< Page:The Writings of Prosper Merimee-Volume 1.djvu
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CARMEN

25

form me that she was very fond of the smell of tobacco, and that she even smoked herself, when she could get very mild papelitos. I fortunately happened to have some such in my case, and at once offered them to her. She condescended to take one, and lighted it at a burning string which a child brought us, receiving a copper for its pains. We mingled our smoke, and talked so long, the fair lady and I, that we ended by being almost alone upon the quay. I thought I might venture, without impropriety, to suggest our going to eat an ice at the nevería.[1] After a moment of modest demur, she agreed. But before finally accepting, she desired to know what o'clock it was. I struck my repeater, and this seemed to astound her greatly.

"What clever inventions you foreigners do have! What country do you belong to, sir? You're an Englishman, no doubt!"[2]

"I'm a Frenchman, and your devoted servant. And you, señorita, or señora, you probably belong to Cordova?"

"No."

  1. ↑ A café to which a depot of ice, or rather of snow, is attached. There is hardly a village in Spain without its nevería.
  2. ↑ Every traveller in Spain who does not carry about samples of calicoes and silks is taken for an Englishman (inglesito). It is the same thing in the East. At Chalcis I had the honour of being announced as a Μιλὸρδοσ Φραντςέοος.
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