'With what life you have left; what Heaven, in its mercy, still grants you.' 'Dolores!' the poor wretch exclaims, and again she softens: 'It is true; I had forgiven you.' Upon this the elderly scapegoat brightens and mentions Paris, Germany, England—'the English know so much. Bah! there is a good deal of science scattered over the world.' 'Then let us gather it all for Lázaro.'
This desperate situation is relieved by the entrance of Carmen's father in the black of etiquette, strictly solemn as befits a Spanish father offering his daughter in marriage to his old chum. He says reprovingly: 'Do not embrace me. Don't you see that I am all in black—in the garb of etiquette? It is a very solemn occasion. Call everybody except Lázaro—him later. Solemnity above all.' The afflicted parents have decided to conceal Lázaro's calamity from the world, and make a heart-broken effort to welcome the betrothal with delight, and the gloom of the situation is deepened by the young man's miserable behaviour when called to his beloved.
Don Juan. Yes, yes, but enough.
Lázaro. What infamy! What treason! Carmen!
Carmen. [Running to him.] Lázaro!
Lázaro. Go, away! Why do you come to me? You cannot be mine. Never, never, never.
Carmen. Do you give me up? Ah, I have already felt it. Mother! [Takes refuge in his mother's arms.]Nobody understands. Carmen's father is indignant.
xxx
