O:
Ah!
A well-curled pate, and witless tongue, perchance!

ROXANE:
Ah no! I guess--I feel--his words are fair!

CYRANO:
All words are fair that lurk 'neath fair mustache!
--Suppose he were a fool!. . .

ROXANE (stamping her foot):
Then bury me!

CYRANO (after a pause):
Was it to tell me this you brought me here?
I fail to see what use this serves, Madame.

ROXANE:
Nay, but I felt a terror, here, in the heart,
On learning yesterday you were Gascons
All of your company. . .

CYRANO:
And we provoke
All beardless sprigs that favor dares admit
'Midst us pure Gascons--(pure! Heaven save the mark!
They told you that as well?

ROXANE:
Ah! Think how I
Trembled for him!

CYRANO (between his teeth):
Not causelessly!

ROXANE:
But when
Last night I saw you,--brave, invincible,--
Punish that dandy, fearless hold your own
Against those brutes, I thought--I thought, if he
Whom all fear, all--if he would only. . .

CYRANO:
Good.
I will befriend your little Baron.

ROXANE:
Ah!
You'll promise me you will do this for me?
I've always held you as a tender friend.

CYRANO:
Ay, ay.

ROXANE:
Then you will be his friend?

CYRANO:
I swear!

ROXANE:
And he shall fight no duels, promise!

CYRANO:
None.

ROXANE:
You are kind, cousin! Now I must be gone.
(She puts on her mask and veil quickly; then, absently):
You have not told me of your last night's fray.
Ah, but it must have been a hero-fight!. . .
--Bid him to write.
(She sends him a kiss with her fingers):
How good you are!

CYRANO:
Ay! Ay!

ROXANE:
A hundred men against you? Now, farewell.--
We are great friends?

CYRANO:
Ay, ay!

ROXANE:
Oh, bid him write!
You'll tell me all one day--A hundred men!--
Ah, brave!. . .How brave!

CYRANO (bowing to her):
I have fought better since.

(She goes out. Cyrano stands motionless, with eyes on the ground. A silence.
The door (right) opens. Ragueneau looks in.)

Scene 2.VII.

Cyrano, Ragueneau, poets, Carbon de Castel-Jaloux, the cadets, a crowd, then
De Guiche.

RAGUENEAU:
Can we come in?

CYRANO (without stirring):
Yes. . .

(Ragueneau signs to his friends, and they come in. At the same time, by door
at back, enters Carbon de Castel-Jaloux, in Captain's uniform. He makes
gestures of surprise on seeing Cyrano.)

CARBON:
Here he is!

CYRANO (raising his head):
Capta