Tableau. Behind the lackey stand ROXANE and CHRISTIAN holding hands. THE CAPUCHIN follows them smiling. RAGUENEAU holds high a flambeau. THE DUENNA closes the procession, bewildered, in her bedgown.]

SCENE XIV

The Same, Roxane, Christian, the Capuchin, Ragueneau, Lackeys, the Duenna

DE GUICHE Heavens! [to ROXANE.] You! [Recognizing CHRISTIAN with amazement.] He? [Bowing to ROXANE.] Your astuteness compels my admiration! [To CYRANO.] My compliments to you, ingenious inventor of flying machines. Your experiences would have beguiled a saint on the threshold of Paradise! Make a note of them.... They can be used again, with profit, in a book!

CYRANO [bowing] I will confidently follow your advice.

THE CAPUCHIN [to DE GUICHE, pointing at the lovers, and wagging his great white beard with satisfaction] A beautiful couple, my son, brought together by you!

DE GUICHE [eyeing him frigidly] As you say! [To ROXANE.] And now proceed, Madame, to take leave of your husband.

ROXANE What?

DE GUICHE [to CHRISTIAN] The regiment is on the point of starting. You are to join it!

ROXANE To go to war?

DE GUICHE Of course!

ROXANE But the cadets are not going!

DE GUICHE They are! [Taking out the paper which he had put in his pocket.] Here is the order. [To CHRISTIAN.] I beg you will take it to the Captain, baron, yourself.

ROXANE [throwing herself in CHRISTIAN’s arms] Christian!

DE GUICHE [to CYRANO, with a malignant laugh] The wedding night is somewhat far as yet!

CYRANO [aside] He thinks that he is giving me great pain!

CHRISTIAN [to ROXANE] Oh, once more, dear! ... Once more!

CYRANO Be reasonable... Come! ... Enough!

CHRISTIAN [still clasping ROXANE] Oh, it is hard to leave her.... You cannot know...

CYRANO [trying to draw him away] I know. [Drums are heard in the distance sounding a march.]

DE GUICHE [at the back] The regiment is on its way!

ROXANE [to CYRANO, while she clings to CHRISTIAN whom he is trying to draw away] Oh!... I entrust him to your care! Promise that under no circumstance shall his life be placed in danger! CYRANO I will endeavor... but obviously cannot promise... ROXANE [same business] Promise that he will be careful of himself! CYRANO I will do my best, but...

ROXANE [as above] That during this terrible siege he shall not take harm from the cold!

CYRANO I will try, but...

ROXANE [as above] That he will be true to me!

CYRANO Of course, but yet, you see...

ROXANE [as above] That he will write to me often!

CYRANO [stopping] Ah, that... I promise freely!

[Curtain.]

ACT FOUR

The Gascony Cadets

The post occupied at the siege of Arras57 by the company of CARBON DE CASTEL JALOUX. At the back, across the whole stage, sloping earthwork. Beyond this is seen a plain stretching to the horizon; the country is covered with constructions relating to the siege. In the distance, against the sky, the outlines of the walls and roofs of Arras. Tents; scattered arms; drums, etc. It is shortly before sunrise. The East is yellow. Sentinels at even intervals. Camp-fires. The GASCONY CADETS lie asleep, rolled in their cloaks. CARBON DE CASTEL-JALOUX and LE BRET are watching. All are very pale and gaunt. CHRISTIAN lies sleeping among the others, in his military cape, in the foreground, his face lighted by one of the camp-fires. Silence.

SCENE I

Christian, Carbon de Castel-Jaloux, Le Bret, the Cadets, then Cyrano

LE BRET It is dreadful!

CARBON Yes. Nothing left.

LE BRET Mordious!

CARBON [warning him by a gesture to speak lower] Curse in a whisper! You will wake them! ... [To the CADETS.] Hush! Go to sleep! [To LE BRET.] Who sleeps dines.

LE BRET Who lies awake misses two good things... What a situation! [A few shots are heard in the distance.]

CARBON The devil take their popping! They will wake my young ones! ... [To the CADETS who lift their heads.] Go to sleep! [The CADETS lie down again. Other shots are heard, nearer.]

ONE OF THE CADETS [stirring] The devil! Again?

CARBON It is nothing. It is Cyrano getting home. [The heads which had started up, go down again.]

A SENTINEL [outside] Ventrebleu! Who goes there?

CYRANO’S VOICE Bergerac!

THE SENTINEL [upon the embankment] Ventrebieu! Who goes there?

CYRANO [appearing at the top of the embankment] Bergerac, blockhead! [He comes down. LE BRET goes to him, uneasy]

LE BRET Ah, thank God!

CYRANO [warning him by a sign to wake no one] Hush!

LE BRET Wounded?

CYRANO Do you not know that it has become a habit with them to miss me?

LE BRET To me, it seems a little excessive that you should, every morning, for the sake of taking a letter, risk...

CYRANO [stopping in front of CHRISTIAN] I promised that he would write often. [He looks at