“‘So, my Carmen,’ I said, after we had ridden a little way, ‘you will go with me, won’t you?’
“‘I will go with you to death, yes, but I won’t live with you any more.’
“We were in a deserted ravine; I stopped my horse.
“‘Is this the place?’ she said.
“And with one spring she was on the ground. She took off her mantilla, dropped it at her feet, and stood perfectly still, with one hand on her hip, looking me in the eye.
“‘You mean to kill me, I can see that,’ she said; ‘it is written, but you will not make me yield.’
“‘Be reasonable, I beg,’ I said to her. ‘Listen to me. All of the past is forgotten. However, as you know, it was you who ruined me; it was for your sake that I became a robber and a murderer. Carmen! my Carmen! let me save you and myself with you.’
“‘José,’ she replied, ‘you ask something that is impossible. I no longer love you; you do still love me, and that is the reason you intend to kill me. I could easily tell you some lie; but I don’t choose to take the trouble. All is over between us. As my rom, you have a right to kill your romi; but Carmen will always be free. Calli she was born, calli she will die.’
“‘Then you love Lucas?’ I demanded.
“‘Yes, I did love him, as I loved you, for a moment—but less than I loved you, I think. Now, I love nobody, and I hate myself for having loved you.’