cloaks, and beavers. De Guiche enters hurriedly--stops suddenly, sniffing the
air. Silence.)

Scene 4.VII.

The same. De Guiche.

DE GUICHE:
It smells good here.

A CADET (humming):
Lo! Lo-lo!

DE GUICHE (looking at him):
What is the matter?--You are very red.

THE CADET:
The matter?--Nothing!--'Tis my blood--boiling at the thought of the coming
battle!

ANOTHER:
Poum, poum--poum. . .

DE GUICHE (turning round):
What's that?

THE CADET (slightly drunk):
Nothing!. . .'Tis a song!--a little. . .

DE GUICHE:
You are merry, my friend!

THE CADET:
The approach of danger is intoxicating!

DE GUICHE (calling Carbon de Castel-Jaloux, to give him an order):
Captain! I. . .
(He stops short on seeing him):
Plague take me! but you look bravely, too!

CARBON (crimson in the face, hiding a bottle behind his back, with an evasive
movement):
Oh!. . .

DE GUICHE:
I have one cannon left, and have had it carried there--
(he points behind the scenes):
--in that corner. . .Your men can use it in case of need.

A CADET (reeling slightly):
Charming attention!

ANOTHER (with a gracious smile):
Kind solicitude!

DE GUICHE:
How? they are all gone crazy?
(Drily):
As you are not used to cannon, beware of the recoil.

FIRST CADET:
Pooh!

DE GUICHE (furious, going up to him):
But. . .

THE CADET:
Gascon cannons never recoil!

DE GUICHE (taking him by the arm and shaking him):
You are tipsy!--but what with?

THE CADET (grandiloquently):
--With the smell of powder!

DE GUICHE (shrugging his shoulders and pushing him away, then going quickly to
Roxane):
Briefly, Madame, what decision do you deign to take?

ROXANE:
I stay here.

DE GUICHE:
You must fly!

ROXANE:
No! I will stay.

DE GUICHE:
Since things are thus, give me a musket, one of you!

CARBON:
Wherefore?

DE GUICHE:
Because I too--mean to remain.

CYRANO:
At last! This is true valor, Sir!

FIRST CADET:
Then you are Gascon after all, spite of your lace collar?

ROXANE:
What is all this?

DE GUICHE:
I leave no woman in peril.

SECOND CADET (to the first):
Hark you! Think you not we might give him something to eat?

(All the viands reappear as if by magic.)

DE GUICHE (whose eyes sparkle):
Victuals!

THE THIRD CADET:
Yes, you'll see them coming from under every coat!

DE GUICHE (controlling himself, haughtily):
Do you think I wil