crust?—A little more?—Let me help you.—Champagne?—A wing?—

CYRANO [following ROXANE, his hands full of dishes, helping her] I adore her!

ROXANE [going to CHRISTIAN] What will you take?

CHRISTIAN Nothing!

ROXANE Oh, but you must take something! This biscuit—in a little Muscatel,—just a little?

CHRISTIAN [trying to keep her from going] Tell me what made you come?

ROXANE I owe myself to those poor fellows.... Be patient, ... By and by ...

LE BRET [who had gone toward the back to pass a loaf of bread on the end of a pike to the SENTINEL upon the earthwork] De Guiche!

CYRANO Presto! Vanish basket, flagon, platter and pan! Hurry! Let us look as if nothing were! [To RAGUENEAU. Take a flying leap on to your box!—Is everything hidden? [In a wink, all the eatables have been pushed into the tents, or hidden under clothes, cloaks, hats. Enter DE GUICHE, hurriedly; he stops short, sniffing the air. Silence.]

SCENE VII

The Same, De Guiche

DE GUICHE What a good smell!

ONE OF THE CADETS [singing, with effect of mental abstraction] To lo lo lo....

DE GUICHE [stopping and looking at him closely] What is the matter with you—you, there? You are red as a crab.

THE CADET I? Nothing ... It is just my blood.... We are going to fight: it tells ...

OTHER CADET Poom ... poom ... poom ...

DE GUICHE [turning] What is this?

THE CADET [slightly intoxicated] Nothing ... A song ... just a little song.

DE GUICHE You look in good spirits, my boy!

THE CADET Danger affects me that way!

DE GUICHE [calling CARBON DE CASTEL-JALOUX to give an order] Captain, I ... [He stops at sight of his face. ] Pestel You look in good spirits, too.

CARBON [flushed, holding a bottle behind him; with an evasive gesture] Oh! ...

DE GUICHE I had a cannon left over, which I have ordered them to place [he points in the wing] there, in that corner, and which your men can use, if necessary ...

ONE OF THE CADETS [swaying from one foot to the other] Charming attention!

OTHER CADET [smiling sugarily] Our thanks for your gracious thoughtfulness!

DE GUICHE Have they gone mad? ... [Drily.] As you are not accustomed to handling a cannon, look out for its kicking ...

FIRST CADET Ah, pfft! ...

DE GUICHE [going toward him, furious] But ...

THE CADET A cannon knows better than to kick a Gascon!

DE GUICHE [seizing him by the arm and shaking him] You are all tipsy: on what?

THE CADET [magnificently] The smell of powder!

DE GUICHE [shrugs his shoulders, pushes aside the CADET, and goes rapidly toward ROXANE] Quick, Madame! what have you condescended to decide?

ROXANE I remain.

DE GUICHE Retire, I beseech you!

ROXANE No.

DE GUICHE If you are determined, then ... Let me have a musket!

CARBON What do you mean?

DE GUICHE I, too, will remain.

CYRANO At last, Monsieur, an instance of pure and simple bravery!

FIRST CADET Might you be a Gascon, lace collar notwithstanding?

DE GUICHE I do not leave a woman in danger.

SECOND CADET [to FIRST CADET] Look here! I think he might be given something to eat! [All the food reappears, as if by magic.]

DE GUICHE [his eyes brightening] Provisions?

THIRD CADET Under every waistcoat!

DE GUICHE [mastering himself, haughtily] Do you imagine that I will eat your leavings?

CYRANO [bowing] You are improving!

DE GUICHE [proudly, falling at the last of the sentence into a slightly GASCON accent] I will fight before I eat!

FIRST CADET [exultant] Fight! Eat! ... He spoke with an accent!

DE GUICHE [laughing] I did?

THE CADET He is one of us! [All fall to dancing.]

CARBON [who a moment before disappeared behind the earth-works, reappearing at the top] I have placed my pikemen. They are a determined troop ... [He points at a line of pikes projecting above the bank]

DE GUICHE [to ROXANE, bowing] Will you accept my hand and pass them in review? [She takes his hand; they go toward the bank. Every one uncovers and follows.]

CHRISTIAN [going to CYRANO, quickly] Speak! Be quick! [As ROXANE appears at the top of the bank, the pikes disappear, lowered in a salute, and a cheer goes up; ROXANE bows.]

PIKEMEN [outside] Vivat!

CHRISTIAN What did you want to tell me?

CYRANO In case Roxane ...

CHRISTIAN Well?

CYRANO Should speak to you of the letters ...

CHRISTIAN Yes, the letters. I know!

CYRANO Do not commit the blunder of appearing surprised ...

CHRISTIAN At what?

CYRANO I must tell you! ... It is quite simple, and merely comes into my mind to-day because I see her. You have ...

CHRISTIAN Hurry!

CYRANO You ... you have written to her oftener than you suppose ...

CHRISTIAN Oh, have I?

CYRANO Yes. It was my business, you see. I