“She spoke truly. I should have been wise to think no more of her; but after that day on Rue de Candilejo, I could think of nothing else. I walked about all day long, hoping to meet her. I asked the old woman and the eating-house keeper for news of her. Both replied that she had gone to Laloro,[28] which was their way of designating Portugal. Probably they said that in accordance with Carmen’s instructions, but I very soon found out that they lied. Several weeks after my day on Rue de Candilejo, I was on duty at one of the gates of the city. A short distance from the gate there was a breach in the wall; men were at work repairing it during the day, and at night a sentinel was posted there to prevent smuggling. During the day I saw Lillas Pastia going to and fro around the guard-house, and talking with some of my comrades; all of them knew him, and they knew his fish and his fritters even better. He came to me and asked me if I had heard from Carmen. “‘No,’ said I. “‘Well, you will, _compadre_.’ “He was not mistaken. At night I was stationed at the breach. As soon as the corporal had retired, I saw a woman coming towards me. My heart told me that it was Carmen. However, I shouted: “‘Go back! You cannot pass!’ “‘Don’t be disagreeable,’ she said, showing me her face. “‘What! is it you, Carmen?’ “‘Yes, my countryman. Let us talk a little and talk quick. Do you want to earn a _douro_? There are some men coming with bundles; let them alone.’ “‘No,’ I replied. ‘I must prevent them from passing; those are my orders.’ “‘Orders! orders! So you’ve forgotten the Rue de Candilejo?’ “‘Ah!’ I exclaimed, completely overwhelmed by the bare memory of that day, ‘that would be well worth the penalty of forgetting orders; but I want no smugglers’ money.’ “‘Well, if you don’t want money, would you like to go again to old Dorothy’s and dine?’ “‘No,’ I said, half suffocated by the effort it cost me, ‘I cannot.’ “‘Very good. If you are so stiff-backed, I know whom to apply to. I will go to your officer and offer to go to Dorothy’s with him. He looks like a good fellow, and he will put some man on duty here who will see no more than he ought to see. Farewell, Canary. I shall laugh with all my heart on the day when the orders are to hang you.’ “I was weak enough to call her back, and I promised to allow all gypsydom to pass, if necessary, provided that I obtained the only reward that I desired. She instantly swore to keep her word on the next day, and hastened away to notify her friends, who were close by. There were five of them,--Pastia was one--all well laden with English goods. Carmen kept watch. She was to give warning with her castanets the instant that she saw the patrol; but she did not need to do it. The smugglers did their work in an instant. “The next day I went to Rue de Candilejo. Carmen kept me waiting, and when she came she was in a villainous temper.