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:

"'Listen--I forget everything, I won't mention anything to you. But
swear one thing to me--that you'll come with me to America, and live
there quietly!'

"'No,' said she, in a sulky voice, 'I won't go to America--I 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: