"Gentlemen I'm going to be brief Tomorrow the carnival begins" "Unfortunately every crook within a 1000 miles every political offender and exile will try to take advantage of the masquerade if you catch a man stealing, shoot him less trouble afterwards but I want no useless arrests!" "last year the jail and the hospital were a disgraceful sight" "I definitely do not want any interference with the peoples' pleasures and if you must make one or two arrests because you will not listen to me, then make them, but no more - dismissed" " say, where are all the pretty girls today?" " pretty girls?" "watch this!" "will you please give my card to the lady of the house" " which lady sir?" " the lady who lives here." " what is her name?" " look here, your mistress expects me." " I'm sorry sir, I am not so informed." " Antonio!" " Pasqual, what luck, how wonderful to see you again." "you've come here?" "what if you're recognized?" "turn around, sit down, turn your back." " what on earth ever tempted you to leave Paris?" " I'm on my way back there now, I came to see my parents." " but there's a price on your head!" "don't you know we have a new governor who eats republicans for breakfast?" "I'll risk it till the carnival is over." "but how are you Pasqual?" "let me look at you you've changed, have you been ill?" "my health has been excellent." "I hardly knew you without your uniform." "I suppose that's another one of your famous adventures." "Captain Pasqual Castellar in search of a new beauty." "I've left the army, resigned my commission." "as for the ladies, my friend, for three years I haven't even looked at a woman." "but none of my affairs, what of yours?" "why don't you leave while you can, for safety?" "leave?" "I have an appointment this evening with the most beautiful creature I've ever seen." "the advice may sound strange coming from me." "I can't ask you to ignore the gentler sex." "had I lived my life over again I'd probably do the same foolish thing once more." "but be careful Antonio." "the boys in the club will laugh their heads off if they heard you were offering moral advice to the young." "but while we're on the subject of advice, do you happen to know a goddess in this town by the name of Concha Perez?" "the name is not unfamiliar to me she lives at the end of the plaza del Trionfo, doesn't she?" "yes, anything wrong with her?" "you mean to tell me you don't know who Concha is?" "Concha the singer, the toast of Spain is she the toast of Spain?" "well I'm in luck, for the last 5 years I've known nothing but jail, exile and manifestoes." "apparently you don't like her, do you?" "she's the most dangerous woman you'll ever meet you must be mad to talk like that." "what has she done to you?" "there's no pleasure for me to talk about the past." "but ..." "I was returning from a holiday in France about five years ago our train ran into an avalanche." "we were snowbound for about three days." " porter" " I don't want a porter" "how about an address Concha, that I can write to you, perhaps I can find time to visit you some day" "what did you take me for?" " come on, where can I get in touch with you?" " mother says no flies enter a closed mouth" "as the devil would have it I was in town one day with nothing to do, joined some fool committee investigating labour conditions in a cigarette factory" "I'd heard there were some pretty girls there" "now gentlemen you heard a lot of stories about our cigarette factory, they're not true our girls are all well behaved, they earn a great deal of money and they wouldn't exchange their position for any other on earth" " is something in your eye?" " not at all now follow me and I'll show you where we make our shipping cases" " do the girls make the shipping cases too?" " yes" "the captain has an eye for the ladies, hasn't he?" "well of all people!" "how did you get here Concha?" "the Lord knows, I don't remember" "I never expected to find you in a place like this" "I suppose you must make quite a lot of money here if I work all week I make enough money to bring some flowers to my mother on Sunday" "living with your mother?" "who did you think I was living with?" "you know what that is Concha?" "oh yes that's gold, it's more than I earn in a year it's yours if you give me one of your cigarettes you roll with your pretty hands" "better take two in case you should become impatient why should I be impatient?" "because I want you to wait for me outside" "so you did wait, didn't you" " yes I waited" " I didn't think you would" "I know that you are an important person and your friends might not like to see you in such company are you glad that I waited Concha?" "come and take me home" " here we are." " quite a climb. how does your mother get up here?" " oh mother can climb anything" " look mama I've got a fish." " how are you going to feed it?" "don't worry about that mother make the gentleman welcome, he's my friend captain Castellar, charmed beyond words, Senora" "Excellency, make this humble house your own" "what is the exact relationship of this gentleman?" "your Excellency, a cousin" "and plenty of garlic." "is it paid for?" "and sausage mother, try it, and look mama, gold how did you earn all that, Concha?" "I earn anything?" "don't be foolish mother your Excellency, if my poor husband were alive, he has been in the enchargement of God for the past 15 years, he'd have beaten her black and blue but don't be deceived by her language." "my daughter is a good girl oh we could be rich, my daughter and I, we could have mules and necklaces and live in the country but wickedness has never spent a night here!" "how I worry when I see my daughter leave in the morning" "how can you say that, mother, when you sleep all day?" "there!" "you see what bad example these factory girls are oh, the ugly words she must hear!" "if my daughter had listened to them she would have gone wrong long ago what makes young girls go wrong, your Excellency, is the advice of women, not the eyes of men" "there's a cure for all ill, Senora your highness, how can I thank you?" "I'll take care of that mama, I'll thank him, you don't need to bother" "I see, this will be enough for the rent, and this for the water and this the baker, the doctor but I'm afraid there'll be hardly enough to keep Concha out of the factory" "I understand" "and the landlord thought that he was going to throw us out it's easy to see who runs this shop." "when the time comes for a sweetheart to offer himself I have to talk to you and not to your mother you don't happen to know of anyone?" "let me see now?" "no, I don't think so oh you think too much!" "you know of nobody at all?" "let me go!" "don't you touch me or I'll call for help are you mad, Concha?" "I came here as a friend." "suddenly you throw yourself into my arms and now you accuse me!" "I kissed you because I loved you - for a minute but I won't let you kiss me without loving me so you don't think I love you my child no!" "I please you, I amuse you but I'm not the only one." "Am I?" "answer me Pasqualito!" "I want to know!" "am I or am I not?" "what happened my child?" "give a man a finger and he bites off the whole hand well I go and get dinner ready" "I don't think I wanted to see her again but I went there not once but 30 times she was never at home her mother told me she was either out with a cousin or else was going to her dancing lessons" "finally, after three months of this I told her mother that I loved Concha and although there were certain ties I couldn't form I wished to provide for her daughter take charge of her education, in other words, make myself her protector" "I assured her that she and Concha need never want for anything to prove my sincerity, well the old lady got quite a sum out of me that time" "I am deeply offended" "what did I write last?" "I never want to see you again" "and my mother doesn't want to see you again" "as I write this" "my heart is bleeding" "and my eyes are filled with tears when I received her letter I rushed to her home" "but they had disappeared, mother and daughter, bag and baggage, without a trace then, about three months later, after I've given up hope of ever seeing her again she suddenly appeared" " you Concha!" " were you expecting someone else?" "I thought I'd stop by to see if you're in." "since you didn't care to look for me it's I who look for you." "I haven't slept a wink since you left me why did you run away like that?" "where the devil did you go to?" "why did you send me that stupid letter?" "I was angry because you had given us so much money" "I only wanted to help you" "I thought it would spoil our friendship and now that all the money is gone and nothing is left but my affections for you" "I can no longer live without seeing you oh Concha, why did you stay away so long?" "what if someone saw me come in?" "my name would be ruined!" "it was foolish of me to come here no it wasn't." "it was wonderful, Concha" "I've been thinking things over for some time now and I'll be happy to make you my wife and no one will ever speak ill of you" "but no one speaks ill of me now!" "did you hear what I said Concha?" "I just offered to marry you, to give you the honour and protection that goes with my name that's exactly what I told mother, the moment I came here you'd become serious" "I didn't want to come here, only she needs money so badly at least you're honest Concha even if you don't love me but I do love you!" "don't read now!" "and I told mother I wouldn't accept any money from you how much does she want?" "she has many debts." "she needs a lot well mind if you leave it to me Concha, of course I'll help you you're not helping me!" "if you want to help my mother that's your affair." "she's waiting outside you can discuss money with her just as you did before." "Senora, make this humble house your own oh your Excellency, how well you look how good it is to see you again" "my daughter talks of you all the time she loves you more than anything" "your Excellency I have missed you so much" "well sir, they vanished again it was months before I saw her again" "I don't believe that destinies are controlled by a throw of dice but it couldn't have been merely a succession of accidents" "I've been sent down to the coast to inspect some defences and while there it was my bad luck to run into her once more" "I'm romantic so romantic that I often wish I had a more discreet heart but believe me please believe me when I tell you that I haven't got a sweetheart" "did you hear me say that I had none?" "no I only said I haven't ONE!" "three sweethearts have I" "three handsome sweethearts" "and one is a son of a a gardener" "he gives me daisies and roses and orchids regardless of the price and other things that are so nice" "and one is a son of a a farmer" "he gives me butter and carrots and onions no other farmer would and other things that are so good" "and one is a son of a a baker" "he gives me biscuits and cookies and pastry a queen could even eat and other things that are so sweet" "to all three I'm true" "and I could be as true to you" "Arturo, a cup of coffee" "my emotions seem to make little impression on you aren't you afraid of anything Concha?" "have you no fear of death?" "no, not today I feel too happy why do you ask?" "are you going to kill me?" "you played with me as if I were a fool what I gave gladly you took like a thief" "I thought you would be glad to see me" "I'm sorry I sat down don't go, please don't go" "I've looked for you for so long" "I've missed you" "I don't want to offend you perhaps I'm a bit nervous don't go please" "coffee?" "did I order coffee Pasqualito?" "the lady said:" "champagne!" "all that night I walked the streets with a fever cursed myself, called myself coward" "I burned with shame for the despicable role I played" "I told myself there were only two ways out either to leave her or kill her" "I chose a third" "Pasqualito this is La Tuerta, the one eye this is captain Castellar welcome to your own house, your Excellency she has only one eye and with that one eye see can only see money some day you will have a theatre of your own when I was your age" "yes I know, all the men were crazy about you she packs them in like sardines captain and some day you'll offer me more money eh Tuerta?" "who knows" "I shall change to civilian clothes but I like your uniform Pasqualito" "oh I forgot to thank you for the flowers" "I love you Concha life without you means nothing one moment and I'll give you a kiss" "Morenito!" "where have you been for two days, you bad boy?" "Pasqual this is Morenito, the bullfighter it's an extraordinary pleasure" "have you ever seen him fight?" "no but I've read the reviews oh critics don't value genius he's such a baby some day all Spain will know his name won't it Morenito?" "have you had anything to eat today?" "what time is it?" "what time is it Pasqual?" "about nine o'clock nine o'clock and no food!" "it's easy to see why bullfighters don't live long perhaps there are other reasons for their untimely deaths oh no, a jealous man is no more dangerous than a blind bull" "here darling, buy yourself something to eat" "this Morenito, this genius of yours, what exactly does he mean to you?" "oh he's so young and so poor, I hardly know him" "I gathered as much oh you're so sweet Pasqualito" "how much do you want to release Concha from her contract?" "what?" "before she came here my house was emptier than a bullring when it rains she is having a great career here" "I'm not interested. how much?" "what will she say when she hears about this?" "she has a temper and you probably know" "I'll take care of her." "think it over" "I'm exhausted." "I'm going upstairs to lie down for a while." "why don't you go back to the hotel?" "no, I prefer to wait here then why don't you go out and get some fresh air?" "it's raining, I'd rather stay in do as you like" "is Concha still asleep?" "how should I know?" "come on. you're going with me." "I'm not going to hurt you but come on" "I'm not going to leave here and you're not going to touch me don't you dare advance another step" "well what have you to say?" "invent something!" "defend yourself!" "lie some more!" "you lie so well first of all I want to know what you mean by breaking in here like an assassin and causing this utterly ridiculous scene you've gone too far you're not going to play with me any more" "ha, this is superb!" "he threatens me!" "what right have you to tell me what to do?" "are you my father?" "no!" "are you my husband?" "No!" "are you my lover?" "well I must say you're content with very little am I?" "I wanted to leave the country, leave everything, try and forget her and myself but you don't know this woman, she wasn't through with me yet" "good morning!" "I came to see if you were dead if you had loved me enough you would have killed yourself last night" "bad, not made properly I can make much better chocolate you want another beating?" "haven't you had enough?" "I'm through with you, why did you come here?" "poor Pasqual, you haven't much faith in me, have you?" "I haven't much faith in anything but I love you Pasqual look at me" "look Pasqualito, I'm black and blue" "I know I've been cruel but I'll make up for it tell me what you want me to do oh Concha let's leave this miserably place" " but I can't, my contract - what about your contract?" " it doesn't end until the season is over - we'll see about that" "I'll have to close up and poor little Concha, such a success stop that hackling." "how much do you want?" " I don't want to be in your way captain" " I realize that but I haven't much time" " and Concha, does she agree?" " yes yes, I tell you, how much?" "Pasqual, angel, you did buy off my contract did the old hag tell you?" "I was going to tell you myself will you be content now Concha?" "of course Pasqualito come, give me a kiss" "be careful you'll mess up my hair" "you know sweetheart I need a rest after all this excitement" "I think I'll take a little ride but I plan to leave town with you in an hour but didn't you hear what I said:" "I want to take a little ride alright, I'll be ready in a minute no you're not going with me" " why not?" " because I don't want you to!" "but I tell you what you can do:" "you can throw me a kiss from the balcony" "goodbye Pasqualito if I'm not back in a week don't wait for me" "I was laughed at of course there was rather a big scandal there were questions in parliament, investigations" "I resigned my commission, that made it easier for everyone" "I've told you all that's necessary Antonio that woman has ice where others have a heart not only that she wrecked my life, there were others as well" "the man she ran off with killed himself, saved trouble for the bulls" "Antonio, forget about her what a devil of a woman would you rather see her again?" "no." "I hardly wanted to after that what if you ran into her now?" "you both live in the same town impossible but for your own sake, don't you go near her" "I wouldn't go near her for anything in the world." "I'm leaving for France tonight" " swear it." " I give you my word." "well, I'd better be going, goodbye Antonio, and think of me once in a while" "good evening stranger." "you're late so that's what you're like are you disappointed?" "I wanted to see your face." "I wanted to take a good look at the woman who broke the heart of my best friend" "I've broken so many hearts." "who is this friend of yours?" " Don Pasqual." " oh, Pasqualito!" "did I break his heart?" "I could kill you in cold blood for what you've done to him" "I should like some coffee before I die in soothing company if possible" "I regret to inform you that my time is limited, I'm leaving tonight come, I'll take you to the train" "after the coffee" "bring me some cards Pablo" "why don't you take off you mask?" "dodging the police or are you ashamed of being seen with me?" "I've nothing to be ashamed of you're very fortunate." "I have." "you're a very beautiful woman." "it's easy to see why men should lose their heads over you is it easy?" " nice of you to honour us with your company." " the honour is all mine." "come on now, take off your mask, I've waited long enough" "when did you say you were leaving for France?" "I'm fairly certain I'm leaving within two hours we'll see." "shuffle them." "you're not going to play cards with me, are you?" "you see we had to meet you're the jack of spades and I'm the queen of hearts." "hold them for me" "I don't like those black cards, two kings too, clubs and spades the king of clubs is my old friend Paquito the governor he has been in a lot of my cards lately but never quite so close." "you are afraid of the police?" "well to tell you the truth I prefer to avoid them just now what did you do?" "politics, a little bit revolutionary is that all?" "I thought it was something important don't shoot." "I know that knock" "there's no answer Maria, you can go home" "life is difficult, isn't it, with so many admirers sometimes it is!" "on the other hand life is very easy for me" "I'm going to leave you now I must say I'm grateful to Pasqual to have warned me if it hadn't been for him I'd have fallen madly in love with you if this letter is causing your departure I'll read it to you" "dear Concha, I must see you again, I'm at your feet, I love you more than ever and do you know who sent this?" "your friend Pasqual!" "you're a liar!" "let me see it" "he must be mad well he told me that you destroyed his life if I'd destroyed your life you couldn't write such a letter, could you?" "I'd wring your neck!" "kiss me Antonio" "Pasqual the king of spades did you write this letter?" "a little earlier in the day you took an oath not to see her answer me Pasqual did you write this ridiculous letter?" "I hope to provide you both with amusement to know that I still love her leave town Antonio before I lose my temper and call the police no I wouldn't put anything to under you all you wanted was to keep me out of your preserves I'm going to stay now in spite of your petitions" "call it what you like I'm not going to lose her how can you lose what you never possessed?" "I used to have a lot of respect for you Pasqual but you're behaving like a fool you young puppy, how dare you talk like that" "we were friends Pasqual I'll forget the blow your new victim, Concha, is a coward" "I don't think he is you know better than to think me a coward and if you can find any friend to act as your secondary I'll be very glad to discuss that point at the hotel room tomorrow morning" " weapons?" " pistols." "reading the cards is one of her virtues I forgot to tell you about" "was there a shot?" "this card belongs to your deck doesn't it?" "Concha!" "how marvellous of you to come here I hope no one saw you" "I was here before where have you been?" "I was out arranging the duel why don't you leave for Paris tonight?" " alone?" " I'll come with you." " you can't, the border's the only way out." "besides we need passports" "and then there's a trifling affair with Pasqual in the morning which I have no wish to cancel alright then you'll be killed Pasqual is a dead shot" "you mean he used to be" "right through the heart eh nonsense that shot was an accident if you die, Antonio, I'll kill myself let's forget about the duel Concha tonight's the last night of the carnival tomorrow there'll be time enough to think of death" "you too were thinking of death those letters are farewells" "I wrote them anyway they're not important whom did you write to?" " oh lots of people." " any women?" "yes. there's a girl where is she?" "in Paris do you love her?" "why do you ask?" "not interested are you Concha?" "no of course not you wouldn't care if I were in love with someone else, would you?" "no." "that isn't true is it Concha?" "you would care wouldn't you?" "there gentlemen you've done it I hope you're pleased no consideration for me close your umbrella, it's not raining any more the carnival is over but not for me I told you to be careful with your arrests and what have you done?" "turned this peaceful jail into a madhouse there, gentlemen, is the direct result of listening to my views stop them, tear their masks off, take their tin-horns away, remove every vestige of this nerve shattering carnival." "go!" "what are you waiting for?" "I'll teach you to behave" "Alfonso!" "let those balloons go!" "order my carriage!" "I want to go home and get some sleep." "who are you?" "I've had just about enough of this." "take off you mask." "come at once." "by this time he may be dead." "perhaps they're both dead." "who may be dead by this time?" "make yourself clear." "a duel!" "they wanted me to drive them." "I said no!" "to arms!" "guns!" "porters!" "why don't you put up your umbrella?" "it's raining!" "we will have to hurry sir, the police might come if there are no further objections select your pistols" "you will placed back to back, march 12 paces, I will count three and you will then be at liberty to kill each other, I hope your injury will be slight" "well Concha I might as well say goodbye one never knows anything I might want to say to you now will sound silly if we had never met this couldn't have happened" "you forced this on him Pasqual this is murder listen to me Pasqualito you never loved me or you couldn't do this you know very well that I loved you you've always mistaken your vanity for love make your final mistake, go and kill the only man I've ever cared for" "I want you to listen Antonio!" "I want you to leave here, at once!" "Antonio are you hurt?" "he didn't even take aim at me" "morning gentlemen. a pretty mess. arrest everybody!" "why don't you gentlemen go to Madrid or Barcelona where they have the proper police to cope with these things?" "Don Pasqual!" "gentlemen, this is a serious matter." "I could have hushed it up if it were anyone else." "but Don Pasqual hurt. there'll be the devil to pay." "stop them, arrest them!" "I thought I made myself clear." "I want everyone arrested!" "here?" "where're you going?" "good morning Paquitito oh I should have known." "you're the only woman in town worth fighting for." "I'm sorry Concha but I'll have to arrest this gallant gentleman" "if only you knew how willingly I'd exchange places with either one of them for you smile do you still like me Paquito?" "Concha, I haven't slept for 72 hours, this carnival has been purgatory, I'm about to go home to my wife which does not make my condition more pleasant but if you smile at me once more I shall nevertheless be in heaven" "go home to your wife Paquito, I too haven't slept maybe we can meet tomorrow" "I dream of the moment every profession has its compensations, even mine" "how's the patient doctor?" "not serious I hope?" "it is my wish that the whole affair blow over there are some things beyond even your wish, my patient is seriously hurt, I'm getting him into the hospital, if I get him there alive I'll be very pleased, very pleased, do you hear me?" "Concha how is Pasqual?" "is he badly hurt?" "I don't know." "I don't think so." "I went to the hospital but they refused to let me see him why didn't he tell me he was going to fire in the air?" "I did my best to kill him before he killed me only Pasqual can do such things and now you're in jail." "why didn't you listen to me when I told you to leave?" "I wish I had listened to you." "but I've got to get away before they find out whom they've arrested or I'll never get out although you don't deserve it I'm going to see Paquito, on one condition" "Concha, how can you joke at a time like this?" "will you take me to France with you?" "you know I wouldn't leave without you in that case I'm going to see the governor" "gentlemen I'll attend to you later." "leave me." "Concha" "most beautiful of women" "I'm so unhappy Paco" "I see." "sit down" "roll up a full account of this distasteful affair." "get a statement from everybody you can find." "have it sworn to before a notary." "a full account by each witness, the name of the culprit, and then return to this office for division" "I was just going to talk to you about this matter" "Concha I implore you don't talk to me about this confounded duel." "I'm a man of lightning decision." "these troublemakers can't fool with me." "Don Pasqual might die!" "don't shout at me Paquito I'm afraid of you anyway" "I thought you were fond of me it's useless Concha I know what you want." "I cannot release him." "so you can't release him?" "of course you can!" "you can do anything!" "do you want me to lose my respect for you?" "come on, Paquitito, two little pieces of paper, two passports two passports?" "who's the other one for?" "there's a girl mixed up in it. a cousin of mine." "Manuela" "I regret to inform you, Concha I still think it's you" "I?" "how silly!" "I hardly know him!" "I am happy to hear that you hardly know him." "this person has been wanted by the police for five years he doesn't think that we know but it's unwise to cross my path take a look at this" "I found it in my files with the following information:" "republican, revolutionary, one of the leaders we'll put him up against the wall and shoot him he's much better looking than his photograph isn't he?" "well Paco, I must go." "I don't care about this republican but that you, Paquito should refuse such a small favour to a lady is distressing very distressing don't go Concha please ask me anything else, anything but this affair has kicked up too much excitement!" "and all I asked for were two little slips of paper what a pity" "two little slips of paper from a man I so admire come away from the door Concha come away from the door farewell Paquito" "I might have loved you you can have your two passports I'll hush up the affair, too you're a magnificent woman, Concha let it never be said of Don Paquito that he didn't know how to value beauty" "you here again?" "haven't you caused trouble enough?" "oh doctor, please help me to see Don Pasqual" "I'm leaving town tonight" "I don't know why I should help you 1/16th inch more and he would have been dead I'll give you 2 minutes, no more" "how did you get in here?" "I gave orders that no one should be admitted" "Pasqualito, I came to find out how you are getting yourself shot for me!" "I didn't think I meant so much to you you might have been killed well what of it." "my life's worthless anyway no it isn't." "you're wonderful and I came to thank you for sparing Antonio's life don't bother you wanted another proof of my love and I gave it to you as to your thanks, keep them" "I suppose I deserve this I know I've always done everything wrong will you forgive me, Pasqualito?" "and then I'll go will you get out or must I call the attendant no I'll go" "to the future and may you be happy" "I'm not going." "the gentleman travels alone" "forgive me, Antonio I'm going back to Pasqual don't forget me, Antonio" "I've changed my mind" "you know I used to work in a cigarette factory"