of a pumpkin, like
Cinderella's chariot in the tale,--and the footmen out of rats?
(Sending a kiss with her lips to Christian):
Good-morrow!
(Examining them all):
You look not merry, any of you! Ah! know you that 'tis a long road to get
to Arras?
(Seeing Cyrano):
Cousin, delighted!

CYRANO (coming up to her):
But how, in Heaven's name?. . .

ROXANE:
How found I the way to the army? It was simple enough, for I had but to
pass on and on, as far as I saw the country laid waste. Ah, what horrors were
there! Had I not seen, then I could never have believed it! Well, gentlemen,
if such be the service of your King, I would fainer serve mine!

CYRANO:
But 'tis sheer madness! Where in the fiend's name did you get through?

ROXANE:
Where? Through the Spanish lines.

FIRST CADET:
--For subtle craft, give me a woman!

DE GUICHE:
But how did you pass through their lines?

LE BRET:
Faith! that must have been a hard matter!. . .

ROXANE:
None too hard. I but drove quietly forward in my carriage, and when some
hidalgo of haughty mien would have stayed me, lo! I showed at the window my
sweetest smile, and these Senors being (with no disrespect to you) the most
gallant gentlemen in the world,--I passed on!

CARBON:
True, that smile is a passport! But you must have been asked frequently to
give an account of where you were going, Madame?

ROXANE:
Yes, frequently. Then I would answer, 'I go to see my lover.' At that word
the very fiercest Spaniard of them all would gravely shut the carriage-door,
and, with a gesture that a king might envy, make signal to his men to lower
the muskets leveled at me;--then, with melancholy but withal very graceful
dignity--his beaver held to the wind that the plumes might flutter bravely, he
would bow low, saying to me, 'Pass on, Senorita!'

CHRISTIAN:
But, Roxane. . .

ROXANE:
Forgive me that I said, 'my lover!' But bethink you, had I said 'my
husband,' not one of them had let me pass!

CHRISTIAN:
But. . .

ROXANE:
What ails you?

DE GUICHE:
You must leave this place!

ROXANE:
I?

CYRANO:
And that instantly!

LE BRET:
No time to lose.

CHRISTIAN:
Indeed, you must.

ROXANE:
But wherefore must I?

CHRISTIAN (embarrassed):
'Tis that. . .

CYRANO (the same):
--In three quarters of an hour. . .

DE GUICHE (the same):
--Or for. . .

CARBON (the same):
It were best. . .

LE BRET (the same):