Blood and Sand

ifferent and who had such confidence in you when you went on journeys with Juan! I who felt quite at ease thinking that he went with a man of good chara

and touched by the tears of Carmen, who was silently weeping,

e dove! I went to La Rincona because my master ordered me. You know well enough what a cuadrilla is. It is just the same as an army, discipline and obedie

ion and reaction! Between you all you are killing this poor child, who spends her days weepin

g

ador tells me I am to go to La Rincona ... all right. If at the time of our departure I find a very pretty woman in the automobile! ... what am I to do? The mata

ther was furiou

uadrilla if he had any shame. Don't speak to me of that

here? And then at the farm there was nothing. I swear it by my own. Do you think I should have countenanced this dishonour, even if my matador had ordered me? I am a decent man, Se?a Angustias, and you do wrong to call me the bad names you did ju

pted in a tearful

my bed!... I knew it all, too, and I held my tongue, I held my tongue! But[Pg 22

l interpos

ery capricious and strange! But if you had only seen the French ladies, when the cuadrilla went to fight at N?mes and Arles!... The sum total is-nothing at all. Altogether-rubbish! By the blue dove, I should like to know the ba

t Se?ora Angustias seated in an arm-chair, which scarcely contained her

d woman. "That journey to the farm was an indecent orgy-a fiesta

who got off his horse, and pointed his rifle at him as a coward and informer. And immediately after him followed many civil guards in shining three-cornered hats, whiskered

thing but decency. God alive! They will be saying next that I, a good citizen, wh

ould say nothing more about El Plumitas. But as for the other thing! The journey to the farm with that ... female! And firm in her mother

her shop from dawn till dark, while you go to that orgy like a reprobate. Yo

great indignation, developed the same nimbleness of tongue as in the days when she wa

but pretended to be bright and smiling when he saw the banderill

me, as if I were a gipsy of Triana. Your wife weeps and looks at me, as if all the fault were mine. Man alive, do m

othing[Pg 222] at all, these things passed o

o the house. When there are many p

Nacional. "I will

out of the home, away from the women's morose silence, interrupted by floods of tears, and

mpatico," remarkable for his good sense, and worthy of a better fate. He it was who, during the matado

uential people. And if this lady did go to the farm, what then? One must cultivate good friendships, for in that way one can ask favours and hel

s gratitude. The saddler had closed his shop, as trade was bad, and was waiting for some employment through his brother-in-law. In the meanwhile the torero supplied all

g

matador's wife that she wished to see him. The

ng's eyes looked as though she were constantly crying. Go an

Angustias coming in with her vehemence. Gallardo was at the club in the Calle de las Sierpes. He was away from the

ok at his master's wife. How she was altered! Her eyes were red and surrounded by black hollows. Her

est friend. All the little mother said the other day was temper. You know how re

ed assent, and then h

?ora Carmen

appened at La Rincona, all y

raised his head, pleased at being able to do

ong. "I swear it to you by my fa

g

in fact he had seen nothing, and having seen nothing, he reasoned logically in

thing before, I know not.... The people here ... talk. They invent so many li

s her home, and she was indignant, as, joined to the infidelit

g, I guessed what there was between the two, and I should have liked to snatch the ring and trample on it.... Very soon I knew everything. Everything! There are always people ready to carry rumours because it hurts others. Besides, they have nev

ing Carmen so upset, and we

? Do you not see they are inventions of people

bout her; and I know he has lowered himself a thousand times, remembering that she is a great lady, so that she should not turn him out, being ashamed of having relations with a torero. Now she is gone. You did not know it? She is gone because she was bored in Seville. You see people tell me everything, and she left without saying good-bye to him. When he went there the other day he found the door locked. Now he is as wretched as a sick horse, he goes among his friends with a face like a funeral, and drinks to enliven himse

ly, and a flame of ha

, so that his new friends may welcome him; and he loses largely; the money comes in by one door and goes out by the other. But I say nothing. After all it is he that earns it. He has had to borrow from Don José for things about the farm, and some olive yards he bought this year to join to the property were bought with other people's money. Almost all he earns during the next season will go to pay his debts. And if he had an accident. If he found himself obliged to retire li

kind, and if he did these things it was because he

t many are envious of you! Is it nothing to be the wife of the bravest torero, with handfuls of money, a h

g, and she raised her handker

o take him from me; we might want necessities, but on Sundays, dressed in our best, we should go to breakfast at some little inn. And then the frights one has from those horrid bulls. This is not living. There is money, a great deal of money, but believe me, Sebastian, it is like poison to me. The people about think I

cked and troubled and went in search of his maste

gs are going worse and worse. Try and c

od a bull might catch me on Sunday and then all

even a line to bid him farewell. They had sent him away from the door worse than a servant, and no one knew where that woman had gone. The Marquis was not much interested in his niece's journey-a most crazy woman! N

Maddened by the frowning silence of his wife, who rese

of those Muira bulls would catch me, trample me, a

xclaimed Se?ora Angustias. "Do not t

sententiously, taking advantage of

er. There is no bull that can touc

he yellow sand, to astonish over twelve thousand spectators with his grace and reckless daring! Nothing was true but his art, which gained him the applause of the populace, and money like heaps of corn. Everything else, family and amours were only complications of life, serving to create worries. Ay! what estocades he

g

armen did not appear. Bah! those women! ... their only use was to embitter life. His brother-in-law was waiting, ex

r himself!" said he gaily. "Jump into the

de that all Seville should see him sitting among th

sequently it had attracted an immense audience, not only from the town but from the cou

arrier, going to meet the bull, amusing it with his cape play, while the pic

trations were far warmer and more prolonged on the shady side, from the symmetrical rows of white hats, than fr

f the circus would rise up against him vociferating and reproachi

laced, and the inutility of the endeavour was no fault of his. He put himself again in position to kill, but again the sword struck on the same place, and the bull, butting at the muleta, jerked it out of the wound, t

ed to execute the "descabello."[95] Leaning the point of the blade on the top of the head, he sought for a suitable spot between the two horns; he then m

ocking voices fr

id the people atta

ing the vulnerable spot, and the bull fell suddenly with a crash, h

m a class feeling, but from the sunny side

g

ese insults, saluted his partiza

up to now been so friendly, exasper

did not admit of anything better. Cu

f having promoted this display of dissatisfaction, and he launched maledictions against the bull and the shepherd who reared him. He had co

ve an order to El Nacional and to another peon to bring the

demagogy, who brought class hatred into the Plaza, but who would change their whistling in

s. The populace saw this man?uvre and welcomed it with joyful surprise. The supreme moment, the death of the bull, w

limp rag the miserable carcass which spread its entrails all round. The body fell to the ground almost doubled up, while the bull moved off undecidedly; but it soon turned

h he has!... Go on, son

Gallardo, who was crossing the Plaza with light step, bending his figure, carrying i

red with delight at

nal, who had placed himself with his

ing to see the bull killed in front of his own bench so as not to lose a single deta

e bull. He had better take him a little further on. The torero felt embarrassed by the

ved, when he heard behind him a voice he knew, and though he could no

uan! We are going to

g

it were crossed a pair of arms in shirt sleeves, on which rested a broad face, freshly shaved, with the hat

gnized him; i

welve thousand people who might recognise him, saluting the esp

y from the mountains, where defence was so easy, without the help of his two companions, the m

in the country life which was only possible if he kept on good term

g him. He took off his montera, shouting towards

ull is

, where a hundred hands were outstretche

that with opportune cape play he

passing under the red rag. "Olé!" roared the crowd, once more bewitche

ew steps from him, and who seeing him close were giving him advice. "Be careful, Gallardo! The

ic excited his audacit

r own!... Zas! Strik

s pocket. Excited by the proximity of the dead horse, he constantly

leta, stood motionless. It was a very bad position, b

er, leaning their bodies half over it so as not to lose a single detail of the supreme moment, he recognised many amateurs of the p

lad.... Now we shall see t

e Plumitas, who stood smiling, with his mo

u, comr

o a great distance, that the Plaza was falling down on him, that everything was turning to[Pg 235] deep blackness, and that a furious hurricane was raging round him. His body v

e bull had reared unexpectedly against him, attracted

th the hoofs. The horns did not gore him, but the blow was horrible, crushing, as head,

he turned to attack the brilliant figure lying on the ground, lifted it on one horn, shaking it for a few sec

h almost nailed on to the brute's poll by two strong arms, endeavouring to blind the beast. It was El Nacional who, impelled by despair, had thrown himself on the bull, choosing to be gored himself if only he could save his master. The brute, bewildered by this fresh obstacle, turned upo

g

. El Nacional would fall also; he could not get out from between the

inging their hands, when the banderillero, taking advantage of a moment when the brute lowered his head to gore him, sl

laimed El Nacional. It was the finest moment of his life, and in their excitement they scarcely noticed the inanimate bo

towns special sheets had already been published, and the papers all over Spain gave accounts of the affa

im lying on a bed in the infirmary of the Plaza, as white as paper, with a crucifix between his hands, so it must be true. According to others less lugubrious,

or news from storming the infirmary.[Pg 237] Outside, the populace h

ut several times, frowning and angry, as the pre

e mob forgot the wounded ma

were splendid!... Had

had done? Nothing at all ... rubbish. The important thing was

an?" asked the people, retur

to bits: a gore underneath the arm, and what besides, I know not!... The

him. Every few moments El Nacional, carrying the cape on his arm, and still wearing his showy torero's dress

Don José, the manager, who seemed ready to faint in the arms of some friends of the "Forty-

as[Pg 238] though some national disaster had occurr

by-faced, red-haired peasant, who carried his

assist in carrying it. The Marquis looked at him sympathetically. He must be

at misfortu

he will die,

ess a miracle saves him.

he shoulder of the unknown man, seemed pleas

ard cries of despair, and outside other women, friends and neighbours of

to a bed. He was wrapped in bloody cloths and bandages smelling of antiseptics, of his fighting dres

pale as a wafer. He opened his eyes slightly, feeling a hand slipped int

t remember the wounded man had only received[Pg 239] fi

s eyes to El Nacional, who leaned o

ng out into the patio, "he wo

phed at once when he knew the importance of the accident, and he had no doubt but

k, which would have killed most men instantaneously, but he had recovered consciousness, although the weakness was great. As far as the wounds were concerned, they did not think them dangerous. That

he had thought the espada's death inevitable, quite broke do

the doctors spoke of the possibility o

and not fight?... Who would fill his place? I tell you, it canno

g

to meet the Madrid express. It arrived and with it Dr. Ruiz. He came without any luggage, as carelessly dressed as ever, smiling behi

opened his eyes, reviving with a smile of confidence. After Ruiz had listened i

s will not finish you

ed, turning to

s Juanillo is! Another one by now,

en so many!... Bull-fighting wounds were his spécialité, and in them he always expected th

lled outright in the Plaza is saved. The

preventing the use of an?sthetics, and Doctor Ruiz ex

d the Doctor, satisfied with his own cleverness. "You will

Pg 241] thought; how could that lad, who was the f

mity was intolerable during the hours of the operations. A groan from the torero would instantly be answered from ever

he would often say despairingly to El Nacional. "He said very often he wished a bu

ne was accidental. No; according to her, Gallardo had wished to end it for ever, an

ily returned to the house, and Carmen

s, as if she were ashamed of her former hostilit

are

and gallant fellow who had delighted the populace with his audacity. He seemed daunted by the terrible operations

in Seville, the Doct

al to do. Now don't be imprudent, and in a couple of months you will be well and strong. It is possible

the leg was liberated from its enforced quiet, and the torero, weak and limpi

one thought always remained steadfast in his mind, in spite of all restless

entured to question the manager abo

ice, enquiring after you, two or three days after the accident. Most probably sh

the telegram, but had not h

sistence, had she not written? Had she not enquired again after him?... The manager tried to excuse Do?a Sol's sil

Don José to pious lies. Some days before, he had received a s

g

!" said the es

e, pretending to have left it at ho

see her letter, to convince

directed to others. Do?a Sol had written (according to him) to the Marquis about her money matters, and at the end of every let

When would he see her! Should he ever see her again? Ay! what a woman to fl

longer in bed, and you are almost cured. How do you feel as to strength? Say, shall we fight or no? You have a

proposed to him. Renounce bull-fighting?... Spend a whole year without bein

the Spring. You may promise for the Easter corrida. I think this leg may sti

g

decided to spend the rest of the winter with his family at La Rinconada. There, hunting and long walks would strengthen his leg. Besides, h

elf at the farm as a kind of dictator to set things right, had only succeeded in disturbing the routine of the work, and rousing the labourers' anger. It was fortunate that

a vow she had made that terrible night when she saw him stretched pale and lifeless on the litter. How many times she had wept be

ed to the church of San Gil, which was filled with flowers, piled up in banks rou

h people from the suburb. Stout women with black eyes, wearing black silk dresses, and lace [Pg 245]mantillas over t

ike the opera in the San Fernando theatre at Easter. And afterwards the priests would intone a Te De

ng black silks, smiling beneath their mantillas. Gallardo came after, followed by an interminable escort of toreros and friends, all dressed in

by Him blasphemously at difficult moments, more by habit than anything else; but this was quite anothe

l, who leaving his wife and childr

de there is for me ... rubbish. I do not wish to be wanting in respect to La Macarena, nor to take away any credit wh

ices of the singers, a sweet and flowing melody,[Pg 246] ac

fuls of money thrown to them. There was enough for everybody, for Gallardo was lib

iving his arm to his wife, and Carmen smiling, with a tear on her

TNO

the rapier straight down behind the skull so as to pierce the spinal marrow-if it is badly delivered the animal only