a standstill.]

CARBON [shouting] Salute! [Drums roll. All the CADETS uncover.]

DE GUICHE Let down the steps! [Two men hurry forward. The coach door opens.]

ROXANE [stepping from the carriage] Good-morning! [At the sound of a feminine voice, all the men, in the act of bowing low, straighten themselves. Consternation.]

SCENE V

The Same, Roxane

DE GUICHE Service of the King! You?

ROXANE Of the only King! ... of Love!

CYRANO Ah, great God!

CHRISTIAN [rushing to her] You! Why are you here?

ROXANE This siege lasted too long!

CHRISTIAN Why have you come?

ROXANE I will tell you!

CYRANO [who at the sound of her voice has started, then stood motionless without venturing to look her way] God! ... can I trust myself to look at her?

DE GUICHE You cannot remain here.

ROXANE But I can,—I can, indeed! Will you favor me with a drum? [She seats herself upon a drum brought forward for her.] There! I thank you! [She laughs.] They fired upon my carriage. [Proudly.] A patrol! It does look rather as if it were made out of a pumpkin, does it not? like Cinderella’s coach! and the footmen made out of rats! [Blowing a kiss to CHRISTIAN.] How do you do? [Looking at them all.] You do not look overjoyed! ... Arras is a long way from Paris, do you know it? [Catching sight of CYRANO.] Cousin, delighted!

CYRANO [coming toward her] But how did you ... ?

ROXANE How did I find the army? Dear me, cousin, that was simple: I followed straight along the line of devastation.... Ah, I should never have believed in such horrors had I not seen them! Gentlemen, if that is the service of your King, I like mine better!

CYRANO But this is mad! ... By what way did you come?

ROXANE Way? ... I drove through the Spaniards’ camp.

FIRST CADET Ah, what will keep lovely woman from her way!

DE GUICHE But how did you contrive to get through their lines?

LE BRET That must have been difficult ...

ROXANE No, not very. I simply drove through them, in my coach, at a trot. If a hidalgo,63 with arrogant front, showed likely to stop us, I put my face at the window, wearing my sweetest smile, and, those gentlemen being,—let the French not grudge my saying so!—the most gallant in the world, ... I passed!

CARBON Such a smile is a passport, certainly! ... But you must have been not unfrequently bidden to stand and deliver where you were going?

ROXANE Not unfrequently, you are right. Whereupon I would say, “I am going to see my lover!” At once, the fiercest looking Spaniard of them all would gravely close my carriage door; and, with a gesture the King might emulate, motion aside the musket-barrels levelled at me; and, superb at once for grace and haughtiness, bringing his spurs together, and lifting his plumed hat, bow low and say, “Pass, senorita, pass!”

CHRISTIAN But, Roxane ...

ROXANE I said, “My lover!” yes, forgive me!—You see, if I had said, “My husband!” they would never have let me by!

CHRISTIAN But ...

ROXANE What troubles you?

DE GUICHE You must leave at once.

ROXANE I?

CYRANO At once!

LE BRET As fast as you can.

CHRISTIAN Yes, you must.

ROXANE But why?

CHRISTIAN [embarrassed] Because ...

CYRANO [embarrassed too] In three quarters of an hour ...

DE GUICHE [the same] Or an hour ...

CARBON [the same] You had much better ...

LE BRET [the same] You might ...

ROXANE I shall remain. You are going to fight.

ALL Oh, no! ... No!

ROXANE He is my husband! [She throws herself in CHRISTIAN’s arms.] Let me be killed with you!

CHRISTIAN How your eyes shine!

ROXANE I will tell you why they shine!

DE GUICHE [desperately] It is a post of horrible probabilities!

ROXANE [turning toward him] What—of horrible? ...

CYRANO In proof of which he appointed us to it! ...

ROXANE Ah, you wish me made a widow?

DE GUICHE I swear to you ...

ROXANE No! Now I have lost all regard.... Now I will surely not go.... Besides, I think it fun!

CYRANO What? The precieuse contained a heroine?

ROXANE Monsieur de Bergerac, I am a cousin of yours!

ONE OF THE CADETS Never think but that we will take good care —of you!

ROXANE [more and more excited] I am sure you will, my friends!

OTHER CADET The whole camp smells of iris!

ROXANE By good fortune I put on a hat that will look well in battle! [Glancing toward DE GUICHE.] But perhaps it is time the Count should go.—The battle might begin.

DE GUICHE Ah, it is intolerable!—I am going to inspect my guns, and coming back.—You still have time: think better of it!

ROXANE Never! [Exit DE GUICHE]

SCENE VI

The Same,