“She spoke the truth. I should have done far better never to think of her again. But after that day in the _Calle del Candilejo_ I couldn’t think of anything else. All day long I used to walk about, hoping I might meet her. I sought news of her from the old hag, and from the fried-fish seller. They both told me she had gone away to _Laloro_, which is their name for Portugal. They probably said it by Carmen’s orders, but I soon found out they were lying. Some weeks after my day in the _Calle del Candilejo_ I was on duty at one of the town gates. A little way from the gate there was a breach in the wall. The masons were working at it in the daytime, and at night a sentinel was posted on it, to prevent smugglers from getting in. All through one day I saw Lillas Pastia going backward and forward near the guard-room, and talking to some of my comrades. They all knew him well, and his fried-fish and fritters even better. He came up to me, and asked if I had any news of Carmen. “‘No,’ said I. “‘Well,’ said he, ‘you’ll soon hear of her, old fellow.’ “He was not mistaken. That night I was posted to guard the breach in the wall. As soon as the sergeant had disappeared I saw a woman coming toward me. My heart told me it was Carmen. Still I shouted: “‘Keep off! Nobody can pass here!’ “‘Now, don’t be spiteful,’ she said, making herself known to me. “‘What! you here, Carmen?’ “‘Yes, _mi payllo_. Let us say few words, but wise ones. Would you like to earn a douro? Some people will be coming with bundles. Let them alone.’ “‘No,’ said I, ‘I must not allow them through. These are my orders.’ “‘Orders! orders! You didn’t think about orders in the _Calle del Candilejo_!’ “‘Ah!’ I cried, quite maddened by the very thought of that night. ‘It was well worth while to forget my orders for that! But I won’t have any smuggler’s money!’ “‘Well, if you won’t have money, shall we go and dine together at old Dorotea’s?’ “‘No,’ said I, half choked by the effort it cost me. ‘No, I can’t.’ “‘Very good! If you make so many difficulties, I know to whom I can go. I’ll ask your officer if he’ll come with me to Dorotea’s. He looks good-natured, and he’ll post a sentry who’ll only see what he had better see. Good-bye, canary-bird! I shall have a good laugh the day the order comes out to hang you!’ “I was weak enough to call her back, and I promised to let the whole of gipsydom pass in, if that were necessary, so that I secured the only reward I longed for. She instantly swore she would keep her word faithfully the very next day, and ran off to summon her friends, who were close by. There were five of them, of whom Pastia was one, all well loaded with English goods. Carmen kept watch for them. She was to warn them with her castanets the instant she caught sight of the patrol. But there was no necessity for that. The smugglers finished their job in a moment.