it. I was detained, spite of all I could do! ...
ROXANE By? ...
CYRANO A somewhat inopportune call.
ROXANE [absent-minded, sewing] Ah, yes ... some troublesome fellow!
CYRANO Cousin, it was a troublesome Madam.
ROXANE You excused yourself?
CYRANO Yes. I said, “Your pardon, but this is Saturday, on which day I am due in certain dwelling. On no account do I ever fail. Come back in an hour!”
ROXANE [lightly] Well, she will have to wait some time to see you. I shall not let you go before evening.
CYRANO Perhaps ... I shall have to go a little earlier. [He closes his eyes and is silent a moment.] [SISTER MARTHA is seen crossing the park from the chapel to the terrace. ROXANE sees her and beckons to her by a slight motion of her head.]
ROXANE [to CYRANO] Are you not going to tease Sister Martha to-day?
CYRANO [quickly, opening his eyes] I am indeed! [In a comically gruff voice.] Sister Martha, come nearer! [The NUN demurely comes toward him.] Ha! ha! ha! Beautiful eyes, ever studying the ground!
SISTER MARTHA [lifting her eyes and smiling] But ... [She sees his face and makes a gesture of surprise] Oh!
CYRANO [low, pointing at ROXANE] Hush! ... It is nothing! [In a swaggering voice, aloud.] Yesterday, I ate meat!
SISTER MARTHA I am sure you did! [Aside.] That is why he is so pale! [Quickly, low.] Come to the refectory presently. I shall have ready for you there a good bowl of broth ... You will come!
CYRANO Yes, yes, yes.
SISTER MARTHA Ah, you are more reasonable tò-day!
ROXANE [hearing them whisper] She is trying to convert you?
SISTER MARTHA Indeed I am not!
CYRANO It is true, you, usually almost discursive in the holy cause, are reading me no sermon! You amaze me! [With comical fury.] I will amaze you, too! Listen, you are authorized ... [With the air of casting about in his mind, and finding the jest he wants.] Ah, now I shall amaze you! to ... pray for me, this evening ... in the chapel.
ROXANE Oh! oh!
CYRANO [laughing] Sister Martha ... lost in amazement!
SISTER MARTHA [gently] I did not wait for your authorization. [She goes in.]
CYRANO [turning to ROXANE, who is bending over her embroidery] The devil, tapestry ... the devil, if I hope to live to see the end of you!
ROXANE I was waiting for that jest. [A slight gust of wind makes the leaves fall.]
CYRANO The leaves!
ROXANE [looking up from her work and gazing off toward the avenues] They are the russet gold of a Venetian beauty’s hair ... Watch them fall!
CYRANO How consummately they do it! In that brief fluttering from bough to ground, how they contrive still to put beauty! And though foredoomed to moulder upon the earth that draws them, they wish their fall invested with the grace of a free bird’s flight!
ROXANE Serious, you?
CYRANO [remembering himself] Not at all, Roxane!
ROXANE Come, never mind the falling leaves! Tell me the news, instead ... Where is my budget?70
CYRANO Here it is!
ROXANE Ah!
CYRANO [growing paler and paler, and struggling with pain] Saturday, the nineteenth: The king having filled his dish eight times with Cette71 preserves, and emptied it, was taken with a fever; his distemper, for high treason, was condemned to be let blood, and now the royal pulse is rid of febriculosity! On Sunday: at the Queen’s great ball, were burned seven hundred and sixty-three wax candles; our troops, it is said, defeated Austrian John;‡ four sorcerers were hanged; Madame Athis’s little dog had a distressing turn, the case called for a ...
ROXANE Monsieur de Bergerac, leave out the little dog!
CYRANO Monday, ... nothing, or next to it: Lygdamire took a fresh lover.
ROXANE Oh!
CYRANO [over whose face is coming a change more and more marked] Tuesday: the whole Court assembled at Fontainebleau. Wednesday, the fair Monglat said to Count Fiesco “No!” Thursday, Mancini, Queen of France, ... or little less. Twenty-fifth, the fair Monglat said to Count Fiesco “Yes!” And Saturday, the twenty-sixth ... [He closes his eyes. His head drops on his breast. Silence. ]
ROXANE [surprised at hearing nothing further, turns, looks at him and starts to her feet in alarm] Has he fainted? [She runs to him, calling.] Cyrano!
CYRANO [opening his eyes, in a faint voice] What is it? ... What is the matter! [He sees ROXANE bending over him, hurriedly readjusts his hat, pulling it more closely over his head, and shrinks back in his armchairr in terror] No! no! I assure you, it is nothing! ... Do not mind me!
ROXANE But surely ...
CYRANO