night，asweweregoingoutofCordova，didn’tyouseeanything？Ahareranacrosstheroadbetweenyourhorse’sfeet。Itisfate。’
　　"’Carmencita，’Iasked，’don’tyoulovemeanymore？’
　　"Shegavemenoanswer，shewassittingcross—leggedonamat，makingmarksonthegroundwithherfinger。
　　"’Letuschangeourlife，Carmen，’saidIimploringly。’Letusgoawayandlivesomewhereweshallneverbeparted。Youknowwehaveahundredandtwentygoldouncesburiedunderanoaknotfarfromhere，andthenwehavemoremoneywithBen—JosephtheJew。’
　　"Shebegantosmile，andthenshesaid，’Mefirst，andthenyou。I
　　knowitwillhappenlikethat。’
　　"’Thinkaboutit，’saidI。’I’vecometotheendofmypatienceandmycourage。Makeupyourmind——orelseImustmakeupmine。’
　　"Ileftheraloneandwalkedtowardthehermitage。Ifoundthehermitpraying。Iwaitedtillhisprayerwasfinished。Ilongedtopraymyself，butIcouldn’t。WhenheroseupfromhiskneesIwenttohim。
　　"’Father，’Isaid，’willyouprayforsomeonewhoisingreatdanger？’
　　"’Iprayforeveryonewhoisafflicted，’hereplied。
　　"’CanyousayamassforasoulwhichisperhapsabouttogointothepresenceofitsMaker？’
　　"’Yes，’heanswered，lookinghardatme。
　　"Andastherewassomethingstrangeaboutme，hetriedtomakemetalk。
　　"’ItseemstomethatIhaveseenyousomewhere，’saidhe。
　　"Ilaidapiastreonhisbench。
　　"’Whenshallyousaythemass？’saidI。
　　"’Inhalfanhour。Thesonoftheinnkeeperyonderiscomingtoserveit。Tellme，youngman，haven’tyousomethingonyourconsciencethatistormentingyou？WillyoulistentoaChristian’scounsel？’
　　"Icouldhardlyrestrainmytears。ItoldhimIwouldcomeback，andhurriedaway。IwentandlaydownonthegrassuntilIheardthebell。
　　ThenIwentbacktothechapel，butIstayedoutsideit。Whenhehadsaidthemass，Iwentbacktothe/venta/。IwashopingCarmenwouldhavefled。Shecouldhavetakenmyhorseandriddenaway。ButIfoundhertherestill。ShedidnotchoosethatanyoneshouldsayIhadfrightenedher。WhileIhadbeenawayshehadunfastenedthehemofhergownandtakenouttheleadthatweightedit；andnowshewassittingbeforeatable，lookingintoabowlofwaterintowhichshehadjustthrowntheleadshehadmelted。Shewassobusywithherspellsthatatfirstshedidn’tnoticemyreturn。Sometimesshewouldtakeoutabitofleadandturnitroundeverywaywithamelancholylook。Sometimesshewouldsingoneofthosemagicsongs，whichinvokethehelpofMariaPadella，DonPedro’smistress，whoissaidtohavebeenthe/BariCrallisa/——thegreatgipsyqueen。*
　　*MariaPadellawasaccusedofhavingbewitchedDonPedro。AccordingtoonepopulartraditionshepresentedQueenBlancheofBourbonwithagoldengirdlewhich，intheeyesofthebewitchedking，tookontheappearanceofalivingsnake。Hencetherepugnancehealwaysshowedtowardtheunhappyprincess。
　　"’Carmen，’Isaidtoher，’willyoucomewithme？’Sherose，threwawayherwoodenbowl，andputhermantillaoverherheadreadytostart。Myhorsewasledup，shemountedbehindme，andwerodeaway。
　　"AfterwehadgonealittledistanceIsaidtoher，’So，myCarmen，youarequitereadytofollowme，isn’tthatso？’
　　"Sheanswered，’Yes，I’llfollowyou，eventodeath——butIwon’tlivewithyouanymore。’
　　"Wehadreachedalonelygorge。Istoppedmyhorse。
　　"’Isthistheplace？’shesaid。
　　"Andwithaspringshereachedtheground。Shetookoffhermantillaandthrewitatherfeet，andstoodmotionless，withonehandonherhip，lookingatmesteadily。
　　"’Youmeantokillme，Iseethatwell，’saidshe。’Itisfate。Butyou’llnevermakemegivein。’
　　"Isaidtoher：’Berational，Iimploreyou；listentome。Allthepastisforgotten。Yetyouknowitisyouwhohavebeenmyruin——itisbecauseofyouthatIamarobberandamurderer。Carmen，myCarmen，letmesaveyou，andsavemyselfwithyou。’
　　"’Jose，’sheanswered，’whatyouaskisimpossible。Idon’tloveyouanymore。Youlovemestill，andthatiswhyyouwanttokillme。IfI
　　liked，Imighttellyousomeotherlie，butIdon’tchoosetogivemyselfthetrouble。Everythingisoverbetweenustwo。Youaremy/rom/，andyouhavetherighttokillyour/romi/，butCarmenwillalwaysbefree。A/calli/shewasborn，anda/calli/she’lldie。’
　　"’Then，youloveLucas？’Iasked。
　　"’Yes，Ihavelovedhim——asIlovedyou——foraninstant——lessthanI
　　lovedyou，perhaps。ButnowIdon’tloveanything，andIhatemyselfforeverhavinglovedyou。’
　　"Icastmyselfatherfeet，Iseizedherhands，Iwateredthemwithmytears，Iremindedherofallthehappymomentswehadspenttogether，Iofferedtocontinuemybrigand’slife，ifthatwouldpleaseher。
　　Everything，sir，everything——Iofferedhereverythingifshewouldonlylovemeagain。
　　"Shesaid：
　　"’Loveyouagain？That’snotpossible!Livewithyou？Iwillnotdoit!’
　　"Iwaswildwithfury。Idrewmyknife，Iwouldhavehadherlookfrightened，andsueformercy——butthatwomanwasademon。
　　"Icried，’ForthelasttimeIaskyou。Willyoustaywithme？’
　　"’No!no!no!’shesaid，andshestampedherfoot。
　　"ThenshepulledaringIhadgivenheroffherfinger，andcastitintothebrushwood。
　　"Istruckhertwiceover——IhadtakenGarcia’sknife，becauseIhadbrokenmyown。Atthesecondthrustshefellwithoutasound。ItseemstomethatIcanstillseehergreatblackeyesstaringatme。Thentheygrewdimandthelidsclosed。
　　"ForagoodhourIlaythereprostratebesidehercorpse。ThenI
　　recollectedthatCarmenhadoftentoldmethatshewouldliketolieburiedinawood。Idugagraveforherwithmyknifeandlaidherinit。Ihuntedaboutalongtimeforherring，andIfounditatlast。I
　　putitintothegravebesideher，withalittlecross——perhapsIdidwrong。ThenIgotuponmyhorse，gallopedtoCordova，andgavemyselfupatthenearestguard—room。ItoldthemIhadkilledCarmen，butI
　　wouldnottellthemwhereherbodywas。Thathermitwasaholyman!Heprayedforher——hesaidamassforhersoul。Poorchild!It’sthe/calle/whoaretoblameforhavingbroughtherupastheydid。"
　　CHAPTERIV
　　Spainisoneofthecountriesinwhichthosenomads，scatteredalloverEurope，andknownasBohemians，Gitanas，Gipsies，Ziegeuner，andsoforth，arenowtobefoundinthegreatestnumbers。Mostofthesepeoplelive，orratherwanderhitherandthither，inthesouthernandeasternprovincesofSpain，inAndalusia，andEstramadura，inthekingdomofMurcia。ThereareagreatmanyoftheminCatalonia。TheselastfrequentlycrossoverintoFranceandaretobeseenatalloursouthernfairs。Themengenerallycallthemselvesgrooms，horsedoctors，mule—clippers；tothesetradestheyaddthemendingofsaucepansandbrassutensils，nottomentionsmugglingandotherillicitpractices。Thewomentellfortunes，beg，andsellallsortsofdrugs，someofwhichareinnocent，whilesomearenot。Thephysicalcharacteristicsofthegipsiesaremoreeasilydistinguishedthendescribed，andwhenyouhaveknownone，youshouldbeabletorecogniseamemberoftheraceamongathousandothermen。Itisbytheirphysiognomyandexpression，especially，thattheydifferfromtheotherinhabitantsofthesamecountry。Theircomplexionisexceedinglyswarthy，alwaysdarkerthanthatoftheraceamongwhomtheylive。Hencethenameof/cale/（blacks）whichtheyfrequentlyapplytothemselves。*Theireyes，setwithadecidedslant，arelarge，veryblack，andshadedbylongandheavylashes。Theirglancecanonlybecomparedtothatofawildcreature。Itisfullatonceofboldnessandshyness，andinthisrespecttheireyesareafairindicationoftheirnationalcharacter，whichiscunning，bold，butwith"thenaturalfearofblows，"likePanurge。Mostofthemenarestrappingfellows，slightandactive。Idon’tthinkIeversawagipsywhohadgrownfat。InGermanythegipsywomenareoftenverypretty；butbeautyisveryuncommonamongtheSpanishgitanas。Whenveryyoung，theymaypassasbeingattractiveintheirugliness，butoncetheyhavereachedmotherhood，theybecomeabsolutelyrepulsive。Thefilthinessofbothsexesisincredible，andnoonewhohasnotseenagipsymatron’shaircanformanyconceptionofwhatitis，notevenifheconjuresuptheroughest，thegreasiest，andthedustiestheadsimaginable。InsomeofthelargeAndalusiantownscertainofthegipsygirls，somewhatbetterlookingthantheirfellows，willtakemorecareoftheirpersonalappearance。Thesegooutandearnmoneybyperformingdancesstronglyresemblingthoseforbiddenatourpublicballsincarnivaltime。AnEnglishmissionary，Mr。Borrow，theauthoroftwoveryinterestingworksontheSpanishgipsies，whomheundertooktoconvertonbehalfoftheBibleSociety，declaresthereisnoinstanceofanygitanashowingthesmallestweaknessforamannotbelongingtoherownrace。Thepraisehebestowsupontheirchastitystrikesmeasbeingexceedinglyexaggerated。Inthefirstplace，thegreatmajorityareinthepositionoftheuglywomandescribedbyOvid，"/Castaquamnemorogavit/。"Asfortheprettyones，theyare，likeallSpanishwomen，veryfastidiousinchoosingtheirlovers。
　　Theirfancymustbetaken，andtheirfavourmustbeearned。Mr。Borrowquotes，inproofoftheirvirtue，onetraitwhichdoeshonourtohisown，andespeciallytohissimplicity：hedeclaresthatanimmoralmanofhisacquaintanceofferedseveralgoldouncestoaprettygitana，andofferedtheminvain。AnAndalusian，towhomIretailedthisanecdote，assertedthattheimmoralmaninquestionwouldhavebeenfarmoresuccessfulifhehadshownthegirltwoorthreepiastres，andthattooffergoldouncestoagipsywasaspooramethodofpersuasionastopromiseacoupleofmillionstoatavernwench。
　　Howeverthatmaybe，itiscertainthatthegitanashowsthemostextraordinarydevotiontoherhusband。Thereisnodangerandnosufferingshewillnotbrave，tohelphiminhisneed。Oneofthenameswhichthegipsiesapplytothemselves，/Rome/，or"themarriedcouple，"seemstomeaproofoftheirracialrespectforthemarriedstate。Speakinggenerally，itmaybeassertedthattheirchiefvirtueistheirpatriotism——ifwemaythusdescribethefidelitytheyobserveinalltheirrelationswithpersonsofthesameoriginastheirown，theirreadinesstohelponeanother，andtheinviolablesecrecywhichtheykeepforeachother’sbenefit，inallcompromisingmatters。Andindeedsomethingofthesamesortmaybenoticedinallmysteriousassociationswhicharebeyondthepaleofthelaw。
　　*IthasstruckmethattheGermangipsies，thoughtheythoroughlyunderstandtheword/cale/，donotcaretobecalledbythatname。
　　Amongthemselvestheyalwaysusethedesignation/Romanetchave/。
　　Somemonthsago，IpaidavisittoagipsytribeintheVosgescountry。Inthehutofanoldwoman，theoldestmemberofthetribe，I
　　foundagipsy，innowayrelatedtothefamily，whowassickofamortaldisease。Themanhadleftahospital，wherehewaswellcaredfor，sothathemightdieamonghisownpeople。Forthirteenweekshehadbeenlyinginbedintheirencampment，andreceivingfarbettertreatmentthananyofthesonsandsons—in—lawwhosharedhisshelter。
　　Hehadagoodbedmadeofstrawandmoss，andsheetsthatweretolerablywhite，whereasalltherestofthefamily，whichnumberedelevenpersons，sleptonplanksthreefeetlong。Somuchfortheirhospitality。Thisverysamewoman，humaneaswashertreatmentofherguestsaidtomeconstantlybeforethesickman："/Singo，singo，homtehimulo/。""Soon，soonhemustdie!"Afterall，thesepeoplelivesuchmiserablelives，thatareferencetotheapproachofdeathcanhavenoterrorsforthem。
　　Oneremarkablefeatureinthegipsycharacteristheirindifferenceaboutreligion。Notthattheyarestrong—mindedorsceptical。Theyhavenevermadeanyprofessionofatheism。Farfromthat，indeed，thereligionofthecountrywhichtheyinhabitisalwaystheirs；buttheychangetheirreligionwhentheychangethecountryoftheirresidence。
　　Theyareequallyfreefromthesuperstitionswhichreplacereligiousfeelinginthemindsofthevulgar。How，indeed，cansuperstitionexistamongaracewhich，asarule，makesitslivelihoodoutofthecredulityofothers？Nevertheless，IhaveremarkedaparticularhorroroftouchingacorpseamongtheSpanishgipsies。Veryfewofthesecouldbeinducedtocarryadeadmantohisgrave，eveniftheywerepaidforit。
　　Ihavesaidthatmostgipsywomenundertaketotellfortunes。Theydothisverysuccessfully。Buttheyfindamuchgreatersourceofprofitinthesaleofcharmsandlove—philters。Notonlydotheysupplytoads’clawstoholdficklehearts，andpowderedloadstonetokindleloveincoldones，butifnecessityarises，theycanusemightyincantations，whichforcethedeviltolendthemhisaid。LastyearthefollowingstorywasrelatedtomebyaSpanishlady。Shewaswalkingonedayalongthe/Called’Alcala/，feelingverysadandanxious。Agipsywomanwhowassquattingonthepavementcalledouttoher，"Myprettylady，yourloverhasplayedyoufalse!"（Itwasquitetrue。）"ShallIgethimbackforyou？"Myreaderswillimaginewithwhatjoytheproposalwasaccepted，andhowcompletewastheconfidenceinspiredbyapersonwhocouldthusguesstheinmostsecretsoftheheart。AsitwouldhavebeenimpossibletoproceedtoperformtheoperationsofmagicinthemostcrowdedstreetinMadrid，ameetingwasarrangedforthenextday。"Nothingwillbeeasierthantobringbackthefaithlessonetoyourfeet!"saidthegitana。"Doyouhappentohaveahandkerchief，ascarf，oramantilla，thathegaveyou？"Asilkenscarfwashandedher。"Nowsewapiastreintoonecornerofthescarfwithcrimsonsilk——sewhalfapiastreintoanothercorner——sewapesetahere——andatwo—realpiecethere；then，inthemiddleyoumustsewagoldcoin——adoubloonwouldbebest。"Thedoubloonandalltheothercoinsweredulysewnin。"Nowgivemethescarf，andI’lltakeittotheCampoSantowhenmidnightstrikes。Youcomealongwithme，ifyouwanttoseeafinepieceofwitchcraft。I
　　promiseyoushallseethemanyouloveto—morrow!"ThegipsydepartedalonefortheCampoSanto，sincemySpanishfriendwastoomuchafraidofwitchcrafttogotherewithher。Ileavemyreaderstoguesswhethermypoorforsakenladyeversawherlover，orherscarf，again。
　　Inspiteoftheirpovertyandthesortofaversiontheyinspire，thegipsiesaretreatedwithacertainamountofconsiderationbythemoreignorantfolk，andtheyareveryproudofit。Theyfeelthemselvestobeasuperiorraceasregardsintelligence，andtheyheartilydespisethepeoplewhosehospitalitytheyenjoy。"TheseGentilesaresostupid，"saidoneoftheVosgesgipsiestome，"thatthereisnocreditintakingthemin。Theotherdayapeasantwomancalledouttomeinthestreet。Iwentintoherhouse。Herstovesmokedandsheaskedmetogiveheracharmtocureit。FirstofallImadehergivemeagoodbitofbacon，andthenIbegantomumbleafewwordsin/Romany/。’You’reafool，’Isaid，’youwerebornafool，andyou’lldieafool!’WhenIhadgotnearthedoorIsaidtoher，ingoodGerman，’Themostcertainwayofkeepingyourstovefromsmokingisnottolightanyfireinit!’andthenItooktomyheels。"
　　Thehistoryofthegipsiesisstillaproblem。Weknow，indeed，thattheirfirstbands，whichwerefewandfarbetween，appearedinEasternEuropetowardsthebeginningofthefifteenthcentury。Butnobodycantellwhencetheystarted，orwhytheycametoEurope，and，whatisstillmoreextraordinary，nooneknowshowtheymultiplied，withinashorttime，andinsoprodigiousafashion，andinseveralcountries，allveryremotefromeachother。Thegipsiesthemselveshavepreservednotraditionwhatsoeverastotheirorigin，andthoughmostofthemdospeakofEgyptastheiroriginalfatherland，thatisonlybecausetheyhaveadoptedaveryancientfablerespectingtheirrace。
　　MostoftheOrientalistswhohavestudiedthegipsylanguagebelievethatthecradleoftheracewasinIndia。Itappears，infact，thatmanyoftherootsandgrammaticalformsofthe/Romany/tonguearetobefoundinidiomsderivedfromtheSanskrit。Asmaybeimagined，thegipsies，duringtheirlongwanderings，haveadoptedmanyforeignwords。Inevery/Romany/dialectanumberofGreekwordsappear。
　　Atthepresentdaythegipsieshavealmostasmanydialectsasthereareseparatehordesoftheirrace。Everywhere，theyspeakthelanguageofthecountrytheyinhabitmoreeasilythantheirownidiom，whichtheyseldomuse，exceptwiththeobjectofconversingfreelybeforestrangers。AcomparisonofthedialectoftheGermangipsieswiththatusedbytheSpanishgipsies，whohaveheldnocommunicationwitheachotherforseveralcenturies，revealstheexistenceofagreatnumberofwordscommontoboth。Buteverywheretheoriginallanguageisnotablyaffected，thoughindifferentdegrees，byitscontactwiththemorecultivatedlanguagesintotheuseofwhichthenomadshavebeenforced。GermaninonecaseandSpanishintheotherhavesomodifiedthe/Romany/groundworkthatitwouldnotbepossibleforagipsyfromtheBlackForesttoconversewithoneofhisAndalusianbrothers，althoughafewsentencesoneachsidewouldsufficetoconvincethemthateachwasspeakingadialectofthesamelanguage。Certainwordsinveryfrequentuseare，Ibelieve，commontoeverydialect。Thus，ineveryvocabularywhichIhavebeenabletoconsult，/pani/meanswater，/manro/meansbread，/mas/standsformeat，and/lon/forsalt。
　　Thenounsofnumberarealmostthesameineverycase。TheGermandialectseemstomemuchpurerthantheSpanish，forithaspreservednumbersoftheprimitivegrammaticalforms，whereastheGitanoshaveadoptedthoseoftheCastiliantongue。Nevertheless，somewordsareanexception，asthoughtoprovethatthelanguagewasoriginallycommontoall。ThepreteriteoftheGermandialectisformedbyadding/ium/
　　totheimperative，whichisalwaystherootoftheverb。IntheSpanish/Romany/theverbsareallconjugatedonthemodelofthefirstconjugationoftheCastilianverbs。From/jamar/，theinfinitiveof"toeat，"theregularconjugationshouldbe/jame/，"Ihaveeaten。"
　　From/lillar/，"totake，"/lille/，"Ihavetaken。"Yet，someoldgipsiessay，asanexception，/jayon/and/lillon/。Iamnotacquaintedwithanyotherverbswhichhavepreservedthisancientform。
　　WhileIamthusshowingoffmysmallacquaintancewiththe/Romany/
　　language，ImustnoticeafewwordsofFrenchslangwhichourthieveshaveborrowedfromthegipsies。From/LesMysteresdeParis/honestfolkhavelearnedthattheword/chourin/means"aknife。"Thisispure/Romany/——/tchouri/isoneofthewordswhichiscommontoeverydialect。MonsieurVidocqcallsahorse/gres/——thisagainisagipsyword——/gras/，/gre/，/graste/，and/gris/。Addtothistheword/romanichel/，bywhichthegipsiesaredescribedinParisianslang。
　　Thisisacorruptionof/romanetchave/——"gipsylads。"ButapieceofetymologyofwhichIamreallyproudisthatoftheword/frimousse/，"face，""countenance"——awordwhicheveryschoolboyuses，ordiduse，inmytime。Note，inthefirstplace，theOudin，inhiscuriousdictionary，publishedin1640，wrotetheword/firlimouse/。Nowin/Romany/，/firla/，or/fila/，standsfor"face，"andhasthesamemeaning——itisexactlythe/os/oftheLatins。Thecombinationof/firlamui/wasinstantlyunderstoodbyagenuinegipsy，andIbelieveittobetruetothespiritofthegipsylanguage。
　　IhavesurelysaidenoughtogivethereadersofCarmenafavourableideaofmy/Romany/studies。Iwillconcludewiththefollowingproverb，whichcomesinveryappropriately：/Enretudipandanastiabelamacha/。"Betweenclosedlipsnoflycanpass。"