"And I answered:

"'I would give one of my fingers to have your _milord_ out on the
mountains, and each of us with a _maquila_ in his fist.'

"'_Maquila_, what does that mean?' asked the Englishman.

"'Maquila,' said Carmen, still laughing, 'means an orange. Isn't it a
queer word for an orange? He says he'd like you to eat _maquila_.'

"'Does he?' said the Englishman. 'Very well, bring more _maquila_
to-morrow.'

"While we were talking a servant came in and said dinner was ready.
Then the Englishman stood up, gave me a piastre, and offered his arm
to Carmen, as if she couldn't have walked alone. Carmen, who was still
laughing, said to me:

"'My boy, I can't ask you to dinner. But to-morrow, as soon as you hear
the drums beat for parade, come here with your oranges. You'll find a
better furnished room than the one in the _Calle del Candilejo_, and
you'll see whether I am still your _Carmencita_. Then afterwards we'll
talk about gipsy business.'

"I gave her no answer--even when I was in the street I could hear the
Englishman shouting, 'Bring more _maquila_ to-morrow,' and Carmen's
peals of laughter.

"I went out, not knowing what I should do; I hardly slept, and next
morning I was so enraged with the treacherous creature that I made up